Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Matthew 1-4
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.
Temptation is as common to man as breathing is common. All are tempted. Jesus, the greatest hero of our faith is the only one that lived or ever will live that never, once, yielded to temptation. For if He ever gave in to temptation and transgressed God’s Law in any point He would not have been the suitable sacrifice for sin. But He did overcome temptation to sin, here is how.
He quoted Scripture.
When tempted in the lust of the flesh, He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. After all He had been fasting for forty days and nights, He was hungry. His flesh must have cried out for sustenance. He could have made the stones bread, but that would be yielding to the tempter.
When tempted in the pride of life, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:16. For the second time the tempter said, “If thou be the Son of God.” By throwing Himself off the pinnacle of the temple He would prove that He was the long-awaited Son of God, He could defend Himself against doubt, but that would be tempting God which would be a transgression against God’s Word.
When tempted with the lust of the eyes, He quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 or perhaps Deuteronomy 10:20. He was shown all the wealth, power, and glory of all the kingdoms of the world and was promised that it could be entirely His. All He had to do was simply worship that tempter.
Now, according to I John 2:16 there are three categories of temptation and sin.
The lust of the flesh
The lust of the eyes
The pride of life
Jesus was tempted in all three. The writer of Hebrews was right when he wrote: 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. Hebrews 4:15 All temptations to sin are like the piercing points of a dagger pricking the flesh, mind, eyes, and ego. They can be efficiently dulled by the shield of faith in and through the Scriptures.
When Jesus was tempted, He simply quoted Scripture and so should the Holy Spirit of God filled believer of today. After all, if it was good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for us. For He is our role model, example, hero, champion, and so much more. We would do well to follow in His steps.
Welcome to the New Testament we will learn much of the Lord and Saviour. So, stay tuned. After all, it “Doesn’t cost you a dime, it just costs you a little time.”
Dr. William T. Howe
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