KEY SCRIPTURE: Heb 4:15 KJV “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.”

The Lord Jesus was absolutely victorious in all He did. Our key scripture says He was tempted at various points yet He was without sin. In St Matthew narration about Him, he talked about His temptation in the wilderness, immediately after being baptised and subsequently filled with the Holy Spirit. The bible said, He was led into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil Matt 4:1. In this time of temptation He fasted. The reading suggests He fasted in order to overcome the temptation. The other view is that whiles He fasted the tempter also did His job.

In all, there were three major temptations. Mark 1:13 also suggests He was there with wild beasts. All these added up to the temptations. The wild beasts could have stirred up fear, yet the Lord will have none of that. Fear had no place in Him.

What is the essence of temptations. The tempter seeks to make the child of God to break faith with God. One’s ability to overcome the temptation, strengthens His commitment, and knowledge of the Lord. According to James 1:2-4 temptations make us perfect and want nothing, only if we overcome.

The temptations of the Lord were in three categories.

1.To satisfy the appetite of the flesh, without waiting for the appropriate occasion. He was hungry, and so must use His power to make stone to become bread to satisfy that hunger.

 This would mean, He becomes a slave of His appetite.

Today’s great failure of our institutions and world is because men are slaves of their appetite, and they would do anything to satisfy that appetite. It could be sex, drink, food or what have you?

2. Once again he the devil challenges His sonship. He played on His pride. He then asked Him to throw Himself down so the angels would save Him. Satan suggested to him to abuse power again, but justifies His trick with a scriptural quotation. Please the fact that one quotes the scriptures does not mean he or she is right. The Lord saw his error and then gave him the right scripture. Have a good understanding of the scriptures, so you would not be deceived.

3. Lastly, he tempted Him with an offer of reigning over the kingdoms of the earth, and so demanded that Jesus worships Him. He tricked Him this time too, by telling Jesus all the kingdoms were his, and must worship Him. Worshipping Him means Jesus had submitted His superior authority into His hands. The Lord refused, and declared that only God must be worshipped.

How did the Lord overcome all these?

Jesus had decided to please and honour His Father before His personal considerations. Failure always results from placing our own interests before God’s word. The Lord then used the word to stop the devil.

CONFESSIONS

Father, you are highly exalted, I live to honour you. My interest only leads to failure. It is in pleasing you that I win over the tricks and strategies of the wicked one. I will always seek your glory and honour always.

THOUGHT: IF YOU PLACE GOD FIRST YOU CANNOT BE LAST, YOU WOULD BE SECOND

FURTHER STUDIES

Matt 4:4 KJV “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Matt 4:10 KJV “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”