My Notes From Our Home Bible Study Feb. 25 Temptation in the Desert

Bible Study

From Glory to Glory

Step 10

From Baptism to Temptation

Harmony of the Gospels- Matt.4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-13

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”   Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV

It is after the greatest spiritual highs that we usually face the greatest spiritual trials. Here we see that it is no less true for Jesus. There is the spiritual high of His baptism, with God the Father speaking from heaven and the Holy Spirit lighting on Him like a dove.  Now He is led straight into the desert for a time of fasting and temptation.

1. The fact of His temptation. 
2. He was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by Satan.  Why?
3. The type of Temptations= * turn stones into bread * jump off the pinnacle of the temple  

 * bow down and worship Satan.

• The theology involved in the temptation.
• Did Satan know who he was tempting?  Read Matt. 4:3 & 6 
• What benefits did Satan offer Jesus with the temptations?                                                  
•  * 1^st temptation, to fill His stomach.  * Jump off the temple and force God to acknowledge Him as His Son. * Claim all the Kingdoms of the world; in doing this, He would bypass the cross.
• What method did Satan use in the temptation of Christ?  Answer- the same as he used for Adam and the same that he uses for us.

Look at Matt.4 and Luke 4

“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”

Genesis 3:5-6 NKJV.  

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”

I John 2:15-16 NKJV

* In Gen. Adam and Eve saw that “the tree was good for food”.                                 

  John called this “The lust of the flesh.”                                                                           

Jesus was told to “Command these stones to be made into bread.                                       

*. In Gen. the tree was “Pleasant to the eyes.”                                                                                                                  

               John spoke of “the lust of the eyes.”

   Jesus was shown “all the kingdoms of the world.”                                                           

*. In Gen. “The tree was desired to make one wise.”     

   John spoke of “The Pride of Life”.                                        

               Jesus was told, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He                                                                         shall give His angels charge over you

• Satan also tried to confuse Jesus by quoting scripture out of context.  For Instance:

“and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’   Matthew 4:6 NKJV

Satan is referring to Psalms91:11

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.”

Psalms 91:11 NKJV

• Did Satan have the right to offer Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world” ?  

Believe it or not, the answer is yes.

“It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation.”  Revelation 13:7 NKJV

“I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.”    John 14:30 NKJV

How did Satan become the Ruler of this world?

• Dominion was given to man:

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”   Genesis 1:28 NKJV

• Dominion was surrendered to Satan with man’s disobedience:

“in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,”

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV

• How did Jesus answer and defeat Satan?

By quoting Scripture!

•  1^st temptation= “So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.”   Deuteronomy 8:3 NKJV
• 2^nd temptation= “You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.”  Deuteronomy 6:16 NKJV
• 3^rd temptation= “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.”    Deuteronomy 6:13 NKJV
• Was this the only time that Satan tempted Jesus?    No!

“Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time.”  Luke 4:13 NKJV

“But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

Matthew 16:23 NKJV

• What happened after the temptations?

“Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

Matthew 4:11 NKJV

Angels played a major part in the ministry of Jesus.