(Text and Audio)
Title: The Tempting of Jesus by Satan, Part Two
Intro:
After last week’s message quite a few of you either talked to me, or texted me, or e-mailed me your appreciation for that sermon. I just want you to know, I don’t take those encouraging words lightly. It means the world to me when you offer feedback and encourage me to keep preaching the text, so thank you. I know last week’s message was difficult, and hearing encouragement from several of you really does mean a lot to me.
Today we look at the second of the three temptations offered to Jesus in the desert. Like last week, my hope is to break down the theological implications of these events, look closely at Jesus’ response to Satan, and then, to look at parallels in our own lives so that we can be aware of how Satan can and will tempt us, to be able to recognize his tactics, and know how to respond from Scripture.
(read/pray)
The Second Temptation: Pride
- “The Pinnacle” Has anyone here been to Jerusalem? Anyone seen the old Temple wall? (No? Field trip!) The way the Temple was constructed, one of the walls was on the edge of the Kidron Valley, because Jerusalem was built on a hill, this was a huge drop off, a fall that would surely have killed anyone who jumped from these heights. We don’t know exactly, but I would guess this drop was similar to jumping from the top of the Library at A.U.
- “The Holy City/The pinnacle of the Temple” Jerusalem. Why there? Jerusalem was the city of God’s people. It was the capital of the promised land. It was here that God had Solomon build the Temple. Part of Satan’s sly temptation rests on the idea that Jesus is in a safe place. “Throw yourself down, Jesus. Surely, even in your supposed human state, God would not let you die in front of your people. Surely His hand is staying your way along this mission.”
The Theological Point: Satan is really trying to challenge the humanity of Jesus. What Satan is saying is, “Jesus, I believe you are the son of God, if I didn’t I wouldn’t have challenged you to turn stones into bread. That’s not my issue with you. My issue is I’m not convinced of the authenticity of your humanity. I’m not so sure that you can really be the sacrifice for humanity. Therefore, my challenge is, let’s test God the Father. If He really is sovereign then you shouldn’t be able to die. If God the Father really wants you to complete this mission, then he will protect you, even if you make a stupid decision.
(Side question: COULD Jesus sin?)
How Satan Tests Us: “(Insert Your Name), if God really loves you, and he is all-powerful, he will protect you, even if you make a stupid decision.”
In other words, Satan will use your pride and zealousness for your God to put your God to the test.
Examples:
- We treat the doctrine of Perseverance of the Saints (Once Saved Always Saved) as a license to sin.
- We take financial risks “in the name of Jesus” believing that those decisions are always wise and blessed by God. (In other words, should you support every missionary who solicits you? Give to every charity who asks? Tithe 90%?)
- We surround ourselves with temptations, believing it is God’s job to keep us from actually sinning. God tells us to flee from temptation, but sometimes in the name of God, we run right towards it!
Jesus’ Response:
One of the things I personally find fascinating about this passage is Satan’s use of Scripture. Here, he uses Psalm 91:11-12 in a way that he manipulates the entire meaning of the text by changing one little word.
Psalm 91 is about about trusting God.
Satan replaces “trust” with “test.”
Testing IS NOT trusting.
When I give my 8th graders a test over a unit we just studied, and I have a student come in and say, “No need to test me today, Pastor Roby, I know all this material. Trust me.” My response is “Oh I trust you, here’s your test.”
Jesus, being quite an astute theologian, catches this substitution right away and his response is right from Deuteronomy 6:16 “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” And here’s something interesting: the Hebrew word for “tempt” can also be read “test.” So my point is: We tempt our God when we try to test him.
Imagine if Satan’s replacement of “test” with “trust” was appropriate. Then Jesus response would be ridiculous: “It is also written, you shall not trust the Lord your God.” We’d have some huge problems if that was the case.
Key: As believers we show God that we trust him, precisely by not having to test him. We trust him by our obedience, not by putting Him to the test. Testing God shows a lack of trust in him.
That is what our mindset needs to be when Satan challenges our pride in a effort to get us to test God. Our hearts should respond, I don’t need to test God, because I trust him.
Pray/QA