The temptation of Jesus is found in Matthew, Mark and Luke.  It is significant for many reasons.  And it must have been shared by Jesus to the disciples for them to include in their gospel.  Otherwise, they would not have known about it.  I want to mention a couple of reasons why this event is so vital

Jesus Temptation is significant for 2 great reasons:

First, Jesus’ temptation involves the salvation of the world.

If Jesus had failed in his temptations and given in to Satan, He would no longer be the sinless Son of God.  Then He could not be the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.  But thankfully Jesus did overcome the enemy and accepted God’s will and plan of salvation which meant he would not take worldly acclaim or power but rather take up a cross for us.

Second, Jesus’ temptation serves as a model for us.  The scripture teaches that Jesus was tempted in every way like we are but did not sin.  He is modeling for us the way to overcome temptation and follow God’s plan and direction for our lives. While everyone will be tempted, we can overcome temptation.  We are not doomed to fail or unable to achieve victory when temptations come to us.

First, I think it is important to understand temptation.  So, let’s start by asking:

First, What is Temptation? I think most of us know what temptation is.   

A common definition of temptation is the desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise. 

In a more Christian sense, it is being drawn down a path or being lured into an activity or conversation that is the opposite of what God desires or commands.  The prolific nature of temptation is that it can be very multifaceted and experienced in every role and relationship we maintain in life. 

Ronald Rolheiser former President of a seminary in Texas made a very astute observation about temptation and how it can manifest in so many different arenas. I think he was being very honest and forthright. Here is what he said,

We want to be a saint, but we also want to feel every sensation experienced by sinners; we want to be innocent and pure, but we also want to be experienced and taste all of life; we want to serve the poor and have a simple lifestyle, but we also want all the comforts of the rich; we want to have the depth afforded by solitude, but we also do not want to miss anything; we want to pray, but we also want to watch television, read, talk to friends, and go out. It’s a small wonder that life is often a trying enterprise, and that we are often tired and pathologically overextended. Ronald Rolheiser, President Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, TX.

Here is an important principle: Temptation is not sin… but is designed to lead or lure us to sinful actions.  So, the fact that we are being tempted is not in itself sinful. I have talked to people who believe that there is something wrong with them if they are being tempted. As we see from this passage even Jesus was tempted but did not sin. This means that everyone certainly needs to plan on facing temptation.

Second, How are we tempted?

If I were to ask what your favorite food is…. I’m sure I will get many different responses today.

We all have different taste buds. Yet I’m sure there would be categories of people who like Chinese, some Italian, others prefer seafood, still others prefer Mexican. In a similar manner our temptations are all different. What tempts me may not tempt you. Everybody’s temptation will be different, because different things allure us or stimulate a desire that moves us in the opposite direction of God’s word or God’s will.

The scriptures give us a clear picture of how temptation takes place.  The book of James gives greater clarity by teaching, 13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James is teaching is that a real temptation must have an allurement…and enticement…something that grabs our attention and intensifies our desire.  The word used there is “lured”.  For those who like fishing you know that often “lures” are used to try and attract fish and get them to strike the lure!  But the poor fish doesn’t realize that every lure has a hook attached to it!

It is important to note that every allurement of the enemy has a hook attached to it. That hook is sin which then leads to death.

Again, we can turn to the scriptures to see many examples of how this works.  For example, let’s go back to the first recorded biblical temptation of Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Nearly everyone knows this story.

The scripture mentions 3 things about the tree in the Garden of Eden:

It was good for food,

It was pleasing to look at

It was desirable to make a person wise (Genesis 3:6).   Very simply Eve wanted the fruit… She desired it… and she listened to the devil, followed her desire and ate the fruit God had forbidden…By the way, we do not know what fruit it was…many portray it as an apple.  But the scripture does not indicate what kind of fruit it was.

But here is another key principle in temptation: The devil knows exactly what will entice you. Just like Eve was enticed by the tree we are often lured by Satan to disobey God’s clear teaching and boundaries.  This is how all temptations work.  Allow me to use a personal example. Yes, preachers undergo temptations also!

One year I decided to fast and pray on Wednesdays through Lent and the entire year. I went into the kitchen on a Wednesday night when we normally had a church supper. It just so happened they were preparing brownies with ice cream. One of the ladies looked at me, who did not know I was fasting, and asked me, “Would you like to have one of these brownies?” I nodded my head and said, “O Yeah! I would really like to have one. But I am not eating supper today. My mouth was salivating… But I did say, “No!” And moved on quickly. Now that is a small matter. But if we are faithful in small matters, we can be faithful in larger and more important matters.

The book of I John gives us further insight into the nature of temptation. John informs us that

There are 3 categories of temptation found in I John 2:15f.  Listen to what John teaches,

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.  

Here are the categories John mentions:

First Category: Lust of the Flesh

Second Category: Lust of the Eyes

Third Category: Pride of Life

Now I think this is very helpful because John is placing temptation in these three primary categories.  This gives us greater insight into how to overcome battles of temptation.

While all our temptations are different, they are all very similar because they occur in one of these categories. Let’s look again at the first temptation in Genesis with Eve.

Eve’s temptation involved all 3 categories which were mentioned about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

It was good for food…this corresponds to the lust of the flesh.

It was pleasing to look at…this corresponds to the lust of the eyes.

It would make you wise… this corresponds to the pride of life.  

I find in very interesting that Jesus’ temptation involved all 3 categories:

Turn stones to bread… this corresponds to the lust of the flesh to satisfy hunger

Throw yourself down…  Lust of the eyes to let people see what Jesus could do

Worship me and I will give you all the kingdoms… Pride of life… power and position

So while all our temptations are different there are some very common elements about them. And there are some very common applications to how this works. For instance:

You may be looking at something that you should not be viewing.

You may be pursuing a relationship that is out of bounds or pursing things that are outside the boundaries that God has established.

You may be looking for a position or status that is not what God desires

It is one of these 3 arenas that temptations will find their way to our real-life experiences.  This leads to the last point.

Third, How Do We Achieve Victory Over TEMPTATION?

Here is a great scripture to memorize concerning temptation.

I Cor 10:12-13 no temptation is unique or so heavy that you cannot overcome it.  And that God will provide a way of escape that you can bear it…

Here are a couple of key principles to help achieve victory over temptations you face.

1.Strategically Place Yourself away from the source of the temptation if possible. Simply avoid the circumstances or places that will draw you into greater temptation when you might be vulnerable.

Eve could have walked away from the tree… but she listened to Satan and ate the fruit

David could have walked away from Batsheba… but he watched her on the rooftop

Peter could have spoken up and said he knew Jesus… but he denied Jesus.

They were not just victims of circumstances but had the ability to make the choice and to make the right choice.  But they simply did not.  So their desire led them to cave into temptation and to commit sin and its severe consequences.

Joseph fled from Potiphar’s wife… he moved out of that situation unlike David who just stood there and watched and became more and more involved with Bathsheba.

Scripture says to flee youthful lusts….it is not just youth who have youthful lusts and desires… but the best advice is not to place yourself in the context where you know you are going to be tempted…

Many years ago in early college years my friend Ken and I were canoeing on the beautiful Greenbrier River back home. In the distance we saw 2 girls in a boat and Ken was the anchor man in the canoe.  We started up the river and were coming closer to those 2 girls. I turned around and said, “Ken we need to slow down we are going to run into those girls in the other boat!” Ken just kept paddling harder.  I turned around a spoke louder, “Ken we need to stop we are going to ram their boat!” And he just kept paddling and grinning from ear to ear. … Ken needed an anchor, but he just kept paddling.  That situation did not turn out well…He left a total bad impression on those girls and their boat!

Too often we have trouble finding the anchor or applying brakes or turning around and moving in another direction…But if you can remove yourself… even if you have to flee… Flee and get away from the temptation.  Run like Seabiscuit to get away from situations that are tempting…

I certainly know there are times when we cannot flee or get away from a tempting situation.  This was the case with Jesus…So what did Jesus do?  He made the devil flee…

2. Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7)

Notice  Jesus submitted to God’s authority in every part of His temptation:

Temptation: Turn Stones to Bread….

Jesus’ response:  Live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God

Temptation: Throw Yourself off the temple…

Jesus’ response: Do not tempt the Lord your God

Temptation: Bow down and worship me and you can have all kingdoms…

Jesus’ Response: Worship God and serve Him only…

In every case… Jesus submitted to God and God’s authority! We must have our mind on God more than the object of temptation

The other part to achieving victory is to: Resist The Devil

We go back to the example of Joseph with Potiphar’s wife: Joseph was submitting to God and resisting, even fleeing from Potiphar’s wife.

Jesus was submitting to God and resisting the devil.

A key question in temptation is asking, “Who are we resisting more, God or Satan?

Look at Eve… she was resisting God more than Satan

Look at Cain… he was resisting God more than Satan…

Look at David… he was resisting God more than Satan.

Look at Peter… he was resisting Christ more than Satan.

Being victorious over temptation relates to who you are resisting more…God or Satan?

We fail to really see the consequences of a few moments of pleasure and just how costly sin is.

We are too apt to forget that temptation to sin will rarely present itself to us in its true colors, saying, “I am your deadly enemy, and I want to ruin you forever in hell.” Oh no! Sin comes to us like Judas, with a kiss; like Joab, with outstretched hand and flattering words. The forbidden fruit seemed good and desirable to Eve; yet it cast her out of Eden. Walking idly on his palace roof seemed harmless enough to David; yet it ended in adultery and murder. Sin rarely seems [like] sin at first beginnings. Let us then watch and pray, lest we fall into temptation. J. C. Ryle, Bishop of Liverpool, England (1800s)

The Strongest Man Samson fell to temptation with Delilah and lost his strength, vision and ultimately his life.

The Wisest Man, Solomon fell to temptation by adopting foreign wives and their gods.

The Most Spiritual Man, David, a man after God’s own heart, fell to temptation through sexual lust and then committed murder.

O how the mighty have fallen! We are reminded that I Cor 10:12 teaches that if you think that you are standing firm, take heed lest you fall.

Last word…But very important because we all do fail at times. If we fail and cave in to temptation…and we sin… we have an Advocate, Jesus.  If we confess… he is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).  God provides grace when we fail and empowerment to help us overcome.

But Jesus has shown us the way to overcome temptation. And he taught us to pray, Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…  Yes let’s say it again…Let us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

How about your life today? What is your greatest temptation right now? We all have them… and we can be victorious… I think I shared with you before that my greatest temptation is not to do something really evil or commit some heinous act against someone.  But it is simply to quit…to stop doing the things God has called me to do.

Maybe you need some time with God… to submit your need or concern to God and ask God to strengthen you with power to resist.

Perhaps you need forgiveness for giving in to the temptations in your life… and you need reconciliation and empowerment to go in another direction.

I am going to pray today even as Jesus taught me.  You are welcome to pray and find some sacred space here to pray if you need.