Day 218 of 365
THE TEMPTATION OF THE SON OF GOD
As a human, Jesus experienced everything that any other human has experienced, including temptation. Matthew 4 describes Jesus' experience of being tempted by the devil for 40 days and 40 nights. Jesus was tempted by the opportunity to use his power to meet his own needs rather than relying on God (v. 3), to put God to the test in order to win a large following (v. 5) and to compromise with Satan to win the kingdoms of the world, thereby avoiding the cross (v. 9). Jesus' experience was no less real than any sort of temptation that other people experience. However, the difference is that Jesus did not give in to the temptation he faced (Heb 4:15). Jesus boldly and convincingly refuted with Scripture each of the temptations he faced. Jesus defeated Satan by using a weapon that every believer has at their disposal: "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph 6:17).
Jesus, thank you for enduring temptation and being victorious over it. When I am tempted, bring to my heart and mind a passage of Scripture that will help me turn away from temptation and back toward you. Amen.
Matthew 4:1-10 NASB
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." 4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'M an shall not live on bread alone , but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of G od .'"
5 Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him stand 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, 'H e will command H is angels concerning Y ou ';
and 'O n their hands they will bear Y ou up , S o that Y ou will not strike Y our foot against a stone .'" 7 Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written, 'Y ou shall not put the L ord your G od 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 things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." 10Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'Y ou shall worship the L ord your G od , and serve H im only .'"
Hebrews 4:15 NASB
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Ephesians 6:17 NASB
17 And take the helmet of salvation , and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
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