According to a popular aphorism, we Christians have three major enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. There’s no single verse that lists these foes, but the Bible refers to them enough that we can be confident this idea is correct. And we’re all well aware of the trouble they cause, so we have little reason to doubt it!
We can use these terms to describe the temptations Jesus endured in the wilderness. The first test appealed to the flesh.
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. 3The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ 4Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”‘” – Matthew 4:1-4
Jesus based His life–even His continued existence–on the Word of God. His life was in God’s hands. Would His Father care for Him? The Word answers that question–yes!
“He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free.” – Psalm 146:7
But food alone won’t sustain us. Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, the Lord reminded the tempter that bread isn’t adequate. People need more. Food keeps us alive, but the Word gives us a reason to live. It fills us with meaning and purpose, things which even a feast can’t provide.
Jesus didn’t deny the value of the flesh, but He refused to prioritize it. God’s Word comes first. And no demonic substitute will ever satisfy our deepest desires.
While the focus of the first temptation is clear, the third one blends the world and the devil.
“Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9‘All this I will give You,’ he said, ‘if You will bow down and worship me.’ 10Jesus said to him, ‘Away from Me, Satan! For it is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”’” – Matthew 4:8-10
The world is under the jurisdiction of the devil. The Word makes that clear (see 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 2:1-2, and 1 John 5:19). But he’s willing to share! There’s just one catch–make him your god. The authority structures of this world, and the harm they inflict, derive from the power of the one who oversees them.
Jesus refused to take the bait, and for good reasons. For honoring His Father, His Father will honor Him. He gains authority over this world by submitting Himself to God’s will. Yes, Jesus will rule over the world that crucified Him.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death–even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. – Philippians 2:8-11
So Jesus had a practical reason for rebuking Satan. But He also had a personal one. The verse Christ quoted (it’s found in both Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20), aims to keep one’s soul close to God. The affairs of this life can pull us away from the Lord. We can get so caught up in worldly matters that we lose sight of our heavenly Father. Jesus kept His heart on God and as a result, He promised to reward the loyalty of His Son.
The second temptation doesn’t seem to fit in the pattern we’re looking at. What is its concern?
Then the devil took Him to the holy city and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” – Matthew 4:5-7
We could say this test covers all three enemies. Throwing oneself off a building is suicidal. So this could be a challenge to have Jesus stare death in the face and trust that God’s angels won’t let His body get demolished on impact.
If this was a public spectacle, then being brought safely to the ground from such a height would impress the crowd. The world would buy into Christ’s ministry because of this miracle. They might even want to make Him their king!
And because Satan mentions angels, this temptation could come down to the devil’s power to work signs and wonders in this world. He could send his own angels to secure Jesus’ landing. If so, Satan would be taking the place of God because the verses he quoted (Psalm 91:11-12), refer to God dispatching angels to aid His people.
However we interpret the second temptation, or all three, the point is that Jesus mastered them. He never succumbed; He never failed His Father.
And He encountered this at the outset of His ministry. The devil tried to best Jesus before He could get going, but he didn’t succeed.
So when Jesus began to minister, He drove back the devil and everything he represents. Here’s how Matthew 4 ends:
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and He healed them. 25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed Him. – Matthew 4:23-25
The enemies of humanity were no match for the Son of God! But let’s keep in mind–the victory Jesus won in the wilderness He shared with the rest of us. Christ defeats our foes but offers us the fruit of His triumph.
That’s God’s grace in action!
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