Tempted
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Matt 4.1-11
Every person will be tested to determine his allegiance and tempted because of his natural tendency toward self-
gratification.
Jesus was tempted in order to
1. establish the direction of his ministry (God not self)
2. and to demonstrate his power over satan.
The nature of temptation:
1. Challenges self-importance –
a. Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones
be made bread.
b. Gen 3. 4-5 - challenged God
i. Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
ii. Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be
as gods, knowing good and evil.
2. Challenges you to prove something - spiritual pride
3. Seems reasonable and desirable - he was hungry
4. Appeals to 1 Jo 2.16
a. 1 John 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world.
Lust of flesh –
Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be
made bread.
Adam - Gen 3.6 (food) - Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, …
Wilderness - Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which
neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that
comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Lust of eyes –
Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels
charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Adam - 3.6 …and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes,
Wilderness - Deuteronomy 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.
Pride - be like God –
Matthew 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Adam - 3.6 - and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto
her husband with her; and he did eat.
Wilderness - Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
How do you handle it?
1-Run - flee - 1 Cor 6.16; 10.14; 2 Tim 2.22 - Joseph
2-Look for Gods help (a way out) - 1 Cor 10.13
3-Be careful what you desire - Ja 1.14~15
4-Discipline your thinking - 2 Cor 10.5
What you desire will be what you think about, and what you think about will eventually become what you do.
5-Seek first - Mt 6.33; Col 3.1-2
6-Always use scripture in spiritual battle – Like Jesus did!
We are saved grace, but what you become will be a result of Gods grace and your conforming to his Word. We are
disciples, and disciples live disciplined lives.
Every person will be tested to determine his allegiance and tempted because of his natural tendency toward self-
gratification.
Jesus was tempted in order to
1. establish the direction of his ministry (God not self)
2. and to demonstrate his power over satan.
The nature of temptation:
1. Challenges self-importance –
a. Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones
be made bread.
b. Gen 3. 4-5 - challenged God
i. Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
ii. Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be
as gods, knowing good and evil.
2. Challenges you to prove something - spiritual pride
3. Seems reasonable and desirable - he was hungry
4. Appeals to 1 Jo 2.16
a. 1 John 2:16 For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not
of the Father, but is of the world.
Lust of flesh –
Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be
made bread.
Adam - Gen 3.6 (food) - Genesis 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree [was] good for food, …
Wilderness - Deuteronomy 8:3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which
neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that
comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Lust of eyes –
Matthew 4:5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels
charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Adam - 3.6 …and that it [was] pleasant to the eyes,
Wilderness - Deuteronomy 6:16 Do not test the LORD your God as you did at Massah.
Pride - be like God –
Matthew 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Adam - 3.6 - and a tree to be desired to make [one] wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto
her husband with her; and he did eat.
Wilderness - Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
How do you handle it?
1-Run - flee - 1 Cor 6.16; 10.14; 2 Tim 2.22 - Joseph
2-Look for Gods help (a way out) - 1 Cor 10.13
3-Be careful what you desire - Ja 1.14~15
4-Discipline your thinking - 2 Cor 10.5
What you desire will be what you think about, and what you think about will eventually become what you do.
5-Seek first - Mt 6.33; Col 3.1-2
6-Always use scripture in spiritual battle – Like Jesus did!
We are saved grace, but what you become will be a result of Gods grace and your conforming to his Word. We are
disciples, and disciples live disciplined lives.