Tempted like us.

Tempted like us.  Matthew 4.3-11

In the last several days, as I have been traveling, I have had several random conversations—two on the airplane, another in a taxi and a fourth in an artists’ fair—all revolved around Jesus.  Perhaps I will discuss that more tomorrow, but I was thinking about it, and if there is anything that makes Jesus so real to me, so universally relatable to all of us, it is the fact that Jesus understands me and you . . . he understands the human condition in which all of us live. 

One Bible translation says ‘tempted’, another uses the word ‘tested’, but the fact is, combined with forty days and nights of fasting, the devil came after Jesus in his physically-weakened state with everything he had, in an attempt to convince him to give into him.  But here’s the thing, if Jesus had fallen to temptation, there would be no Christian faith, because that would have been the end of the story.

Matthew writes, ‘Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”’  Satan knew Jesus was weak from hunger, and thus spoke first to his physical need, suggesting he do what God had done for the Israelites when they were in the desert.  Oh, you remember, don’t you?  After fleeing from the Egyptians, the millions of Jewish people, though free, were in the barren wilderness; but God provided their food daily – manna.  Satan tempted Jesus, ‘do it again, but this time, make food for yourself.’ Jesus responded with ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,’¹ words which echoed Moses’ own in Deuteronomy.²

The first of three temptations that Jesus faced might be categorized as common to all mankind – the lust of the flesh.  It is the temptation to gratify ourselves through sexuality, sensuality, gluttony, alcohol, drugs, even anger, bitterness or a critical spirit, or some other way rather than submitting all of our appetites to God. In our culture, we are made to think we have the right, (even as Christians), to indulge ourselves—probably far more than we ought, in any way that feels good.  Paul wrote so clearly to this point when he addressed the Corinthians, whose culture was so much like ours today: “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.”³  “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.”⁴  ‘Anything have you in its grip?

Take coffee as a benign example.  Nothing wrong with it, right?  Unless I require it to sustain me all throughout my day—to a point where it is unhealthy for my nervous and digestive systems.  Lawful, not beneficial.

Jesus answered each of the temptations cast toward him with Scripture, saying we are to live on every word that comes from the mouth of God.  He was quoting from the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy, which may seem an obscure reference to us today.  His point?  Counter temptation with the truths of God’s Word. 

What temptation besets you?  In what manner do you feel you are being tested?  There is truth—biblical truth—to strengthen your mind so that you are able to choose the beneficial thing, rather than that which sets your feet counter to God’s path for you. 

Perhaps we start by taking a look at patterns and choices, and ask ourselves of each, ‘is this beneficial for me?’  If the behavior is difficult to break, we remember that ‘we can do all things through Him who gives us strength.’⁵

Jesus understands our temptations—he has been there, and he offers us a better way, a way out.  “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”⁶ 

God is not just good, he is great, and will help you with what might threaten to take you down.

^{1 – Matthew 4.4}

^{2 - Deuteronomy 8.3}

^{3 – 1 Corinthians 6.12, NIV}

^{4 – 1 Corinthians 10.23, ESV}

^{5 – Philippians 4.13}

^{6 – 1 Corinthians 10.13}