Day 278 – Matthew 4, Luke 4-5

Talking Points

• Scripture records our Savior was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). In this event, Satan is trying to tempt Christ to sin and therefore disqualify Him as the Messiah. But, God’s purpose is to test or prove Jesus as the sinless Messiah, the spotless Lamb.
• In the accounts of Jesus’ temptation, notice the use of Scripture. Satan not only knows it, but he uses it, distorting and twisting it for his own evil purposes. This will be his consistent pattern. Also, notice that Jesus uses the perfect application of Scripture to give answer to every ploy of Satan. This should be our consistent pattern.
• “So, who is this guy?” The question is one for the ages: Who is Jesus? Right from the start of His ministry, Jesus makes it abundantly clear that He is the Christ, the Savior from God. His authority in teaching revealed it. His miraculous acts proved it. And, His very own mouth proclaimed it. As He shut the scroll of Isaiah which had described the dealings of the Messiah, Jesus declared with certainty, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21).
• As Jesus calls His disciples, there is a consistent response to His call to follow Him. Those who would drop everything and enter into His service do so not only completely, but also immediately (Matthew 4:20,22). I can almost hear Elijah’s question to the Israelites from centuries earlier: “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God follow Him…” (1 Kings 18:21). May our obedience be both complete and quick.

Thoughts

In the fourth chapter of Luke, we find an ominous truth about Satan following his temptation of Jesus: “he left Him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13). It’s still how he operates — tempting, fleeing, and waiting until an opportune time to return with more. While we need to remember that Satan is not omnipotent, omnipresent, nor omniscient like God, we also mustn’t be too quick to count him out. In battle, it’s important to know your enemy and to be ready for his tactics. So, who is Satan and what can we do to be prepared?

In 1 Peter 5:8, we’re told to “be of sober spirit, be on the alert,” and that “[our] adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” John 10:10 describes the devil as “the thief [who] comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” James tells us to “submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). In Ephesians 6:10-18, we read the command to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that [we] will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” These verses describe how our defense is Christ, and our offense is His Word.

There’s no doubt that Satan is our enemy, just as he is of everything that is redemptive. But, as sure as we are of that, we can be equally sure of this: Jesus has defeated Satan — in His victory over temptation, in His victory over sin, and in His victory over death. 1 John 4:4 tells us “greater is He who is in [us] than he who is in the world,” and Romans 16:20 says “the God of peace will soon crush Satan under [our] feet.”

Satan’s final defeat is sure and soon-coming. Until then, may we be ready for his tactics, sure of the Word of God and its power in our lives, and faithful in obedience to Christ.