By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Religion, Samford University
Battle Plan
Matthew 4:1–10
The author of John tells us that if everything Jesus did were written down “the world itself could not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). The Gospel writers had to select the events and sayings they most wanted to preserve. A study of the Gospel of Matthew reveals that this writer was particularly interested in the way Jesus acted as a sort of “second Moses.”
Both Moses and Jesus were threatened by tyrannical kings (Pharaoh, Herod) issuing edicts to kill Hebrew boys. Both were miraculously delivered in Egypt: Moses in the basket, Jesus in the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. Both passed through the waters: Moses through the Red Sea; Jesus through the waters of baptism. Both discussed God’s law on a mountain: Moses on Sinai; Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount.
Satan will tempt us through our physical appetites. (1–4)
Matthew’s comparison of Moses and Jesus is one of our best clues for understanding the dynamics of Jesus’ temptation by the devil. The key is to read the story of Jesus’ 40 days of temptation in light of Moses and Israel’s own 40 years of testing in the wilderness.
This is especially important when we consider the devil’s first temptation: turn these stones into bread. While we can understand why Jesus might have been tempted — he had been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights — it is hard to understand what sin might be involved. We find our answer in the way Jesus responds.
Instead of replying directly to the devil, Jesus quotes a passage from Deuteronomy: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Put simply, the temptation was for Jesus to end His dependence on the Father and instead depend on Himself. We find confirmation of this reading in the context of Jesus’ quote from Deuteronomy. Just one verse earlier Moses had told the Israelites, “God has led you these 40 years in the wilderness in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart” (Deut. 8:2). The test for Israel was to see whether they would trust God. It was the same test for Jesus.
Satan will tempt us to question or test God. (5–7)
The devil’s second temptation raises the stakes considerably. Here, he tells Jesus to leap from the pinnacle of the temple and let the angels catch Him, as they surely would. The real key to this temptation is that such a public miracle would remove all doubt as to whether Jesus was the Messiah.
With this act, Jesus might have been swept up by the crowd and made king. This might not seem so terrible except for one thing: Enthroned as Messiah, Jesus would not have been able to accomplish the chief purpose of His incarnation, dying on the cross. This was a much more powerful temptation: Leap and you can avoid the cross.
Satan will tempt us to worship something other than God. (8–10)
The devil’s final temptation was also his greatest: Worship me and all the world can be yours. It is hard not to hear echoes in this temptation of Israel’s false worship of the golden calf. Where the people failed in the wilderness, though, Jesus passes the test.
Responding in a way that continues to show His complete reliance on the Father, He quotes Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God and serve only Him” (6:13).
Even the Messiah was unwilling to face temptation in His own power. Instead, He relied wholly on God and on His Word.
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