Luke 4:1-13
Q.1. What makes the circumstance surrounding the temptation of Jesus significant? – (Lk.4:1-3)
Firstly, Jesus had just been baptized, and the Father had expressed His pleasure in His Son and His mission (c.f. Lk.3:21-22). As the sinless Son, Jesus needed no baptism of repentance or forgiveness for Himself (c.f. Lk.3:3). His baptism signalled that He had realized His identity from the Scriptures and was willing to identify Himself with sinful men in this way (Mt.3:13-15). After this highlight in His life, the temptation came. We should never be surprised if trials follow times of triumph. Christ’s first challenge following His ‘coronation’, was to resist the Devil head-on – Jesus full of the Holy Spirit … was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness (Lk.4:1). Mark’s Gospel account says –Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go into the wilderness … after His baptism (Mk.1:12). Thirdly, the Tempter attacked Jesus when He was physically weak, at the end of a 40 day fast (Lk.4:2). You can be certain that Satan will attack us when we are at our most vulnerable.
Q.2. What was the Devil trying to achieve? How can this help you to recognize temptations? – (Lk.4:3-8)
Though most translations say – If you are the Son of God (Lk.4:3 & 9). It would be better translated – ‘Since you are the Son of God!’ Satan loves to question the very core of our relationship with God and tempt us to try to reach our goals through earthly and ungodly means. He also tempts us by offering material benefits, fame, and acclaim (c.f. Lk.4:5-8). Mostly, he tries to get us to mistrust God’s plan for the fulfillment of our life purpose. We then do things our way, and not His way, as happened in the Garden of Eden. Any attempt to destroy our dependence on God is a temptation from the Devil. The Devil may even use the Scriptures to lure us into attitudes and actions that are displeasing to God (c.f. Lk.4:9-11).
Q.3. How did Jesus resist the temptations of the Tempter? In what way should this fact challenge us? – (Lk.4:4-12)
It is amazing that Jesus did not say a single thing to repulse the attacks of the Evil One, except to quote the Scriptures. He knew them intimately and trusted totally in their efficacy. The challenge for the believer is to get to know the Word of God in such a way, that we can clearly evaluate any aspects of life that we may face. We may be accused of being too focused on, or too controlled by what the Bible says. However, the truth is: The Bible is the written Word that leads us to know the Living Word better. People can become easily shipwrecked, if they fail to have a growing knowledge of God through His Word. No decision or wisdom can ever be greater than that gained from dependence on God’s Word. As Jesus confirmed – Man shall not live by bread alone but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Lk.4:4 c.f. Deut.8:3; Mt.4:4).
Q.4. Will the Devil ever leave us alone? How can overcoming temptation strengthen us? – (Lk.4:13-14)
There are times and seasons. God promised Noah after the Flood – While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease (Gen.8:3). To remind us of His promise, God declared – I set My rainbow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth (Gen.9:13). We can expect seasons of spiritual warfare. Here, the concentrated temptations against Jesus were completed – until an opportune time (Lk.4:13). Thankfully, every victory will leave us stronger in our fight against temptations, if we keep on learning and depending on God’s Word.