Luke 4:1-13

Jesus was tested by the devil

Context

It is the fourth chapter of Luke’s gospel account and for three chapters Jesus’ coming has been thoroughly described. Two miracle births provided two vantage points to see how unique this son of Mary would be. About 30 years has passed since the angel Gabriel first appeared to Zechariah and Mary to explain who was coming. The King who will reign forever, who will bring light into the world, who will bring salvation to the world and who has been approved by God and declared to be His Son. Now, Jesus begins his ministry and we are ready to hear what he will do first.

Chapter 3 concluded with the earthly genealogy of Jesus and Luke leaves the name Adam fresh in our minds as we enter the next story. Where Adam is remembered for his failing the human race when tested by Satan, we join Jesus now in the wilderness about to be tested by the same deceptive being.

Observation

Structure

  • 1-2 Setting the scene of the temptation
  • 3-4 The First Temptation
  • 5-8 The Second
  • 9-12 The Third
  • 13 End scene – til next time!

1-2 Setting the scene of the temptation

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit…” See Luke 4:14 and 18. If nothing else, this phrase is a message that what an individual is doing is of God. Jesus did not simply go into the wilderness on a whim but is walking in step with the Spirit. Note quietly that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are not the same. Knowledge of the Trinity teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Father and of the Son – not the Father or Son in Spirit form – rather that the Spirit is in perfect unity with the Father and the Son. The Three work in harmony together always.

“…led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days…” We must have the nation of Israel in mind now being led by God throughout the wilderness where they were tested for forty years. This is not a coincidence but one way that Jesus is shown to succeed not only where Adam failed but where the people of God failed as well.

“…he was tempted…” The word ‘tested’ could rightly be used here as well. Either one works and gives us something to think about. God puts his people and even his Son to the test. He knows the heart of a man and so it is not because he does not know a person that he tests them (like we put people through driving tests because the only way to know a driver is ready is to test them). The testing is part and parcel of our human existence. You could say that it’s not because we fail the test that we are unworthy but that because we are unworthy, we fail the test. Jesus is worthy. It is for our own sake that this test happens although we are told in Hebrews 5:7-8 that Jesus was made perfect through his obedience. Again we are not saying that prior to this he was not perfect but that his worthiness is magnified once put to the test and proven.

“…by the devil.” In God’s wisdom he has allowed this one named Satan or the Devil to examine and test mankind. See Job 1:6-12 and notice that Satan still needs to present himself to God. But one day, all who refuse to bow their knee to God will be cast into the eternal fire. See 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 20:10.

“He ate nothing during those days…” Why would he do that? Jesus, in the Spirit, is intentionally creating a type of Israel in the wilderness experience. Fasting is a way of showing dependance on God for everything and is mostly practiced along with prayer. Jesus is no doubt spending his days in communion with God in preparation for his ministry. As he says later, ‘man shall not live on bread alone.’

3-4 The First Temptation

“The devil said to him…” It’s noteworthy that Jesus does not commence these conversations but the devil does.

“If you are the Son of God…” Does Satan even doubt this? Or is he trying to draw out what is possible for Jesus and wonder why he is wasting his time starving when he could be eating! It’s amazing to think about how humiliating this encounter would be. Not only is Jesus forfeiting his throne to dwell among men, but he is alone in the desert places and denying himself food! Now he is allowing the devil to question him! Forget about ordering stones to become bread, why doesn’t he just smite Satan right there and then!? To answer that, you need to answer why he had waited some 4,000 years after Adam to come to earth and why he has been waiting these 30 years before starting his ministry. God is the patient and trustworthy one – we are not. He knows who he is and has no need to prove himself to anybody.

“Jesus answered. “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” This is a quote from Deuteronomy 8:3. It is worth reading the entire quote since it helps understand why Jesus has starved himself to begin with. This is the very lesson that he intends to experience: that God’s word is more life giving than food. As material creatures, we instinctively react differently to this and we need to be taught that God’s word is better than food.

Note that Jesus, being the very word of God, uses the Old Testament to fight back on temptation. Now, I’ve been swapping between the words ‘tested’ and ‘tempted’ because both play a role. It would no doubt have been tempting for Jesus to just eat something and relieve his hunger. If there was no temptation, then there would be no test! But being tempted is not the sin. What we do with the temptation is what matters. The word of God gives us every tool we need in order to reject our temptations and honour God with our choices. See 1 Corinthians 10:13 which is not just a relief but also further proof of our guilt and sin.

5-8 The Second

“The devil led him…” This is curious isn’t it? First he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and now he is led by the devil. Surely we can follow a wicked man down a path without joining with him in his sin – but it is dangerous!

“…showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.” This certainly sounds supernatural and I can’t imagine how this must have been shown to Jesus. This earthly bound and geometrically constrained Jesus was shown by the deceiver what he thought was an impressive view of every human kingdom.

“I will give you…it has been given to me…if you worship me it will be yours.” I honestly do not understand the worldview of the devil. Surely someone who has been in the presence of God himself and has roamed this earth as long as he has would understand who is in charge? The irony is all wrapped up in his statement in verse 6. He is prepared to give to Jesus a kingdom that has first of all been given to him if Jesus would surrender himself to the deceiver. What lies and deceptions are in that verse! Jesus is the true King. He is the Son of the Most High! If Satan has been ‘given’ authority, hasn’t that been given to him from God first? But perhaps he refers to the idea that this world has already surrendered itself to him. The authority that he claims to have comes to him by fact that humanity is under his spell. He is the deceiver and prince of this world (John 12:31). If Jesus would worship Satan, he will certainly not be given reign over every kingdom. What lies the devil spins.

“Jesus said, ‘It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’’” Jesus isn’t simply giving Satan his reason for not surrendering here but is giving Satan an opportunity to surrender himself. It’s as much as to say, God demands that you worship Him and Him alone Satan.  What are you going to do, Satan?

The quote is from Deuteronomy 6:13 and it’s just interesting that the word ‘worship’ is ‘fear’ in the Old Testament quote. Holy reverence is what we all need to learn and live out.

9-12 The Third

“For it is written…” Now Satan, hearing how Jesus keeps using the Word of God to combat his tests, uses the same textbook on Jesus. He quotes from Psalm 91:11-12. Funny that verse 13 mentions the same person trampling on the serpent!

“Jesus answered, “It is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”” Irony abounds! The first response from Jesus to Satan is to listen to the word of God. The second response is to worship God alone. The final response is a direct rebuke. It’s almost the three challenges of Satan rather than the tests of Christ!

Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 6:16. Why would Jesus use the Deuteronomy so much in his replies? That book represents the warning from Moses to the people of Israel to never again turn their backs and fail to trust Yahweh like they did in the desert. Choose blessings or cursings – life or death. This is the great challenge of the book of Deuteronomy and Jesus is communicating to us and to the devil that he will choose to be faithful. He quotes from the very moment that Israel is about to cross the Jordan and enter into the promised land. Don’t forget that Jesus has just left the Jordan and is in the wilderness.

13 End scene – til next time!

“When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him…” James 4:7 teaches us that the devil will flee when we resist him. He has no power to force us to do anything against our will. The trouble is that our will is so weak that we can and do fail to resist him.

But we have the freedom to reject the devil and his ways! Luke 10:17-20 may be a fulfillment of Psalm 91:13 which Satan almost quoted. The 72 could cast our demons in Jesus name. We can conquer his tests in Jesus name. But even still, we are to rejoice not because we can overcome satan but because our names are written in heaven.

Meaning

Where mankind has always failed, Jesus has been proven worthy. Jesus’ tests have highlighted three areas that we must devote ourselves wholly. Listen to the word of God like it is your last meal. Love the Lord our God like there is no other. Praise the one who has passed every test and has passed the test for us!

Application

  • Topic A: Man shall not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. How do you think this plays out in reality? What does that say to us about the priority we need to give to the bible? Explore how you can apply this in your life, acknowledging that reading the bible is not enough (see James 1:22) and considering that Israel needed to learn this in Deuteronomy 8:3
  • Topic B: Worship the Lord your God and serve him only. Given that the word for ‘worship’ can be interchanged with the word ‘fear’ (compare Luke 4:8 with Deuteronomy 6:13), how are we to live out this command? Discuss this considering our weekly worship services as well as how we ought to worship with our whole lives.
  • Topic C: Resist the devil and he shall flee away. Martin Luther is recorded to have said, “You cannot keep birds from flying over your head but you can keep them from building a nest in your hair.” Discuss that quote and share what has been useful to you in practically resisting temptation.

Prayer of the Week

Our Lord and our God, you alone are worthy of our praise and you alone have the words of eternal life. Help us to listen to you all of our days. Help us to resist temptation. Please deliver us from evil. Thank you that in Jesus our names are written in heaven and may we serve you faithfully throughout our days. Amen.