Bible Reading: Exodus 1; Job 18; Luke 4; 1 Corinthians 5
Luke 4:2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
Our High Priest has been tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Let's see how the devil tempted Jesus. According to the Bible, there are three things that are "in the world".
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.
Test 1. The lust of the flesh – Jesus was hungry and Satan tempted him to turn the stone into bread. However, Jesus countered him with the Word of God.
Luke 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Test 2. The lust of the eyes – The devil took Jesus up on a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment. He then proudly declared that they belonged to him and he would give them to Jesus if he would only worship Satan.
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Test 3. The pride of life – The devil took Jesus to the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem and challenged the fact that he was the Son of God. In essence, the devil said, "If you are the Son of God, prove it by throwing yourself down from here. After all, the Bible says that God will command his angels to catch you." Here would have been a marvelous display of power and would have immediately placed Jesus in the limelight.
Luke 4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Jesus was faithful to God and did not sin in this time of temptation. Therefore the devil left him for a season. Aren't you glad that Jesus is who he says he is? He is the Son of God. He is the heir to all the kingdoms of the world. He is a faithful High Priest who has faced the devil's temptations and has the victory. You can trust him! The Bible says we can go to him for help in our daily temptations.
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
In Christ,
Rody
