By Douglas K. Wilson, Ph. D.
Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Mobile
AFFIRMATION
Matthew 3:13–4:11
Obeying God (3:13–17)
John the Baptist initially told Jesus that Jesus should baptize John, not vice versa. When Jesus explained that the baptism was to be done to fulfill all righteousness through this act of faith, John submitted to the Father’s will.
While these acts of obedience occurred, the triune nature of God was made manifest. The Son came up out of the water. The Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. The Father spoke from heaven and affirmed the Son: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” The Father affirmed Jesus’ obedience.
Hearing God (4:1–4)
Jesus prepared to face temptations through spiritual disciplines. He fasted and prayed, He committed Scripture to memory and He submitted to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The Master modeled what He taught us to pray: “And do not bring us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” (6:13).
Temptations are common to humanity (1 Cor. 10:13). These can be categorized as lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Temptations focused on these three categories worked to tempt Eve (Gen. 3:6) and David (2 Sam. 11:2, 4, 27), but Jesus did not yield to them. If we desire to overcome temptation, then we need to learn from the Master.
When tempted with the lust of the flesh to turn stones to bread, Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Familiarity with Scripture is beneficial, but hearing from God and heeding His Word are essential for walking by faith.
Trusting God (5–7)
After hearing Jesus quote from the Torah, the tempter responded by misusing Psalm 91:11–12.
In this instance, the temptation was the pride of life. Jesus had no need to prove that He is the Son of God.
Rather than attempting to do so, the Master rebuked the devil once again with another Deuteronomy (6:16) quote: “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”
How do Christians demonstrate that we trust God? We do what He says. Jesus makes this clear in His teaching (John 14:15).
Worshipping God (8–11)
The enemy of God was foolish enough to think that the Creator of the universe would yield to the temptation of worldly glory — the lust of the eyes. “I will give you all these things.”
Really? Once again, Jesus responds with a quote from Deuteronomy (6:13), but this time with an emphatic, “GET OUT OF HERE!”
Each of us was created to worship. Those who do not know the One true God find or create something else to worship. As the Apostle Paul writes, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever” (Rom. 1:25).
After 40 years in the wilderness, Moses instructed the parents preparing to enter into the promised land to pass on God’s instructions to their children.
In particular, in Deuteronomy 6 he underscores the responsibility to model living faith for the next generation. Jesus highlights this, modeling for His disciples how to live by faith when tempted by the devil.
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Sunday School lesson outlines are provided by Lifeway.
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