Twelve Major Lessons from the Temptation of Jesus

WHAT IS TEMPTATION?

Temptation is a strong urge or desire to do something, especially something that gives immediate pleasure or gratification but is spiritually or morally wrong, socially unacceptable, or detrimental in some way. It often involves the conflict between what your flesh wants and God’s righteous standard. Temptation can arise in various aspects of life, such as cravings for food, drink, power or sex. It can also be an impulse to engage in risky and ungodly ways. In this article, you will learn twelve lessons from Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. 

#LESSON 1

The devil tempted Jesus throughout His forty-day stay in the wilderness, not just after His fast.

‘Where he was being tempted by the devil for 40 days. During that time, he ate nothing at all, and when they were over, he became hungry.’ Luke 4:2 ISV

Satan always tempts us to do bad things and delights in enticing believers to sin. The command to pray without ceasing is your fortification against the constant temptations of the tempter. Don’t lose guard at any time because the devil is always close by, looking for opportunities to strike.

#LESSON 2

The first man, Adam, was tempted, so was Jesus, the second and last Adam, and so will you.

We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously. 1 Corinthians 10:13 TPT

Everyone will face temptation. No man is above temptation, no matter how spiritual he is. In fact, the more spiritual you become, the more tempted you will be because the devil will try all he can to make you fall. The only people the devil will not resist are those he is walking in the same direction with. The beautiful thing is, as believers, our great hope is that God is faithful and will provide us, always, with a way of escape.

#LESSON 3

The temptation of Jesus proves his humanity – He went through the same temptations we face daily.

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 NKJV

Like you, Jesus faced the temptation to satisfy His physical desire and was also tempted to seek power and fame. He is our perfect example. He overcame all the temptations; you also can. His victory over temptation assures us of our victory over every enticement to do wrong things.

#LESSON 4

Often, temptation follows powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit.

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Matthew 4:1 KJV

Spiritual encounters don’t immune us to the devil’s temptations. Before Jesus was tempted, John baptised him, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him bodily like a dove. After this, God spoke from heaven, confirming He was well-pleased with Jesus. These were significant spiritual encounters, yet the next thing that happened was that the devil tempted Jesus. Whenever you have spiritual encounters, don’t become careless because the devil is around the corner, looking for a way to push you off track.

#LESSON 5

The devil is the tempter, not God.

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. 1 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV

One of the devil’s names is the tempter, and he performs his tempting assignment diligently. Although God might allow a believer to be tempted, He never tempts anyone.

When you are tempted don’t ever say, “God is tempting me,” for God is incapable of being tempted by evil and he is never the source of temptation. Instead it is each person’s own desires and thoughts that drag them into evil and lure them away into darkness. James 1:13-14 TPT

#LESSON 6

Often, the devil tempts you to prove your identity as a child of God. 

‘And the devil said unto Him, if thou be the Son of God…’ Luke 4:3a KJV

You are a child of God, and you don’t need to do anything to prove it. Jesus understood His identity as the Son of God and refused to fall for the devil’s trick. On the other hand, Eve didn’t know that she was already like God, made in His image and likeness, and she fell for the temptation to disobey God. (Genesis 3:4-5). Any temptation to prove that you are God’s child wants to lure you to do something against Him.

#LESSON 7

The devil will tempt you with the lust of the flesh.

‘The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: “Since you’re God’s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread.”’ Luke 4:3 Message translation

The lust of the flesh is your fleshly desires. It can be an uncontrolled desire for food, drinks, sex or anything that meets your physical or emotional needs at the expense of your spiritual needs. Jesus knew that using His authority as the Son of God to create an instant meal out of bread would be abusing that authority, and He chose to do what God wanted instead of what His growling stomach demanded. Cain, on the other hand, failed when he was tempted. Instead of holding unto what was eternal, he chose to satisfy his appetite. (Genesis 25:32-34). Don’t choose any immediate satisfaction that will make you despise God’s purpose for your life.

#LESSON 8

You can be tempted in the church, even on the altar!

Then the devil took Him to the Holy City and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. Matthew 4:4 ISV

The devil took Jesus to the Holy City and led Him to the temple’s highest point to tempt Him. He asked Jesus to jump down from that height to the ground because God had assured His children of angelic preservation. This temptation was the pride of life – the desire to boast about one’s achievements, and the arrogance of self-sufficiency. Jesus knew that even though the location was spiritual, the temptation was carnal. Doing what God had not asked Him to do and trying to use Scriptures to support such a prideful decision was sinful. You can be tempted in a very spiritual location and atmosphere to take God’s glory or arrogantly project yourself. Be careful – don’t fall for the pride of life.

#LESSON 9

Don’t tempt God – obey human laws that don’t contradict God’s will.

For the second test the devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the temple and said, “Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.” Matthew 4:5-6 Message.

The usual way to go down the top of the temple was to use the temple stairs, yet the devil wanted Jesus to tempt God by going against this. Sometimes, it might look spiritual to contravene human laws, but it is foolish and sinful if the underlying motive is to prove something to people. Some believers die because they refuse to use medications -they claim it is unspiritual to do so and end up dying before their time. Don’t do this, except God expressly instructs you not to use medications. Don’t close your eyes and speak in tongues when crossing a road. You might end up in heaven instead of on the other side of the road!

 #LESSON 10

You will be tempted to bow to the devil to get the goodies of life.

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly 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 will fall down and worship me.” Matthew 4: 8-9

The devil asked Jesus to bow to him to get the goodies of life. This was the lust of the eyes – the sinful desire to have what you see. At this time, the devil was indeed in charge of the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he was luring Jesus to possess greedily what God would eventually give Him. Eve was also faced with this temptation when she saw that the tree was pleasant to the eyes, and she fell for it. (Genesis 3: 6). God loves to give His children good things, but He often wants to make us mature enough to handle them so they don’t take us from Him.

On the other hand, satan wants to give us good things so they can take us away from God and eventually destroy us. Watch your cravings for more money, possessions and things. Don’t allow the tempter lure you to have, through crooked means, what God will eventually give you without stress. While the devil’s gifts come with heartaches, the Lord’s blessings make people rich and add no sorrow to their lives. (Proverbs 10:22).

#LESSON 11

God’s word is your surest defence against temptations.

‘…It is written…’ Matthew 4: 4,7,10 KJV

God’s word is your defence against temptation. David said that he had hidden God’s word in his heart so he won’t sin against God and that taking heed to God’s word is the surest way for a young man to keep himself pure. (Psalm 119:9,11). Jesus quoted the Old Testament more than 50 times, and He could do this because He made the Scripture His utmost priority – He read, studied, memorised and meditated on it. Whatever keeps you from God’s word wants to keep you away from your victory in the face of temptation. Don’t allow it.

#LESSON 12

Don’t engage the devil in an endless conversation during temptation – resist him.

Then said Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, thou shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve. Matthew 4: 10 KJV

There is a limit to how far you can entertain the tempter. Rebuke him when he comes, and stand your ground against his wiles. Balaam didn’t draw the line, and he eventually fell when the king of Moab sent more noble people to him the second time. (Numbers 22). The devil knows when you are firm in your refusal and when you are double-minded. Don’t give him the pleasure of seeing you fall; resist him firmly with God’s word and in the name of Jesus!