Jesus Is Tempted
Matthew 4:1-11, Philippians 2:5-7, Luke 22:66-71, John 14:6-11
Jesus was fully God and fully man. This means that he had a physical body like the rest of us; he experienced pain, joy, happiness, and nervousness, which are displayed throughout scripture. He was also fully God, meaning he was righteous and sinless. Jesus was perfect, being in the world but not of it. To read more about the divinity of Christ, read Philippians 2 and John 14.
When Jesus faces temptation in verses Matthew 4:1-11, it is not because he lacks anything or is weak. God allowed him to be faced with temptation to prove his holiness and righteousness on earth. Each time the temptations from Satan grow more severe yet Jesus resists them and is able to hold fast to Scripture and the knowledge of his Heavenly Father to help him. His human-ness allowed him to experience temptation, just like you and I do, but instead, he fought temptation with Scripture. Our flesh is weak, which means that we experience sin and commit sin. Jesus’ divinity, his holiness, allows him to resist temptation.
In verse Matthew 11:4, he quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, relying on God’s word to be the source of his wisdom and decision making. He modeled how we ought to respond to temptation, especially when our flesh is weak. The weakness of humanity is seen from the beginning of it all. The serpent makes Adam and Eve question God’s word - he can take things that God has said and apply them poorly, leading to potential missteps and trouble in discernment.
If this passage teaches us anything, knowing and understanding God’s Word is essential in walking as a Christ follower. When confronted with temptation we must rely on the enduring Word we have been gifted with as a means to know God’s voice and character in a broken world. Knowing God’s Word means knowing God’s will. When the enemy tries to manipulate or steer us away from truth, we can hold fast to the Bible as a way to endure and rest in God’s power.
What is becoming clear as you read this scripture? What can you embrace about Jesus’ posture while facing temptation?
