I preached this past Sunday on Jesus’ temptations from Luke 4. You can hear the sermon here.
Jesus is tempted three different times by the devil.
- The first temptation is for Jesus to turn a stone into food. Jesus responds by saying “It is written, ‘Man shall not live bread alone.’” Jesus was referring to the Old Testament. Moses wrote that in Deuteronomy 8:3.
- The second temptation is for Jesus to worship Satan and receive the authority and glory of the kingdoms of the world. Jesus responds by saying “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Jesus was referring to the Old Testament again. Moses wrote that in Deuteronomy 6:13.
- The third temptation is for Jesus to test God by throwing himself off of a very high place. Jesus responds with “It is said ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Jesus was referring to the Old Testament yet again. Moses wrote that in Deuteronomy 6:16.
Very impressive! Jesus practices what he preaches. He walks what he talks. Did you see that? Jesus’ first response to Satan was that even though he was very hungry (40 days without eating) he still found obedience to God better than sin. He says his sustenance is not food so much as it is God. Man does not live by bread alone but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.
Here is my point. Jesus then proceeds to counter every temptation with a passage of Scripture. It is as if Satan is trying to get Jesus to give in and sin, but Jesus replies all three times by saying “But God’s Word says this…”.
Wow. What a commitment to the Bible! It really is alive and powerful. Let the reader of Luke understand that Jesus found the Word of God to be so very valuable to his life in the midst of the temptations of the devil.