Jesus Defeats the Devil: The Battle of the Flesh

 

 MATTHEW 4:1-4

THEME: Jesus indisputably triumphs over Satan to show us how to live for spiritual priorities instead of succumbing to the temptations to live for physical satisfactions first and foremost.

RELEVANCE: Jesus is tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the great Conqueror. This temptation is necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. The devil will encourage us to adopt a value system that places an unhealthy emphasis on physical and material needs, but Jesus un-mistakenly points out our real priorities. In addition, He exposes Satan and his schemes, while crushing him most convincingly. Because of His victory, we can win against the tempter. 

INTRODUCTION:

From the high and holy experience of blessing at the Jordan, Jesus is led into the wilderness for testing. Yes, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Jesus was not tested so that the Father could learn anything about His Son, for the Father had already given Jesus His divine approval.

Just as the first Adam met Satan, so the Last Adam met the enemy (1 Cor. 15:45). Adam met Satan in a beautiful Garden, but Jesus met him in a terrible wilderness. Adam had everything he needed, but Jesus was hungry after forty days of fasting. Adam lost the battle and plunged humanity into sin and death. But Jesus won the battle and went on to defeat Satan in more battles, culminating in His final victory on the cross (John 12:31; Col. 2:15).^[1]

Truly the Lord Jesus is a victor, winner, and champion!

John 12:31, Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Col. 2:15, And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. 

LESSON:

Jesus Defeats The Devil (Matt. 4:1-4):

Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

It may seem strange that Jesus should be “led up of the Spirit” into temptation (vs. 4:1). Why should the Holy Spirit lead Him into such an encounter? The answer is that this temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. The first Adam proved his unfitness for dominion when he met the adversary in the Garden of Eden. Here the last Adam meets the devil in a head-on confrontation and emerges unscathed.^[2]

The word “tempted” has two meanings: (1) to test, try, prove, or to make proof of (John 6:6; 2 Cor. 13:5; Heb. 11:17); and (2) to solicit to evil—to entice to do wrong. The Holy Spirit along with the Father sought occasion to test, prove or demonstrate the high and unique quality of Christ’s nature and character. But, the “devil” sought to lure Him to do evil. God Himself is never personally responsible for temptations to practice sin (James 1:13), but here—as in the book of Job—God uses even satanic temptations to serve His sovereign purposes. The Scriptures record how Christ was tempted in all points but He remains free of sin (Heb. 4:15; 1 John 2:16). As typical of him, Satan appeals to our Lord with his favorite tricks, “the lust of the flesh” (vv. 2, 3); “the lust of the eyes” (vv. 8, 9); and “the pride of life” (vv. 5, 6).

The Attacks of the Adversary (Matt. 4:2-11)

After fasting forty days and forty nights, Jesus was hungry—famished from a necessary privation. The number forty in Scripture is frequently indicative of situations of testing or probation. This natural appetite of hunger, like so many others, provides the tempter with an advantage, which in many people he can exploit and manipulate. The Devil often perverts what God intended for good and uses it for evil. It is vital we understand this experience was absolutely necessary according to the Holy Spirit’s direction—a time of testing, endurance, and obedience until the tests are complete.  

Hebrews 5:8, Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

THE FIRST ATTACK—THE TEMPTATION TO LIVE FOR PERSONAL NEEDS AND TO PROVIDE FOR YOURSELF INDEPENDENTLY OF GOD (Matt. 4:2-4) 

The Temptation of the Flesh (Matt. 4:2-3):

Satan challenges Jesus to change the stones into loaves of bread!

Matthew 4:2-4, And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

Satan suggests that Jesus use his miraculous power to convert the stones of the desert into loaves of bread. The words, “If Thou be the Son of God,” does not mean that Satan doubted who Jesus was. No, Satan knew full well and exactly who he was dealing with. Satan was actually saying, “Since You are the Son of God.” The devil is alluding to the words of the Father to Jesus at the baptism, “This is My beloved Son.” The devil accepted the statement as true and, called on Jesus to exercise His power to satisfy His hunger. You know, sometimes the idea of wanting a miracle comes from the Devil and not our Lord. Miraculous solutions are great to witness and sometimes escape from difficulty or suffering is the Father’s will. But, not always! Please note the following observations. 

To fulfill a natural appetite by using divine power in response to Satan’s encouragements is a direct act of disobedience to God. As Christians we do not take marching orders from the Devil! This is the same appeal Satan enticed Eve with in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:6 (“good for food”). John classifies this temptation as “the lust of the flesh” (1 Jn. 2:16). Our corresponding temptation is to live for the gratification of natural desires, to choose a pathway of comfort instead of seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The devil says, “You have to live, don’t you?” Instead of trusting God for all our needs, we sometimes reserve the right to control matters that relate to our legitimate needs. We must resist the desire to be controlling and self-sufficient. It is always right to depend on God, His way and timing.

Temptations to live to satisfy personal needs and desires presents a challenge to our love for God, involves doubts and questions relative to the love of God and proposes a path that rivals the will of God. “Since You are God’s beloved Son, why doesn’t Your Father feed You?” Why does He put You into this terrible wilderness?” This temptation sounded like Satan’s words to Eve in Genesis 3! It is a subtle suggestion that our Father does not love us. In affect Satan says, “If God loved his children then why does he allow them to suffer?” “Why doesn’t your Father shield you from all painful experiences?” If Satan can provoke us to doubt God’s love and care for us then we will find it difficult to trust Him with our needs and the timing for His provisions in our lives. We will pursue our own will and methods to secure whatever we feel we need in whatever ways that produce the desired results. Such independent behavior does not honor the Lord.

Still there is another suggestion from the Devil: “Use your divine powers to meet your own needs.” When we put our physical needs ahead of our spiritual needs, we sin. All needs do not have the same priority or gravity. Spiritual concerns are far more important than our physical concerns. Both of these areas matter to the Lord, but spiritual needs are clearly weightier in God’s economy. We cannot allow the Devil to dictate our values system. When we allow circumstances to dictate our actions, instead of following God’s will, we sin. Too many of us look no further than to the situation, circumstances, or natural conditions to make decisions, but life is to be sanctified unto the purpose and glory of God. Jesus could have turned the stones into bread, but He would have been exercising His powers independently of the Father; and He came to obey the Father (John 5:30; 6:38). When we use our abilities, talents, strengths and skills in a manner that does not acknowledge God’s will, we sin. My sweet mother use to emphasize how we must use our powers wisely—just because you can do something does not mean that you should. Too many of us justify greed, excess, avarice, gluttony, extravagance, and luxurious living because we deem these lavish extras as needs. 

The Triumph Over the Desires of the Body (Matt. 4:4):

People have greater needs than their physical life; we must feed on every word of God to satisfy the spiritual life needs as a first priority. When this is the case, we will have the spiritual understanding to make sound decisions concerning our needs. Jesus’ answer directs us to trust God to provide for our needs…He can speak and our supply will be available to us. Now note what Jesus did in response to the Devil to defeat him concerning this temptation in the area of the flesh. 

The Lord Quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, to Defeat Satan’s First Temptation.

All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. 2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live. 4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years. 5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.

When Israel was in a desert place and could not provide for their most basic needs, it was God who merely spoke and their needs were supplied. God gave them manna in the wilderness wanderings. Depending on God first and foremost for our physical needs must become our priority as well. Food is a need, companionship is a need, for some marriage is a need, a means of employment is a need, shelter is a need, and on the list goes. We must look to God to supply our physical and relational needs; we must not resort to compromise, shacking up, sleazy hock-ups, and lying on government applications to secure a social benefit.

We can follow God’s leadership and guidance obediently because we are confident of His love and care…we do not doubt that He will provide for our needs in His way and timing. We are less tempted to resort to lying, cheating, stealing, manipulating, or even working excessively to supply our needs independently of God. Remember, we can survive and be satisfied by the bread which God supplies, but bread acquired independently of God will leave you still wanting and longing for something more.

Jesus Answered The Temptation By Quoting Audibly The Word Of God to the Devil (Matt. 4:4). Matthew 4:4, But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

It is written (γέγραπται). The perfect tense. “It has been written, and stands written.” The first recorded words of Jesus after his entrance upon his ministry are an assertion of the authority of scripture, and that though he had the fulness of the Spirit. When addressing man, our Lord seldom quoted scripture, but said, I say unto you. In answer to Satan he says, It is written.^[3]

The Sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17) is the Word of God and here Jesus shows us how to weld this most powerful sword in spiritual combat! Yes, it is an offensive weapon when used properly by God’s people. Give the devil the pure undiluted Word of God; our arguments are not wise or cleaver enough to win the day. Use God’s Book; quote it to the wicked one. The imagery of a sword relative to the Bible, the Word of God, is a primary idea the Bible repeatedly highlights (Heb. 4:12; Rev. 1:16; 2:16; 19:15). It denotes examination, judgment, and warfare!

Jesus’ example instructs us to speak God’s Word with insight and practical application to everyday situations, temptations, and challenges. Yes, even at times directly to the Devil also to remind him where our loyalties lie. The disciples of our Lord followed this example of addressing devils directly with a keen and practical understanding of the Scriptures and to cast them out (Matt. 17:14-21). However this ability was not to be taken presumptuously, it was only honored when genuine faith filled disciples of our Lord were on His mission and executing His will (Acts 19:11-18).  

In addition, always maintain uppermost in your mind the very character of the Word of God. It is faithful (2Tim. 2:11), confirmed (Heb. 2:3; 2Pet. 1:19) and it endureth forever (1Pet. 1:24-25). You are always correct to trust God’s prescriptions for everything that ails this life or afflicts our experience!

Our Lord’s example teaches that we don’t have to live without physical hungers, but we do have to live to obey God! Getting bread or being filled with bread is not the most important thing in life. While full obedience to every word of God is truly paramount. We should hunger for righteousness and thirst for obedience far more than mere material provisions! Sometimes it is the will of the Father for us to be hungry or to go without whatever to train us to trust Him to supply our needs. God revealed Himself throughout the Scriptures as the Lord God Almighty who meets and satisfies our deepest needs and desires. He has not changed! W. MacDonald says, “Since Jesus had received no instructions from the Father to turn stones into bread, He would not act on His own and thus obey Satan, no matter how intense His hunger.”

CONCLUSION:

The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil, and our Lord indisputably triumphs over Satan’s temptation to live for physical satisfaction as our first priority. Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. Are you convinced of this truth? Have your convictions about the Lord Jesus being a winner deepened and advanced? 

You may recall also that this temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. God still uses such testing and challenges to prove our fitness and demonstrate our readiness to lead! 

Matthew’s record of these events exposes Satan and his tactics. What have you learned about the enemy’s attacks and seductions? Finally, please do not miss the all-important lesson that because of Christ’s victory, we can have victory over the tempter as well. But how? Well… by understand that nourishing the soul with the written Word and obeying God’s Word supersedes consuming physical food or satisfying temporal needs. Exalt spiritual pursuits in your value system! Yes, accordingly God’s Book is our spiritual food. 

In closing consider and even meditate on the values and priorities of the Lord Jesus in John 4:32-34, But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. [33] Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? [34] Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.     

 

---

^[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 18). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

^[2] MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1212). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[3] Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 1, p. 28). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.