NOTES: On the Move, Part 3
Sermon: On the Move part 3— It Is Written
Text: Matthew 4:1-11
Date: Sunday January 22, 2023
Matthew 4:1-11 The Temptation of Jesus
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.’ ” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him 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, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 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.
Let’s Connect:
On the move series: We are invited into the abundant life and mission of Jesus.
Feel like your life has stalled out? Or the Church has stalled out?
Consider the cast sheep (feet in the air).
Text Explained:
Story context:
What was the devil hoping to achieve?
Temptation 1: Satan says: “you need this”
3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”
At its core, this temptation is an appeal to the flesh and getting our legitimate needs met outside the provision of God.
Jesus responds:
“It is written,“ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
Temptation #2: You deserve this
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him 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, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
The devil tempts Jesus to test God—to presume on the relationship and try to force God’s hand.
Jesus’ response:
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Temptation #3: You shouldn’t have to suffer
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.”
Essentially, the devil tempts Jesus to gain everything without the suffering.
Jesus responds:
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.’
Again, what was the devil hoping to achieve?
If Jesus gave in to any of these temptations, His identity would be disqualified and mission hindered.
As followers of Jesus, when we resist temptation, we affirm our new identity and mission.
Led by the Spirit, we follow Jesus not into temptation but into the good work of testing.
Let’s Relate:
Our immersion in Scripture keeps us affirmed and on the move with Christ.
Our Challenge:
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your “posture” (cast down) and to reveal someone in your circle of influence who is cast.
Invite and partner with the Good Shepherd.