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

Lesson 2

The Second Temptation
(according to the Gospel of Matthew)

In the first lesson we studied the tactics of Satan. As we study the second temptation, it will help us to a greater understanding of the character of Christ.

Read Matthew 4:5-7.
2-1. Who took Jesus to the highest point of the temple?

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2-2. Why?

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Take a moment to think about verse six. Why is it a test? Let us research a little...

The first thing that we can see is that Satan once again tries to make Jesus prove who He is by saying "If you are the Son of God, ..." (also in verse 3 covered in the previous lesson). Jesus would not allow Himself to be tricked but what about our viewpoint?

If we take this temptation from a human viewpoint, Satan's challenge of jumping means certain death. But what if man "steps out in faith" and believes the distorted interpretation of the verse that Satan quoted? Could we rely on God's provision? Would God protect him? Simply put: No. If Jesus would have thrown himself down, he would have died and failed the temptation. Why?

Read the verse and context that Satan uses, Psalm 91:9.
2-3. What is the requirement for no harm, no disaster and to have your ways guarded?

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Read Psalm 90:1.
2-4. Who is the dwelling place?

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Read Psalm 91:14.
2-5. Who is the "he" in "Because he hath set his love upon me,...?"

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In Psalm 91:9, we are given the "if" as a conditional promise (a promise that is given based on an action by us) and in Psalm 91:14, we are told, "Because he loves me," which is also a requirement of the promise.

2-6. Did Jesus dwell in the Most High?

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2-7. Did Jesus love God?

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Did you notice how similar this is to the temptation of Eve and the first temptation - using a distortion of truth to deceive? After all, the conditions are met. So why did Jesus not jump?

Before we consider Jesus' answer, we need to consider what Jesus understood about the kingdom of God. A relationship with God involves an interaction between both parties where love is the key ingredient. Love defines who is the most important person in the relationship - the most important person is always the other person.

Read Mark 9:34-35.
2-8. The first must be servant of whom?

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2-9. Who is the first in God's kingdom?

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God's kingdom is a kingdom of servants, where the king is the greatest servant of all. Jesus said, "... whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave (servant) just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:26-28

Read Ephesians 2:8-9.
2-10. Are you Saved by works?

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This verse from Ephesians shows us that the servant relationship is not a works relationship - you are not doing to earn something, you are being a servant because of your love for God. God's commands are for our good and to help us to understand his Kingdom. His command from Deuteronomy 6:5 states, "And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might." 

Read Matthew 22:37-38.
2-11. What are we told about the verse that Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy?

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As we keep in mind a loving, serving relationship with God, we can now get back to our analysis of the second temptation. In Psalm 91 we see that Jesus met the conditions for God to keep from  harm and disaster, and to guard. As long as Jesus was standing on the pinnacle, God provided no harm, no disaster and guarded him. Jesus gave us a response, which explains why all of this would have ended if he had thrown himself down.

Read Matthew 4:7.
Why would this have tested God?  Let us read the verse in context.

Read Deuteronomy 6:16.
2-12. Where was the place that God was tested?

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Read Exodus 17:1-7.
2-13. In verse 17:1-2 what did the Israelites want?

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2-14. At the end of verse 2 what did Moses ask?
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2-15. In verse 7, why was the place called Massah?
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At the end of verse 7 it explains what the test was, "Is the Lord among us or not?" God knew their needs - water. In the last part of Exodus chapter 16 God provided manna when they needed food. The test was not whether God would give them water, the test was whether God was really with them, as pointed out at the end of verse 7.

So, how does this apply to the second temptation of Christ? Satan challenged Jesus - prove to me who you are by demonstrating God's power. Jesus did not let his pride overtake him. He was not going to test God to see whether "Is the Lord among us (with  Jesus) or not?" It would have been a self-serving, self-centered request in a kingdom where there are no self-centered people. How would this action be loving? It could not. How could this action been serving? It could only serve Satan not God.

Read Job 13:15.
Job was in great need. He lost his children, his wealth, and his health but Job was not going to ask, "Is the Lord with  me or not?" He was not going to put God to the test even if God took his life.

Conclusion to Lesson 2

Once we get our eyes off of us and onto God, trusting in His Word, and learning to have a loving, servants' heart, we become what God wants us to be - like Jesus. As Jesus said, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me." Luke 9:23 Once Saved, we should never ask, "Is the Lord among us or not?" We must rely on the fact that God loves us and will provide for us - something He does not have to prove to us or we do not need to prove to anyone.

- End of Lesson 2 -

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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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