The Importance Of The Temptation Of Christ
(based on a Bible study led by Darrel Cline)

Lesson 1

The First Temptation
(according to the Gospel of Matthew)

Overview

When Jesus came to the earth, there were two moments that were crucial to man’s redemption. It was important that Jesus taught the people at the time, corrected the false religion at the time, and performed miracles to confirm His ministry. But if these were not done, man’s redemption would still have been possible because of two crucial moments in time where Jesus showed His obedience and love to God. These two moments were the three temptations by Satan and the crucifixion.

In this study we will consider the importance of the three temptations with which Satan challenged Jesus. Why is this so important? These temptations connect to the fall of man – Adam’s "original sin." The apostle Paul writes, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."(1 Cor 15:22) Paul refers to Jesus as the "Last Adam" (1 Cor 15:45), and He is also known as the Second Adam. Adam, who was made God’s image (Gen 1:27), failed the temptation by Satan but God in His love provided another chance for man’s redemption – His only begotten Son (John 3:16) – Jesus.

In this lesson we will study the temptation of the "Last Adam" (1 Cor 15:45) - God's provision, Jesus. We will study the temptation of Jesus using the Gospel of Matthew. The Gospel of Mark is very brief and does not allow the detail for a thorough study. Although we will reference from the Gospel of Luke, Luke reverses the order of the second and third temptations. Also, Matthew uses the word "then" in the first and second temptations giving a progression whereas Luke does not use "then." So, for the sake of order, we will use Matthew's account.

Read Matt 4:1-4.
1-1. How was Jesus brought into the desert?

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1-2. Why?

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Since we know that the Spirit led Jesus into the desert for the express purpose to be tempted, we know that Satan would try his best to make the "Last Adam" fail knowing this is a crucial point in history. If Satan could make Jesus fail, God the Father would have to either provide another way for the Salvation of man or end efforts to Save man. Yet, God being all knowing knew that Jesus would not fail and assured the generations through many Old Testament verses that point to a single Savior or Messiah. These Messianic prophecies would be false making the Bible incorrect if Jesus would fail.

Read Matt 4:2.
1-3. How many days did Jesus fast?

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1-4. Why would Matthew include "nights"?

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1-5. Why would Matthew write, "He was afterward an hungred." ?

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Note that the temptation was real and the Jesus had to overcome it as a man, not using His ability as God, but facing the temptation as Adam did. Phil 2:8 "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Christ humbled himself (emptied himself) and did not use His Godly (Divine) powers. He relied on prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit for the miracles. Why? Because he had to be tested as Adam did.

Read Hebrews 4:15.
1-6. Who is the "one" that has been tempted in every way?

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Not only was the temptation required for our Salvation but it also shows us that we have an understanding God, not some distant God, who has never experienced our problems. 1 Timothy 2:5 states, "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus..." Jesus, who can "be touched with the feeling of our infirmities," who understands our failures, mediates for us. He is our loving, understanding Savoir, who hears our prayers and pleads on our behalf to God the Father.

Referring to one of the ways Jesus was tempted, Matthew 4:3 reads, "And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." The tempter, who is also called the devil or Satan, is a real personal being who spoke to Jesus. In Matthew 4:5 the verse states, "Then the devil taketh Him..." In this verse we see a real personal being taking Jesus somewhere.

1-7. When Satan asked, "If thou be the Son of God.." What was Satan questioning?

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1-8. In Matthew 4:3 when Satan said, "command that these stones be made bread." How was this temptation like that of Adam and Eve? (What human weakness did Satan appeal to?)

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Notice the challenge that Satan poses on man's weaknesses - hunger and pride. Since we are told that Jesus was hungry, the temptation to eat was a powerful one. Also, Jesus was tempted to prove himself - a temptation of pride. To paraphrase, Satan was saying, "I don't believe that you are God's Son. You are a liar unless you prove it to me." The test would be simple enough for the Son of God to fulfill, but if Jesus proved it to Satan according to Satan's terms, the proof would make Jesus fail. Let's find out why.

First let's fast forward and get some insight on what Jesus taught. Jesus knew that God would care for His needs.

Read Matt 7:8-9.
1-9. Would the Father give Jesus a stone if Jesus asked for bread?

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Since Jesus knew God would not give a stone to fulfill His hunger, the purpose of changing the rock into bread would only be to appease the temptation by Satan. Knowing that the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert for the express purpose to be tempted, He knew God would fulfill His hunger in another way.

Read John 4:31-34.
1-10. What was Jesus' food?

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Let's look at how Jesus responded to Satan's challenge.

Read Matt 4:4.
1-11. What is meant by "It is written:?"

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Jesus quoted directly from Deuteronomy 8:3. His response helps us to understand the scope of His reliance on God. For a better understanding and context read Deut 8:1-3.

1-12. In verse 1, who made a promise to whom?

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1-13. In verse 2, who led the people in the desert for forty years?

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1-14. Why?

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1-15. Who humbled them?

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1-16. After they were humbled, they became hungry, then God provided for them by giving them manna. What was God teaching them?

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The Israelites had to learn to trust God. They did this by trusting what God said he would or would not do. They had to learn that every word (or for more emphasis, every utterance) of God has life.

1-17. Looking at the specific detail in verse three, the words, "every word" are written. Consider the importance of "every." Why is "every" important?

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This points out an important fact about the Bible - there is life in every word. Each and every word in the Bible is in there for a reason. Jesus knew what was later written in Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick..." (also translated as "living").

It is God's words that produce and support life. In chapter 1 of Genesis all creation was made because, "And God said, 'Let there be light...., ... And God said..., ... And God said...,' etc. showing life in God's words. In chapter 16 of Exodus God said there would be manna (bread) rained down from heaven - once again life in His word. It was from this that "...that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live." (Deuteronomy 8:3)

Finally, as we learn to trust God by relying on each and every word, our life becomes filled with joy. In John 15:9-11 Jesus said, "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

Conclusion to Lesson 1

Jesus knew of God's love, and that He could trust God's plan. Forty days had passed and God provided no food. Jesus knew that He was the Messiah and was sent to do God's work (John 4:34). He knew that God's Word contained prophecies from the Bible - in the Old Testament - that would not be fulfilled if He died. So, He knew that God would not allow Him to die from starvation. Satan's first temptation was thwarted because Jesus understood the life in God's Word. This does not mean that Jesus did not suffer and it shows the great love that Jesus has for us and His obedience to His Father. As a man, Jesus overcame the temptation to fulfill the promise of His Father - a Savior.

We each will have our own wilderness, just as the Israelites and Jesus did. As our temptations in life come, we can rely on God's Word to guide us through our suffering and temptation. God's Word teaches about God's love for us and produces life that is filled with joy based on what He said, not on our circumstances.

- End of Lesson 1 -

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©2003 - Lincoln Community Bible Church, Lincolnton, NC - www.lincolncommunity.org

Personal notes that you want to remember from this lesson:

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