Austin Bible Church
The first temptation of our Lord dealt with the relationship of Christ to the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was tempted to operate independently of God the Father’s plan and will. The temptation was designed by Satan to force Jesus Christ to violate the kenosis principle and rely on the omnipotence of His deity. This temptation was unique because it involved the power to convert stones to bread. Matt. 4:1-4.
“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’““ (Matthew 4:1-4, NASB)
The believer is constantly tempted to rely on their own abilities to produce human good rather than the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to produce divine good.
The second temptation of Jesus Christ dealt with relationship with the Word. Satan attacked the source of resistance. Satan attacked the Word by misquoting and distorting the Word and using a passage out of context. Matt. 4:5-7.
“Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’“ Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’““ (Matthew 4:5-7, NASB)
Satan distorted Psalm 91:11-12 in Matthew 4:5-6 by adding the words “so that” in verse 6 which means “lest at any time.” For Jesus Christ to jump would defy the law of gravity. God does not protect the operation of negative volition in defiance of a divine law. It would apply, of course, if someone pushed Jesus. There is no protection for anyone acting independent of the Word or distorting the Word.
“For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalms 91:11-12, NASB)
“Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU’; and ‘ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.’““ (Matthew 4:5-6, NASB)
There are times when God’s protection is promised. When the believer uses their own volition to operate outside of God’s Word or mandates, there is no protection from God. God does not protect a believer from death by suicide. By committing suicide, the believer deprives himself of further rewards. For Jesus to jump would have been certain death for His humanity. It was not the Father’s will for Him to jump. The woman (Eve) sinned in the Garden through distortion of the Word in a similar manner.
“Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’““ (Matthew 4:7, NASB)
Jesus turns a first-class condition back on Satan in Matthew 4:7. It is satanic to tempt the Lord. Satan quoted Scripture which did not apply. Jesus only used applicable Scripture. To all believers who are tempted to commit suicide, this is worldliness and satanic. Your departure from the earth must be strictly by the sovereignty of God.
The third temptation of our Lord dealt with His relationship with God through the Father’s plan. It is the plan of God that Jesus Christ should rule the world, but the plan also demands that the Cross be before the crown. Without the Cross, there can be no kingdom established or redeemed individuals. Matt. 4:8-11.
“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’“ Then the devil *left Him; and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.” (Matthew 4:8-11, NASB)
In the third temptation, Satan offered a plan that bypassed the Cross. The offer of Satan to give Jesus Christ the kingdoms of the world was bonafide because Satan is the ruler. Satan’s plan always ignores, rejects, and obscures the Cross. This temptation which is rejected by the Lord Jesus Christ will be accepted by the Beast in the Tribulation.
In summary, Jesus Christ, the Last Adam, did not sin as did the first Adam. Jesus Christ is the victor in the Angelic Conflict. Hebrews 1 and 2.