Text: Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1-13
Have you ever witnessed a new store opening? If you have you know that humans begin a new enterprise with all the hoopla, bands playing, and as much public attention as they can muster. It is the human way, but the antithesis of that is how Yahshua inaugurated His ministry. This is what I will talk about tonight.
In Matthew 4:1-11 we read:
4 1 Then the Spirit led Yahshua up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary. 2 After Yahshua had fasted forty-days and nights, he was hungry. 3 The Tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of G-d, order these stones to become bread.” 4 But he answered, “The Tanakh says,
‘Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai’ ”
5 Then the Adversary took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the Temple . 6 “If you are the Son of G-d,” he said, “jump! For the Tanakh says,
‘He will order his angels to be responsible for you.
They will support you with their hands,
so that you will not hurt your feet on the stones.’ ”
7 Yahshua replied to him, “But it also says, ‘Do not put Adonai your G-d to the test.’ ”
8 Once more, the Adversary took him up to the summit of a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory, 9 and said to him, “All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 “Away with you, Satan!” Yahshua told him, “For the Tanakh says,
‘Worship Adonai your G-d, and serve only him.’”
11 Then the Adversary let him alone, and angels came and took care of him.[1]
Yahshua had just been baptized by Yochanan, received the Ruach HaKodesh and His mission was confirmed by no less than an audible blessing of G-d. We can understand by Scripture that this event signals the inauguration of His earthly ministry. Scripture tells us He was then led into the wilderness to be tempted. Yahshua the Son of G-d, perfect, without sin was to be tempted like us and as you will see in all the same parts, in which we are tempted.
Now take notice that preceding the temptation, Yahshua fasted for 40 days and forty nights, which left Him in a weakened state susceptible to temptation. Let us pause for just a minute and really consider Yahshua’s physical state. How many of you have fasted for any prolonged length of time? If you do fast, it is short and most of you are surrounded by the comforts of your air-conditioned home. You have all the diversions afforded by your computer, TV, entertainment center or radio. I would venture, that most of you, even in such an ideal and comfortable environment could not make it past 24 hours without succumbing to temptation and breaking the fast. Think how much more difficult it would be in the desert, exposed to the elements, desert flies pestering you, enduring the scorching heat in the daytime and the miserable cold at night. Suffering dehydration from the stifling humidity and experiencing chills at night. No entertainment except the excited flapping of the wings of waiting buzzards. Think of the resolve it would take to fast for 40 days and 40 nights, even in ideal conditions, let alone what I have described. I would venture to say none of you would succeed. Now add to this the temptations offered by one that was fully able and prepared to deliver it.
How many of you are now entertaining the thought, Oh well, He was the Messiah, that’s different, for we are want to give Yahshua superhuman resolve that we lack, but the Scriptures tell us that He was a human in every detail with all the weaknesses and shortcomings natural to humanity. To drive the point home theology describes Yahshua as very, very, man. We cannot but see that Yahshua who was representative of man and as such was as human as you and I.
However, we must never forget that in His representative capacity He was the giver, restorer, and perfecter of the Covenant of G-d. Nor may we forget that had He not confronted temptations and overcome them we would not have a Cohen Gadol Who intercedes for us before YHVH Elohim. Humanity’s well being depended upon His success for if He failed, humanity would be lost for He was the Messiah, G-d’s anointed. Neither should we forget that before Him there were others who had been G-d’s anointed but who failed, and we must sense the added stress this knowledge created within Him as He underwent temptation for such knowledge would work to His hurt more than to His benefit.
Because Yahshua was the Son of G-d, we tend, albeit warily to think in what respect could Yahshua the Perfect Sinless Man, the Son of G-d, have been tempted by HaSatan? Temptation without the possibility of sin seems unreal and has no redeeming value. Even in the face of this truth, we tentatively view our own shortcomings at sinful failure as excusable because we imagine we are shorted by G-d in contrast to Yahshua.
Human nature, that is before Adam’s fall was both sinless and peccable, peccable because both the first Adam and the second Adam, Yahshua, were capable of sinning. Adam failed whereas Yahshua succeeded, but neither had an advantage over the other. We read in Hebrews 4:15 that: “15 For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin…” that should settle the matter. If we do have an advantage it is that Yahshua took upon Himself human nature with all it infirmities and weaknesses but without the moral taint of the fall. Yes, we are disadvantaged in that quarter for the corporate head of humanity had fallen and introduced sin into our nature. Yet, there was no advantage over Adam. Adam was tempted and fell now Yahshua beginning upon His ministry must also be tempted and that is the subject of my message. What we all must realize is that the Almighty, blessed be His name, never elevates a man to distinction unless He has been tried and searched. Think not that you may escape temptation if our Messiah did not. Be forewarned and prepared for who among us is greater than Moshe, David, Elijah of any of the G-d driven men and women of the Bible. Instead we must learn from Scripture how to meet temptation head on, how to overcome and succeed in defeating the wiles of hasatan. Except the taint of original sin we are equipped the same as Yahshua and maybe that is a disadvantage, but it is surely offset by having been regenerated and re-born from Heaven. Furthermore, the Ruach HaKodesh is there to comfort, encourage and help us to overcome adversity. So you see we are entirely without excuse. We are even promised by HaShem that we should not be tempted more than we are able.
Turn to 1 Cor 10:13 and read with me so that you will remember that G-d does not forsake you in the hour of temptation: 13” No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and G-d can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation He will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure.” We should bear in mind that temptation is an opportunity for victorious living; a challenge to meet effectively, and an exercise by which we can strengthen our faith. No matter the form the temptation takes, it always resolves around one question: absolute submission to the Will of G-d, which is the sum and substance of all obedience.
Now let us look at the Temptation of Yahshua and its relation to our own temptations.
Let’s look at the text again in the KJV. Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then the Spirit led Yahshua up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary.
Do you see something incredible in the first verse? A different aspect of the work of the Ruach HaKodesh, contrary to what is generally taught. I want you to become aware of the difference: “Then the Spirit led Yahshua up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary.” Note please: The Spirit led Yahshua to be tempted. You may ask yourself, why in the world would the Spirit lead or bring us into temptation. Is not the Spirit a comforter not a vehicle that brings discomfort?
Aren’t we taught and haven’t you always attributed temptation to the work of HaSatan? Oh, he might be a necessary cog in the mechanizations of temptation, but is he the source? In Isa. 45:7 YHVH informs us Who is the source of good and evil. Let me read:
Isa 45:7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I YHVH do all these things.
Are you and I to really to believe that G-d is the author of evil? If we believe Scripture to be the Word of G-d, then we must. Scripture tells us in Rom 8:28 “…that all things work together for good to them that love G-d, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
May we then conclude that evil in the form of temptation, adversity, trials and testing is a form of G-d’s good work through the Spirit, but to what purpose? Simply stated, to help us ascend unto Him. We might even conclude that in this context it is a good work designed to further spiritual maturity in the believer.
Without ambiguity, we are informed in this verse that it is the Spirit’s work. Also, take notice that it says that the Spirit led Yahshua “up.” This word “up” corresponding to the Hebrew word Aliyah is a simile. Aliyah in Hebrew, always means ascending to G-d, no matter the direction of travel, be it geographically up or down. When we experience temptation in any form it is designed to propel our spirit upwards to ascend to G-d.
We should also remember when tempted or in adverse conditions what Yochanan wrote in John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.”
And in: John 15:21 “But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.”
and finally in John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Furthermore, we read in: Mark 4:16 regarding the parables of the seeds and the individuals the parable addresses, this warning: “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
The bottom line is that we are to expect not only temptation but also adversity and testing.
Now let us look at the means of all our temptations. In Greek, he is referred to as diabolos usually translated as devil. In Hebrew, satan which is usually translated as the Adversary and carries with it the meaning of opponent, rebel. In Isaiah 14:11–15, between the lines of a taunt against the king of Babylon, can be read the downfall of a creature who was once both powerful and beautiful but who in pride rebelled against G-d and came to oppose him; Ezekiel 28:11–19 is similar. On the other hand, Job 1–2 is explicit in showing Satan as the opponent of both G-d and man. In Genesis 3 as the serpent, he tempts Adam and Eve to disobey G-d; equating the Adversary with the serpent is clear from Rev. 12:9, which speaks of “that ancient serpent, also known as the Devil and Satan (the Adversary), the deceiver of the whole world.” Hasatan, the satan is a created being, in no way equal to his Creator; yet he is the basis of all sin, evil and opposition to G-d. When we are tempted, he cannot succeed if we but resist and deny him power over us. This is YHVH’s plan to discipline us and help us grow into mature believers. The book of Job teaches us that the reason why an omnipotent and good G-d permits such opposition is a mystery, but as believers, we can conclude from other scriptures now available to us that it is for our benefit and growth as believers. We also learn that regardless of our response to temptation, G-d remains in perfect and unthreatened control. This we see most clearly in Job chapters 40–41, where “Behemoth” and “Leviathan” are seen to be stand-ins for the Adversary, because when G-d challenges Job to deal with them he repents “in dust and ashes” (Job 42:6). Both the Tanakh and the B’rit Chadasha (New Testament) take for granted the existence of a supernatural realm of good, obedient angels who serve G-d and evil, rebellious ones (demons) who serve the Adversary and we must be cognizance of this fact. As believers, we have fights to fight and battles to be won.
Now let us return our text:
2 After Yahshua had fasted forty-days and nights, he was hungry. 3 The Tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of G-d, order these stones to become bread.” 4 But he answered, “The Tanakh says, ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of Adonai’ ”
Notice how hasatan addresses Yahshua in verse 3: If you are the Son of G-d. Do you think that hasatan did not know who Yahshua HaMashiach truly was? Of course, he did, and he trembled as James reports. What we need to know is that Hasatan attacks believers in the same manner, planting doubts in our minds. He then confronts us with an unspoken challenge: If you are a believer…then dares you to perform some act to prove it. A believer need not perform stunts to prove his commitment nor provoke YHVH with doubtful challenges of his own. What we need to learn is how Yahshua our L-rd responded in this passage and we should use this model to inform our own reaction.
Now to the text where we left off:
5 Then the Adversary took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the Temple . 6 “If you are the Son of G-d,” he said, “jump! For the Tanakh says,
‘He will order his angels to be responsible for you.
They will support you with their hands,
so that you will not hurt your feet on the stones.’ ”
7 Yahshua replied to him, “But it also says, ‘Do not put Adonai your G-d to the test.”
8 Once more, the Adversary took him up to the summit of a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory, 9 and said to him, “All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 “Away with you, Satan!” Yahshua told him, “For the Tanakh says,
‘Worship Adonai your G-d, and serve only him.’”
11 Then the Adversary let him alone, and angels came and took care of him.
Right here we should note that hasatan presents Yahshua with each of the three categories of temptation named by Yochanan in 1 John 2-15-17. We will read these passages shortly for it is advantageous for us to understand how hasatan works.
Now let us go and examine the three categories of temptation listed in John.
1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the
1. lust of the flesh, and
2. the lust of the eyes, and
3. the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
1 John 2:17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
As we look at each one separately, we see a model of how hasatan always tempts the believer:
(1) “The desires of the old nature” or “flesh”—Yahshua was hungary after such a long fast and hasatan tempts him with: “If you are the Son of G-d, order these stones to become bread”;
(2) “The desires of the eyes”—the Adversary … showed him all the kingdoms of the world in all their glory, and said to him, “All this I will give you if you will bow down and worship me”; and hasatan had the authority to do just that if Yahshua had consented to his demon request
(3) “The pretensions of life”—the Adversary took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, and set him on the highest point of the Temple. “If you are the Son of G-d,” he said, “jump!” Using scripture wrongly that no harm should come to Yahshua.
Hasatan apparently never changes his tactics for he was already using the same three kinds of temptations in the Garden of Eden: If it works why change it. Let us look at the first model in scripture. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food” (desires of the flesh), “and that it was a delight to the eyes” (desires of the eyes), “and a tree to be desired to make one wise” (pretensions of life), “she took of the fruit and ate” (Genesis 3:6).
The difference is that “the first man” Adam did not resist the Adversary, but “the second man” did. Yahshua, showing the power of the Word of G-d in resisting the Adversary, quotes the Torah in answer to all three temptations: The first is found in Deuteronomy 8: 4,
…man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
The second in Deuteronomy 6:16,
Deu 6:16 Ye shall not tempt YHVH your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.
and the third in Deuteronomy 6:10.
Deu 6:13 Thou shalt fear YHVH your Elohim, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.
One other point we should remember is that Torah tells us that hasatan, is “the inventor of the lie.” He can misuse Scripture to deceive, as he did in verse 6, citing Ps. 91:11-12 and as he did with Havah in Gen 3:3-4. If we are to successfully resist hasatan, we need to be grounded in Torah and know it.
In closing, remember that:
Spiritual Trials Must Proceed Spiritual Elevation.
Shelah,,,
Rabbi Davis (R. Milchamah b. David)