The Temptation of Jesus
February 23,2024 BY MELINDA VIERGEVER INMAN, IN BIBLE GATEWAY PARTNER, BLOGGER GRID, CHARACTER OF GOD, CHRISTIAN AUTHOR, CHURCH HISTORY, FAITH, GOD'S LOVE, JESUS MESSIAH, MALACHI,
NATURE OF GOD, SPIRITUAL GROWTH, THE BIBLE
MELINDA VIERGEVER INMAN @2024
Jesus is God. When He appeared among us, fully God and yet also fully man, He came with the experience of having been God for all eternity. Therefore, He had created all the angels in heaven, all the earth, and all the galaxies as we know them and have come to discover more frequently, all moving to the mathematical formula designed by Jesus, their Creator.
Jesus already knew Satan, the fallen angel who would attack Him with sly and dangerous temptations after the bold actions Jesus now undertook in establishing His public ministry.
3:1 In those days, John the Baptizer was baptizing in the wilderness of Judea. 2 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is He who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight. (Matthew 3:1-3 ESV).
John the Baptist was born around 6 B.C. to devout parents who were both of the priestly line and well advanced in age (Luke 1:5-25; 39-80). John and Jesus were both born of miraculous births, first John and then Jesus. They were related family members, perhaps cousins.
John the Baptizer preached a message of repentance: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is He who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make His paths straight'” (Matthew 3:3 ESV). All who came to John were baptized by him in the river Jordan. Repentance is to go from pursuing one thing to pursuing another. The actions of having changed one’s mind, turning from sin and toward God, for we recognize our guilt and our sin.
Just as the prophet Elijah had done: “4 Now, John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to see him, 6 and they were baptized by John in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” (Matthew 3:4-6 ESV).
John the Baptizer knew these people, for his father had been the high priest.
“7 But, John said to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:7-10 ESV).
John knew that these people – the Pharisees and Sadducees -- would not exhibit the fruit of true repentance, for they were seeking this baptism as a display to the masses, and so John foretold of Messiah to the Pharisees and Sadducees who were being baptized.
Matthew 3:11, “I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 3:12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire” (Matthew 3:11-12 ESV).
Messiah had arrived.
“(Matthew 3:13-14 ESV) Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John the Baptizer, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?’”
“15 But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then He consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 4:15-17 ESV).
With that statement, John the Baptizer proclaimed the arrival of Messiah. And then, soon afterward, John looked up, and he saw Jesus, whom he had known would be coming soon.
“13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and do you come to me?’ 15 But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.‘” (Matthew 13:13-15 ESV). 16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
18 Hear when the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes along and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 as for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Then John consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately He went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on Him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 13:16-17 ESV).
For all who were in attendance at that time, this would have been a pinnacle of their faith experience so far. To hear God speak, to see the Messiah humble Himself so as to walk with the common people. Jesus had just changed everything. The Kingdom of Heaven was at hand.
“Jesus’ baptism inaugurated His ministry and fulfilled God’s saving activity prophesied throughout the OT, culminating with His death on the cross (John 1:31-34). In so doing, Jesus also endorsed John’s ministry and message and linked His mission to John’s. Although He needed no repentance or cleansing, Jesus identifies with the sinful people He came to save through His substitutionary life, death, and resurrection (2 Cor. 5:21).” (ESV Study Bible note on Matthew 3:15), “But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented).
4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But He answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:1-4 ESV).
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Jesus ministered to great crowds:
“23 And He went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So His fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought Him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them. 25 And great crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan” (Matthew 5:23-25 ESV).
5:5 Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple 5:6 and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command His angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’” (Matthew 5:5-7 ESV).
5:7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to Him.
The first necessary action is for Jesus the Messiah to Advance the Messianic Kingdom. He does so by:
Triumphing over the devil in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-4).
Proclaiming the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:12-17).
Calling disciples to follow Him (Matthew 4:18-22).
“While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19
“John the Baptizer appeared, Jesus’ relative was baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to Him and were being baptized by Him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. . . . John “preached, saying, ‘After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:4-5; 1:7-8 ESV).
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“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when He came up out of the water, immediately He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are My Beloved Son; with You I am well pleased'” (Mark 1:9-11 ESV).
