After Jesus’ baptism in Luke 3, he is led into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil for forty days. He also fasted during these 40 days, and Scripture tells us by the end of this time that Jesus was understandably hungry. It’s at this time that Satan begins tempting Jesus.
Scripture has much to say about the topic of temptation, especially as it relates to our own sin. At it’s core, temptation is ultimately an offer that says, “I can help you to not feel the way you’re feeling.”
- The Root of Temptation - James 1:12-15. It’s not external things that draw us in, but internal desires that draw us away. In Luke 4, you see Satan tempt Jesus with things that could potentially appeal to his flesh.
- The Remedy for Temptation - Hebrews 4:14-16.
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Thankfully, our high priest understands the temptation we face, and we can go to him for mercy and help. - Our Response To Temptation
Scripture uses clear and strong language to describe how we should respond to temptation – flee from it, resist it, and put it to death.
James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Ephesians 6:13 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day…”
Galatians 5:24 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
Colossians 3:5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence…”
Romans 8:13 “If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
Romans 13:14 “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
Matthew 5:29–30 “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out… if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off…”
1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man… God is faithful… will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
The order of my points is intentional (Remedy before Response); remember, Paul wrote to the Romans that God demonstrated His love towards us, in that while we’re still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. He didn’t say, “once you stop sinning and get your life cleaned up, then maybe you’ll be a godly person who’s worth dying for.”
