Crumbs59

 

Crumbs from the Master ‘s Table 59

The Lord Jesus Christ (according to Matthew)

Scripture Matthew 4:1-11 NIV 4 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.   6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you,    and they will lift you up in their hands,    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Crumbs

We live in a world in which tests and temptations come from a range of sources. Christ was not exempt from this baggage. We cannot turn round to Him and say” You do not understand, “ (Hebrews 4:15). The complete Saviour suffered the complete range of trials and temptations.

The accounts of the temptations are not in the same order in Matthew and Luke. For the second temptation Matthew takes us to the Temple, But Luke goes to a high mountain to view the kingdoms of the world. In Matthew our Lord’s Jewish background shines through. Luke is addressing his account to a man with a Greek name.

In both accounts the temptation about the Word of God comes first. People are not only collections of physical needs. Deeper dimensions should take priority. We are not only body but also soul and spirit. All three need care. There is much to learn from our Lord’s use of Scripture. He quotes the book of Deuteronomy, written about the desert. They are guiding His responses to the temptation. The reading and study of Scripture is more than an intellectual act. It is profoundly spiritual and is a development of our relationship with God.

We are children of the enlightenment and the scientific revolution and are tempted to ask for physical tangible proof of Christ’s divinity. Love of God is what is required. A spectacular act using the very symbol of God’s presence with His people, the temple would possibly do more harm than good. For man to love God the cross is required. Anything less is an understatement. Satan’s seductions seek avoidance of Calvary and his defeat. Thank God Jesus is the victor.

Questions

1. What do we learn about what should be our attitude and use of Scripture from this passage ? 2. What sins was our Lord tempted with and do we face similar ones ? 3. What do we learn about bearing trials and resisting temptation from this passage ?