Date: March 1, 2020

Text: Matthew 4:1-11

Our midweek Lenten theme this year ties in very well with the focus for this Sunday. The focus for the midweek services is “The Son of God goes forth to War.” It is an interesting theme because we don’t always think about Jesus as the conquering warrior. We talk about him with many pictures and many of those depict his kind and comforting nature. However, he is truly a warrior. He fought the biggest war on our behalf. Our text today shows us one of the major battles of the war. He fought the devil. The devil tried to tempt him with many of the temptations that he uses against us. However, Jesus is the perfect Warrior. Today we look at how Jesus Conquers Sin for Us.

Part 1: He had to make up for the Fall

We review this account of Scripture every year on the first Sunday in Lent. This year, I wondered, “Why these three temptations?” We certainly know that Jesus experienced every possible temptation. The book of Hebrews says that he was tempted in every way just like us but did not sin. Therefore, we know that there were more than three temptations. In some ways, these three are temptations that can describe many different temptations we face but they certainly don’t cover everything. Looking at our Old Testament lesson made me realize that the temptations in Matthew 4 share similarities with the tactics that the devil used to get Adam and Eve to fall into sin.

When the devil tempted Adam and Eve, he used food. While it is true that was his only option, it is still similar to tempting Jesus with food. He was saying to both of them, “Look at this possibility of food, isn’t that something you want? Isn’t that something you desire?” It is the idea that one small act will simply satisfy one’s desire and therefore it doesn’t seem like a bad thing to do. Adam and Eve fell. Jesus resisted.

The next temptation was focused on minimizing the risk of the action. He wanted Adam and Eve to think that God had led them astray. God had told them that they would die if they ate the fruit. Satan told them the opposite. They would not die if they ate the fruit. He was partially correct. They would not die immediately, but they would die eventually. With Jesus, he tries something similar. Satan is partially correct. He even quotes from the Bible that God will send angels to protect his people. Therefore it would be ok if Jesus threw himself off the temple. Adam and Eve listened to the lies of the devil. Jesus resisted those lies.

The third temptation is basically offering the whole world. The devil is basically saying, “If you do this one thing, you will have everything your heart desires.” He told Adam and Eve that they could have all the glory of being like God. That must have sounded very interesting. They could be like God – the one who created this amazing universe. He tried the same with Jesus. If Jesus just bowed down, he would have it all. He would have all the glory of all the kingdoms of the world. He wouldn’t have to go through with all that suffering and death. He could have all the glory right now. Adam and Even tried to get the glory through sin. Jesus knew better. He didn’t take the quick and easy path.

In both examples, we might think, “Wouldn’t it be easier for us to resist temptation if Satan just presented himself right in front of us like that?” And yet, Satan does exactly what he did with Adam and Eve and with Jesus. He is just hard to notice. He doesn’t jump out with horns and a pitchfork. He doesn’t look evil and disgusting. If he did, he would be so much easier to resist. Just like he did on the two occasions we talked about, he presents himself as a kind of ally. He pretends to be a friend who is going to give us something that might be for our good.

He makes the sin look appealing. He makes it enticing. If we just give in, then we can have everything our hears desire. He comes as something very attractive. It seems like it won’t be a big deal if we just move a little bit in the direction of what he is offering. He might start in small ways. Enjoy this simple pleasure. Indulge your greed just a little bit. Give in to your lust just a little – after all, we all have our human desires that we need to satisfy. Listen to that bit of gossip and give thanks that you are not like that person.

He knows how to keep driving us down the path of sin. Ultimately he wants us to think that our sinful desires are more important than God. He is offering the same temptation that he presented to Jesus. He says, “Everything can be yours if you just worship me.” The reason we sometimes fall for his trick is that he doesn’t make it that obvious. He just makes the sin more important than our time with God. He bogs us down with all the latest negativity about others. We spent more time listening to that than we spend time listening to spiritually uplifting devotional material. We get so focused on earning a good income that we don’t have time in our day for God’s Word. When we have an opportunity to be filled up with encouragement, the devil distracts us with another piece of entertainment that promotes ungodly lifestyles.

The devil knows how to lead us astray. And far too often, we listen to his temptations. We ought to marvel at how truly wonderful it is that Jesus never sinned. Romans 5:19 reminds us of the fantastic news, “For just as through the disobedience of one man the many became sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will become righteous.” Because of Adam’s fall, we were all born in sin. But because of Jesus, we have the path to eternity.

Part 2: Jesus Sets a Victorious Example

Jesus is that conquering warrior. He did it. He obeyed the law. He was perfect for all the times that we have failed. We can’t emphasize that enough. For all the times that we put our sinful wants and desires first in our hearts, he never gave in to those temptations.

Jesus gave us the example of what is the proper way to deal with temptations. He went back to the Word of God every time. He always found the right scripture passage. Jesus had a definite advantage over us. He is true God from all eternity. So naturally, it is a little easier for him to find the right passage on the spur of the moment.

However, that doesn’t give us a pass to not use the Word of God for our encouragement and strength. First, we make time to be in the Word before the temptations ever come our way. Spend time every day with the Word. It might seem like we don’t have the time but that is just another one of the devil’s lies. Find the time to be strengthened with God’s Word. Even if it is just a few passages. Look at the Word.

When temptations come, pray to God for strength. If possible, stop what you are doing and start reading God’s Word. You might wonder, where should I start reading? Just start. Go anywhere. God will work in you as you spend time in his Word. As you grow in the Word, you will find that the Holy Spirit will help you find those passages that will help you to resist certain temptations.

Use the example of Jesus as motivation. He is our conquering hero. Share the message of what he has done for you. He defeated Satan for you. You don’t have to follow the path of sin. You are free from the devil’s tyranny. Don’t give in to the lie that a certain sin will satisfy all the desires of your heart. There are times when the right choice means giving up something that could be pleasurable in this life. Pleasure right now is not truly pleasure if it leads to an eternity in hell. Only Jesus can fulfill everything our hearts desire. Only he can give us the greatest joy. In him we have the joy of heaven.

Conclusion

I like the picture of Jesus as our conquering warrior. I like how Isaiah depicted Jesus in the lesson we read on Ash Wednesday. Jesus surveyed the field. He saw that we were incapable of saving ourselves. He say that we were imperfect and sinful. So he took up his weapons. He put on the armor. He put on his own righteousness. His own perfection. He fixed his focus on our salvation and he went to war on our behalf. Jesus took the fight to Satan. He used the Sword of the Spirit. He used the Word of God to fight off the temptations. Jesus was victorious and he won forgiveness and life for us. Share the message of this Savior who Conquered sin for us.