This sermon was preached to Grace Church Guildford on 3 April 2022. The full video recording of the service can be found below along with the transcript.
What is it for you? Where do you feel it most? What sins are you struggling with? Where are you currently facing temptation? Perhaps your war with this particular sin has been a long one: a broken relationship has drip-fed your bitterness for years; an addiction to pornography or a substance seems to be something you can never fully leave behind. Or maybe this evening you find yourself in a battle that has begun more recently. There has been a change in your circumstances, and you are now facing new temptations, being tempted to respond to the new situation in sinful ways.
The change could be negative: the busyness of life tempting you to deprioritise time with God and his people; increases in the cost of living tempting you to envy those better off or covet greater financial security; the loss of friends, family or fellow church members is tempting you to idolise the past rather than trust God for the future.
On the other hand, the change in your circumstances could be a positive one. Even when good things happen to us, we can respond in sinful ways: a promotion at work strokes your pride; that exciting new relationship offering itself as opportunity for idolatry; leaving home or getting a wage for the first time exposing you to the attractions of this world. Whatever has happened, whichever sin it is, however long it has went on, this evening you find yourself in a fight and are wondering how to win.
If so, then our passage tonight has some hard truths for you to hear. See here that the Devil is real. When Peter warns us, "Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour", he is not being melodramatic. In this war, we not only have to deal with worldly forces around us and fleshly desires within us, but also Satanic forces in the spiritual realm. As Christians we must fight the world, the flesh and the Devil.
Our passage also presents the hard truth that God does not take temptation away, spare us from this struggle with sin. In fact, we see here the Lord may even lead us into a time of trial and testing, put us in a period where we are exposed to pressures. That is the case for Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, and for Israel in Deuteronomy 8. Here in 4:1 we watch Jesus make his way out into the wilderness "led by the Spirit...to be tempted by the devil." God does not tempt anyone (James 1:13). Yet, he often tests us, takes us our into the wilderness where the tempter is waiting to do his worst. The life of a Christian is a life of spiritual conflict: warring with the world, fighting our flesh, struggling with Satan. As one writer puts it, "God had one Son without sin, but he never had a [child] without temptation." Like the people of Ukraine, whether we want it or not, we find ourselves at war this evening: we must fight.
Yet thankfully, as well as these hard truths, our passage also contains much hope. For watching Jesus overcome the enemy shows us how we might do the same. Our passage presents a series of three battles. This is a boxing match with three rounds. Three times our champion clashes with the evil one, first in the wilderness (4:1-4), then at the temple (4:5-7), and then on a mountain top (4:8-11). And each encounter follows the same pattern. They starts by Satan coming at Christ, trying to tempt him to sin. And each time Jesus blocks his blow, rebuffs his advances, triumphs over this temptation by using a single strategy. Jesus has one weapon, one move that it seems Satan can never counter. Did you notice Jesus starts each response the same way: "It is written" (4:4,7,10)? God’s Son overcame temptation by trusting God’s Word. And we can do the same. Here we learn that trusting God’s Word overcomes temptation from: (1) Our Desires (4:1-4); (2) Our Doubts (4:5-7); and (3) Our Dreams (4:8-11).
1. Trusting God’s Word overcomes temptation from OUR DESIRES (4:1-4)
Whether you watch many wildlife documentaries or not, I am sure you have seen at least one infamous hunt scene. You know the one I am taking about: it usually begins with the camera focusing on a wildebeest lost in the desert. Somehow it got separated from its herd, hasn’t eaten for days, and is slowly using up the last of its strength. Then the camera zooms out and another animal appears on screen. A predator stalking its prey. The lion bides its time, waits for the wildebeest to grow weaker and weaker, before it finally pounces and well...
In many ways, that is a helpful way to visualise how our passage begins. We should not let our knowledge of the final outcome make us think this was an easy experience. No, when the battle begins in 4:3, Jesus is in a place of real weakness. He is alone, and he is very hungry. 4:2 tells us he has been fasting for 40 days and nights. That is, Jesus has had nothing to eat or drink, apart from water, for over a month. Can you imagine how you would be after just 4 days of that? Never mind 40 days! It is when Jesus is at his weakest, that the Devil, like that lion stalking its prey, goes on the attack. And when he attacks, he does so in a way that uses Christ’s weakness to the greatest possible advantage. Satan offers Jesus exactly what he would most naturally want in that moment. In 4:3, he tempts Jesus to "tell these stones to become bread." This showdown between the champion of Heaven and captain of Hell, battle for the fate of the world, begins over the most natural of human desires, hunger, and most basic form of food, a loaf of bread.
Clearly there is nothing sinful about eating bread. Jesus himself soon tells us in 6:11 to pray to God for daily bread and later in 14:15 miraculously feeds five thousand with bread when they are in a remote place without any food. There is nothing intrinsically sinful about eating a loaf of bread! And yet, at this time, in this place, Jesus couldn’t. For him to have turned stones into loaves would have been to use his power for his own purposes, to overcome the hunger that came from his humanity by using the power that came from his divinity. The Spirit had led him into the wilderness to fast. Here he was tempted to break that by selfishly satisfying himself. His hunger was a natural desire. And bread is a good thing. Yet Satan used this natural desire and good thing to tempt Jesus to sin.
Brothers and sisters, see here that when it comes to sin, there is nothing Satan will not use to his advantage. Even good things, like freshly baked bread, can become sinful things when enjoyed or obtained in the wrong way. Satan often hijacks our natural normal desires to tempt us into sinning: a natural desire for the good gift of marriage leads us into a sinful relationship, a normal desire for the good gift of friends causes us to compromise convictions, a wise desire for financial stability is the opportunity Satan uses to enslave us to our work, an ordinary desire for the good gift of sex is the hook he uses to tempt us towards infidelity or adultery. This world is so fallen, and our hearts are so fickle, that nothing around us is safe from sin. Every good thing that we enjoy could also cause us to stumble. Danger lies beneath every stone in the desert. Temptation lurks within every loaf of bread.
Here Jesus faces a temptation arising from natural, normal desires. And yet he manages to resist his great hunger and silence Satan. How? Well, in 4:4 for the first time, we see him draw the weapon he will wield again and again, "Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’" Here Jesus is quoting from what we read earlier in Deuteronomy 8. In fact, each of Jesus’ 3 responses uses a quote from Deuteronomy. I once heard a sermon on this passage that challenged me by asking this question: If your struggle with sin depended on your ability to quote the book of Deuteronomy from memory, how would you fare? How long would you last? Would you have any arrows in your quiver? Would you reach and find any swords at your side? Or would you be found weaponless? Without a sufficient knowledge of Scripture to be able to resist Satan’s suggestions?
Here Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy to declare obedience is more important than sustenance. That trusting what God has said is more essential to life than even eating our daily bread. That God’s decrees are more important than even man’s most basic desires. O, our rumbling stomachs may say we need bread, but it is God’s Word that tells us what we truly need.
We live in a world that teaches the exact opposite: that we must follow our hearts desires, that if we have an itch it must be OK to scratch it, that if we have a desire it must right to fulfil it. But see here once and for all that even good, natural, normal desires, like that of hunger, cannot be allowed to determine what we do. And if that is true of hunger, the most basic of our needs and desires, surely it is true of every other urge and longing we feel: a desire for intimacy; a longing for security; a urge for prosperity, a need for respect, a craving for control. Just because we have a felt need, doesn’t mean we need to satisfy that need. We have a far more reliable moral compass to follow than the hungers of our hearts or the desires of our bodies. It is God’s Word that we trust to direct us.
And further, that we can trust to sustain us. A loaf of bread may sustain us physically, but it is far more important for us to be sustained spiritually. The Bible is more basic to our lives than bread. Better to starve physically and thrive spiritually than the other way around. God’s Word is what truly brings life, grows us in godliness, produces joy and peace, sustains us as we serve. That is why Jesus explains of himself in John 4:35, "My food...is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." And by trusting God’s Word we can overcome temptation from our desires. It both tells us and gives us what we really need.
2. Trusting God’s Word overcomes temptation from OUR DOUBTS (4:5-7)
The lion pounced upon its weakened prey, yet Satan found there was more than enough fight in Jesus to fend off his first attack. And so, he adopts another approach. Having failed to target Jesus’s weak spot, his hungry stomach, the Devil decides to try his strong spot, his believing heart. In 4:5 Satan takes Jesus to the very top of the temple and does something absolutely remarkable – he tries to tempt the Son of God by using the Word of God. See here again, that nothing is sacred to Satan. He even tries to use Scripture to make us stumble! In 4:6, the Devil suggests: "If you are the Son of God throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone."
Jesus overcame the first temptation by trusting Scripture. And so, the Devil now counters by tempting Jesus to put his faith into action. ‘O you say you live by every word that comes from the mouth of God, but have you heard this verse? Are you willing to show you trust it in this way?" Surely, this reminds us that we must handle God's Word with great care. Just as a sword can be used for great good, it can also cause great harm. On the world stage, Scripture has been misused to justify evils like the North Atlantic Slave Trade or support racial segregation. And at a more personal level, it can be all too easy for us to attach God’s words to our wants, hijack what he says to support what we desire. When seeking God's guidance, we must do more than search for a verse that speaks to our situation. We must bring the whole Bible to bear on our decisions. God’s Word is not a fortune cookie that gives snippets of daily guidance, it is a comprehensive revelation which encompasses the whole course of our lives, from which we can work out a wise way to go. Like Jesus here, we must weigh Scripture against Scripture. Avoid misapplying one part by comparing it with another. This is how Jesus silences Satan. In 4:7 he notes, "It is also written...".
I wonder if this temptation strikes you as the weakest of the three? You can understand why Jesus is tempted by the bread in 4:3 and offer of the world in 4:8, but jumping off the tallest building in Jerusalem? There doesn’t seem to be anything particularly tempting about that! Yet more is going on than perhaps first meets the eye. Do you see Satan’s suggestion in 4:6 starts with a premise, "If you are the Son of God..."? The first temptation started the same way, but I think the implication is more prominent here.
That Jesus is God’s Son was a key conclusion of Matthew 1-3. Last week, Christ’s baptism ended with the heavenly voice declaring exactly that! And here we see Satan targets this truth, attempts to sow seeds of doubt about what God has just said to him. Back in Genesis 3:1 we saw this serpent use the same tactic, asking Eve "Did God really say...?" Satan’s strategy here is the very same. Jesus has just heard God declare that he is his Son. And so, the Devil now tries to undermine that truth, whispering: ‘If you really are the Son of God, why don’t you prove it? Are you scared to test that truth? Do you doubt that God will protect you with angels you just like he promised?’
Satan comes to Christ and offers him a way to prove God’s promise, to confirm he is God’s Son. Yet, Jesus parries his blow once again, overcomes this temptation to doubt by trusting, rather than testing, God’s Word. Seeing that distinction between trusting and testing here is key. Jesus does not doubt he is God’s Son, enjoys the special protection of the Father. Later in 26:53, when he is betrayed, he will explain there are 12 legions of angels at his command, ready to come should he call. Jesus knows this to be true not because he has tested God’s promise, but because he trusts in God’s promise. If God said it, Jesus doesn’t need to see it. He doesn’t need a special sign or extraordinary experience to believe. He just needs to know one thing: is it written? If so, he has no reason to doubt it.
In our own struggles with sin, dealing with our doubt is crucial to overcoming temptation. As one writer puts it, ‘Doubt is the lever of [all] temptation.’ (Bruner) Friends, behind every temptation you will ever face are those words of Satan to Eve: "Did God really say...": Did God really say he knows what is best for you – surely you should ignore his outdated commands? Did God really say he would care for you – you need to take your career in your own hands? Did God really say he will give you joy – you should take what pleasure you can get in this life? Did God really say he will build his church – why not try to build it like the world does? Brothers and sisters, underneath ever temptation we give into is some form of unbelief. And so, in every struggle you have against sin, you need to ask yourself this simple question: What promise of God is this temptation telling me doubt? Find that promise, grab hold of it, trust in it and you will find temptation loses its bite, has nothing to offer. Because Jesus trusted God’s promise of protection, he didn’t need to test. And by trusting God’s Word we too can overcome temptation from our doubt.
3. Trusting God’s Word overcomes temptation from OUR DREAMS (4:8-11)
By 4:8, Satan has tried and failed to tempt Jesus into sin twice. This third time, he goes all in, tries one last roll of the dice. No longer is there any craft or cunning, the Devil simply puts all he has on the table and offers it to Jesus. In 4:8 we read, "the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."" What this temptation offers is a shortcut to Christ’s final destination. Jesus has come to save the world, well here Satan offers it over to him on a plate. The Devil gives Jesus a chance to have a crown without the cross. To go straight to a throne, rather than take the way of service and suffering. Satan offers Jesus all has come for: the whole world for a single sin.
If Satan came to you tonight brothers and sisters and tried to strike a kind of ‘everything on the table’ deal, what would he offer you? Of course, we all say we wouldn’t trade our faith, walk away from Christianity, for anything. But what would you be most tempted to do that for? What would the Devil show you if he took you to the top of that mountain? Do you have a dream deep down in your heart, at the back of your mind, that would at least tempt you to listen to what he had to say? If he offered you: a happy family, successful career, a quite comfortable life, perfect health, a beautiful home, influence, respect, what deal would you find it most difficult to walk away from? Brothers and sisters whatever that dream is, I want you to imagine Satan offering that to you tonight. I want you to stand on that mountain this evening and see even if Satan offered you all you ever wanted: sin isn’t worth it.
That’s the conclusion Christ comes to here. In 4:10 "Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only."" Jesus will not strike a deal with the Devil. He will not be part of a bargain that means he must give any ground, succumb to a single sin. God’s Word declares that worshiping or serving anyone but God is sin. And because he trusts in that truth, Jesus knows even a momentary bow before Satan is too great a price to pay for the kingdoms of this world.
If we are honest, all of us have done a lot more for a lot less. We have given far more ground to sin and Satan for a short rush of pleasure, that smile from our boss, those few extra pounds in our bank account. Here, Jesus is offered the splendour of all the kingdoms of the world, and he still knows sin isn’t worth it. That this great payoff wouldn’t justify that price. That the seriousness of sin, the potency of that poison, means even a single drop of it transforms any transaction into a bad bargain.
If you are here and are not a Christian tonight, do you believe that? Believe sin never pays? That disobeying God is never worth it, even if it leads to everything you ever wanted? Here Jesus demonstrates what he later declares in 16:26: "what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?" That is, what does it matter if all your dreams come true, if you spend life divorced from God’s goodness, and at the end face eternal judgment forever.
Friend, do you not see that the Gospel offers a far better bargain than Satan ever can give you? Forgiveness with God, peace the world can never take away, a future of eternal joy and pleasure, a Good Shepherd to care for you, a people to belong to, a purpose to live for, the purpose you were made for, glorifying God and enjoying him forever. What is world or Satan offering you that is greater than that? Friend, even if he gave you everything you ever wanted, I guarantee you Jesus is better. Give up your sin and trust in him. Turn away from listening to this fallen world, your sinful desires and the Devil’s temptations and take Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. [...]
As we conclude, can I draw your attention to 4:11. We see there that after this final temptation, angels came and attended to Jesus, almost certainly including supplying him with food. See here that what Satan tempted him to selfishly take, God now gracious gives him as a token of his care. Physical food and angelic help. However, as we finish, I just want to focus on the first five words of 4:11: "Then the devil left him...". You see, tonight I started by asking the question, how can we win in our war against temptation? But I’m sure there are many here tonight that aren’t asking that question. No, you are asking a much more basic question. Not how you can win, you are just whether you can win? Your war against sin has went on so long, you seem to be stuck in permanent stalemate. Or the tide of temptation has been so strong recently, you just don’t know where you will find the strength to hold it back any longer. Tonight you feel like that weak wildebeest, your strength is slowly draining again, you can see no end in sight, and you can hear the lion over your shoulder, just waiting for you to stumble for the final time so he can pounce. Some of you aren’t looking for strategies to struggle against sin, you are just looking for strength, for the assurance that if you keep going, don’t give up, you will someday come out the other end, pass by this period of pressure and find yourself free from the fight that now fills your life. The help you need is hope. Well, can I encourage you to find it there in those first five words of 4:11: "Then the devil left him...".
Our passage this evening, marks a watershed moment, a turning of the tide of temptation in this world. Up to this point, none have been able to withstand the wiles of the Devil, all have failed the test. We seen that with Adam and Eve in the Garden. with Israel in the wilderness. Up to now, the Devil is undefeated, heavyweight champion of the world. Civilisations have fallen beneath his sway. Billions have bowed the knew to him. No one has been able to resist. And then came Jesus.
Jesus had all the disadvantages. Adam had Eve for company in the garden, Jesus is standing alone in the desert. Adam has all the food from every other tree to enjoy, Jesus has been fasting for 40 days. Adam fell at the first hurdle, Jesus was faithful down to the final challenge. Indeed, faithful to the end of his days. You see while the devil slinks away in 4:11, he will come back to try and trip Jesus up. Hear him in the suggestion of Peter in Matthew 16:23, where Jesus will spot him straight away and cry, ‘Get behind me Satan’.
Even at the very end of his task, you can hear echoes of Satan’s temptation in the cries of the crowds at the cross, there in 27:40 you can hear them tempting him with their taunt: "Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God." Yet even then, Jesus will not falter, does not give ground. He did what we are all called to do in Hebrews 12:4, he resisted temptation even to the point of shedding blood. He held on in order disarm the powers and authorities, make a public spectacle of them, triumph over them by the cross (Col 2:15). Matthew highlights this to us by closing his book with Jesus standing again on the mountain top, with all authority over the kingdoms of the earth given to him not by Satan, but by his Father in heaven. The devil is disarmed and defeated, the tide has turned, Christ is on the throne and his kingdom is expanding.
O we may have many battles left in our lives. See here that we have been left the same tools to fight with as Jesus had here, indeed we will be warring with temptation until the very end. But see here that there will be an end. And that end is a good one. Sin and sorrow will be no more. Temptation will be gone. The Devil will leave us. And we will be with Jesus our captain and champion forever.
ALEXANDER ARRELL