The document summarizes Jesus' three temptations by Satan in the wilderness as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. It states that Jesus was tempted in the same three ways that mankind is tempted: 1) the lust of the flesh, 2) the lust of the eyes, and 3) the pride of life. It then provides biblical examples of each type of temptation from the Garden of Eden story and other passages. Finally, it exhorts the reader not to give in to temptation but to rely on Jesus' power to overcome.
2. Matthew 4:1-11 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the
wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (2) And when He had
fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.
(3) Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are
the Son of God, command that these stones become bread."
(4) But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God.' " (5) Then the devil took Him up into the holy
city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, (6) 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.' " (7) Jesus said to him, "It is written again,
'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' " (8) Again, the
devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and
showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (9)
And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will
fall down and worship me." (10) Then Jesus said to him,
"Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship
the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " (11)
Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and
ministered to Him.
3. TEMPTATIONS
A. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the same three
ways mankind was tempted before Him and after
Him. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and
the pride of life.
B. (Gen 3:6) 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.
C. (1 John 2:15-17) 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. {16} 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. {17} And the world is passing
away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of
God abides forever.
4. I. THE TEMPTATION OF THE FLESH
A. JESUS WAS TEMPTED WITH SATISFYING HIS PHYSICAL
HUNGER - (Mat 4:1-4) Then Jesus was led up by the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. {2}
And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights,
afterward He was hungry. {3} Now when the tempter
came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God,
command that these stones become bread.” {4} But He
answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by
bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the
mouth of God.’”
B. EVE WAS TEMPTED WITH FRUIT GOOD FOR FOOD
C. WE ARE TEMPTED WITH ALL KINDS OF FLESHLY
DESIRES: ALCOHOL & DRUGS, SEX, GLUTTONY,
TOBACCO
D. (Rom 13:13-14) Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in
revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in
strife and envy. {14} But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
5. II. THE TEMPTATION OF PRIDE
A.JESUS WAS TEMPTED TO TEST HIS
IMPORTANCE TO GOD - (Mat 4:5-7) Then
the devil took Him up into the holy city, set
Him on the pinnacle of the temple, {6} 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.’”
{7} Jesus said to him, “It is written again,
‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”
B.EVE WAS TEMPTED WITH ACHIEVING THE
WISDOM OF GOD
6. II. THE TEMPTATION OF PRIDE
C. WE ARE TEMPTED WITH THE PRIDE OF
LIFE,
1. PRIDE WHICH MAKES US THINK WE ARE
BETTER THAN OTHERS - Galatians
6:3 For if anyone thinks himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he
deceives himself.
2. PRIDE WHICH KEEPS US FROM
ADMITTING OUR SIN, SHORT-COMINGS,
FAULTS - Proverbs 30:12 There is a
generation that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.
7. II. THE TEMPTATION OF PRIDE
D.(Prov 16:18-19) Pride goes before
destruction, And a haughty spirit before a
fall. {19} Better to be of a humble spirit
with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with
the proud.
8. III. THE TEMPTATION OF POSSESSIONS
A. JESUS WAS TEMPTED WITH ALL THE
KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD - (Mat 4:8-11)
Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly
high mountain, and showed Him all the
kingdoms of the world and their glory. {9} And
he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if
You will fall down and worship me.” {10} Then
Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it
is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your
God, and Him only you shall serve.’” {11} Then
the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and
ministered to Him.
B. EVE WAS TEMPTED WITH THE SIGHT OF THE
FRUIT AND DESIRE TO TAKE IT.
9. III. THE TEMPTATION OF POSSESSIONS
C.WE ARE TEMPTED WITH DESIRE FOR
POSSESSIONS CONSTANTLY:
1. OUR TIME
2. OUR MONEY
3. OUR THINGS
4. OUR ENERGY
5. OUR SALVATION
10. III. THE TEMPTATION OF POSSESSIONS
D. (1 Tim 6:6-10) Now godliness with contentment
is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into
this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out. {8} And having food and clothing, with these
we shall be content. {9} But those who desire to
be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into
many foolish and harmful lusts which drown
men in destruction and perdition. {10} For the
love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for
which some have strayed from the faith in their
greediness, and pierced themselves through
with many sorrows.
11. IV. ALL THESE TEMPTATIONS WERE TO
TAKE JESUS, AND US, AWAY FROM
OUR PURPOSE.
A.If Satan can keep us focused on our
fleshly desires and needs the he keeps us
from focusing on our, and others, spiritual
needs.
B.If Satan can keep us focused on our pride
he can keep us from standing up for Jesus
and confessing him before men.
C.If Satan can keep us focused on power
and possessions he can keep us from
focusing on eternal things, heavenly
things.
12. YOU AND TEMPTATION
A. TEMPTATION IS NOT A SIN - (James 1:14-15) But each
one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own
desires and enticed. {15} Then, when desire has
conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-
grown, brings forth death.
B. HAVE YOU GIVEN INTO TO TEMPTATION - (1 Cor
10:13) No temptation has overtaken you except such
as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not
allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will also make the way of escape,
that you may be able to bear it.
C. JESUS CAN HELP - (Heb 2:17-18) Therefore, in all
things He had to be made like His brethren, that He
might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things
pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of
the people. {18} For in that He Himself has suffered,
being tempted, He is able to aid those who are
tempted.
13. YOU AND TEMPTATION
D. NO CONDEMNATION IN CHRIST - (Rom 8:1-14) There
is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in
Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh,
but according to the Spirit. {2} For the law of the Spirit
of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law
of sin and death. {3} For what the law could not do in
that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending
His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account
of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, {4} that the
righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in
us who do not walk according to the flesh but
according to the Spirit. {5} For those who live
according to the flesh set their minds on the things of
the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit,
the things of the Spirit. {6} For to be carnally minded
is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
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14. YOU AND TEMPTATION
{7} Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it
is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. {8} So
then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. {9}
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the
Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have
the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. {10} And if Christ is in
you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness. {11} But if the Spirit of Him
who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who
raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your
mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. {12}
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors; not to the flesh, to
live according to the flesh. {13} For if you live according
to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of the body, you will live. {14} For as
many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of
God.