Christ in Temptation

1. Christ in Temptation Matthew 4

2. 17Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Hebrews 2:17–18 (NASB95)

3. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (NASB95)

4. The Methods of the Master Tempter • Satan always seeks us at our most vulnerable

5. The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Vulnerabilities “…He then became hungry” • Reasonable Suggestion • Intense Desire • Easy Solution

6. The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Vulnerabilities “It is written…” • Jesus recognized the “trap” • Quotes a passage teaching dependence on God for provision • The condition Jesus was in gave Him no reason to abandon His trust in the Father

7. The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Vulnerabilities Application • Extreme situations do not indicate a need to abandon Divine wisdom • Happiness is found only in obedience • Ends do not justify means

8. The Methods of the Master Tempter • Satan always seeks us at our most vulnerable • Satan recognizes strengths may become weaknesses

9. The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Strengths “If you are the Son of God” • Not questioning His identity, but His commitment to that identity • “Son of God” references the humanity of Jesus but also the submission of Jesus to the will of God

10. The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Strengths “Throw yourself down” • Satan takes a general promise and applies it to a specific and different situation • The passage encourages humble faith, Satan encourages a boastful demonstration

11. The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Strengths “On the other hand…” • Jesus appeals to scripture and the law of harmony • Faith mixed with pride becomes a weakness rather than a strength

12. The Methods of the Master Tempter • Satan always seeks us at our most vulnerable • Satan recognizes strengths may become weaknesses • Satan recognizes the lure of instant gratification

13. The Methods of the Master Tempter – Exploiting Impatience “…I will give you” • Satan’s offer was instant reward without self-sacrifice • Such offers always have an extreme downside • Satan’s offers are always hollow

14. Christ in Temptation Matthew 4

15. The Nature of the Temptation • Temptation to do evil

16. The Nature of the Temptation – to do evil • Tempt can mean to test or to tempt to do evil • True temptation was a large part of the incarnation Heb 2:10 • Overcoming true temptation was needful for Jesus to serve as High Priest Heb 4:14-16

17. The Nature of the Temptation • Temptation to do evil • True temptation – implies the possibility of failure

18. The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation • “Since the children share in flesh and blood…” Heb 2:14 • “flesh and blood” indicates the frailty of humanity • Human frailty allows us to fall to temptation and thus sin • “partook” – to have a share in

19. The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation Were it impossible for Jesus to give into temptation, “it would be logically impossible for New Testament writers to appeal to His temptation a a ground of confidence or the believer’s overcoming temptation (Harrison, pg. 82)

20. The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation • Foreknowledge does not prohibit freewill • Freewill was a component of every temptation which Jesus faced

21. The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation • The cross itself was a testament to the freewill of the Christ • Jesus’s sacrifice was authorized by the Father, but executed by the Son’s choice John 10:17-18

22. The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation • “…I lay it down of Myself” KJV • “…but I lay it down of My own initiative” NASB • “…I lay it down of My own accord” ESV

23. The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation • The cross itself was a testament to the freewill of the Christ • Jesus’s sacrifice was authorized by the Father, but executed by the Son’s choice John 10:17-18 • Scripture records the anguish this choice produced Heb 5:7-8; Luke 22:35

24. The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation 7In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:7–8 (NASB95)

25. The Nature of the Temptation – true temptation 7In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. 8Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Hebrews 5:7–8 (NASB95)

26. Victory in Submission • The key to Jesus obedience was simple submission • Jesus put the will of the Father above even extreme physical need • Repeatedly through temptation He showed complete devotion to the Father

27. Victory in Submission • The key to Jesus obedience was simple submission • Submission was integral to the incarnation • He voluntarily emptied Himself Phil 2:5-8 • Submission was seen in Gethsemane Luke 22:47-54 • Submission was seen when entering periods of trial Matt 4:1

28. Victory in Submission • The key to submission is trust • The Spirit led Him into trial, but angels ministered to Him after Matt 4:11 • Despite crying out in agony He was still sent to the cross Heb 5:7

29. Victory in Submission • Psalm 22 details the amazing trust Jesus had in the Father • Circumstances seemed to indicate defeat Psa22:1-8 • The moment the enemy seemed strong Jesus seemed weak Psa 22:12-18 • In this moment Jesus placed all trust in the Father Psa 22:19-21 • In this trust and submission Jesus found victory Psa 22:21-26