The Temptation of Christ

The Gospel According to Luke

Pastor Jim Thomas

Luke 4:1-13

1. The Temptation of Christ serves to expose the sources and strategies of temptation.

“You once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh” 
Ephesians 2:2–3

Sources of temptation:

1. The World
2. The Flesh
3. The Devil

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”
C. S. Lewis, preface to The Screwtape Letters

The Temptation of Christ was the devil’s attempt to entice Jesus to doubt the trustworthiness of God the Father regarding:

1. Sustenance
2. Significance
3. Security

“Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13

“The typical temptation of the young is lust, of the middle-aged ambition, and of the elderly bitterness. Actually, all three drives are similar and related: ambition is a refined lust, bitterness a disappointed one.”  

Frederick Dale Bruner

2. The Temptation of Christ serves to teach us how to resist temptation.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word.” 
Psalm 119:9

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11 

“I can’t keep the birds from flying over my head, but I can prevent them from building a nest in my hair.”

Martin Luther

“For since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, he is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted” 
Hebrews 2:18. 

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” 
Hebrews 4:15

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
James 4:6–10

The temptation of Christ reminds us:

1. Temptation is universal.
2. Temptation itself is not a sin.
3. Temptation can be resisted and/or escaped.
4. The grace of God in Christ removes all our disgrace.

“The Christian discipline of fighting temptation is not about self-hatred, or rejecting parts of our God-given humanity. It is about celebrating God’s gift of full humanity and, like someone learning a music instrument, discovering how to tune it and play it to its best possibility.”

N. T. Wright, Luke for Everyone