Sermon: The Devil And Temptation
Bible Passage: Luke 4:1-13
In this passage, Jesus is contrasted with two figures of the OT, Adam and Israel
I. Luke wants his reader(s) to understand what kind of “Son” Jesus is:
1. Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit”
2. “[Jesus] was led by the Spirit”—“leading” is one of the important ministries of the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:14, Gal 5:18; Acts 16:6)
3. “in the wilderness”—it is the place where one meets God or the enemy (it is the place the real quality is brought out)
4. “forty days” is symbolic—Moses spent forty days on Mount Sinai; the people of Israel spent forty years in the wilderness
5. The Devil tempted Jesus during his time in Wilderness
a. The Lukan world assumes the existence of Satan who is the head of an integrated hierarchy of evil (Luke 11:183 and cf. 10:18)
b. Luke uses “Satan” and “Devil” interchangeably
c. The Greek term “Diabolos” means “accuser,” “mis representer,” and “slanderer”
d. He leads people astray and accuses them wrongly before God
e. He entices and deceives, and always opposed to God
f. The meaning of “to tempt” is “to lure a person to sin”
6. The Devil’s goal is to “lure a person to sin” and thereby distract a believer from pursuing “obedience to God”
a. Luke 8:12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved
b. Luke 22:3 Then Satan entered Judas called Iscariot
c. Luke 22:31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat
d. Acts 5:3 Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
e. Acts 26:18 to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me’
7. Luke teaches that people can be afflicted by the devil and suffer from him
a. A man was possessed by an unclean Demon (Luke 4:31-37)
b. A woman with disabling spirit (Luke 13:10-17)
c. The political and material world is in his authority (Luke 4:6)
8. “He [Jesus] was tempted by Devil for forty days”
a. He attacked Jesus’ vulnerable moment by telling him to do something that appears to be legitimate in human sight (Luke 4:3-4)
b. He attacked Jesus’ ministry by offering a short cut bypassing the Cross (Luke 4:5-8)
c. He attacked Jesus’ relationship with the Father by twisting (proof texting) God’s Word (Luke 4:9-12)
9. Jesus defeated the Demon at all levels
a. Jesus identified Devil’s attractive lies and advice
b. Jesus distinguished between the voice of God and the voice of Satan
c. Jesus trusted God’s ability to provide for His physical need
d. Jesus made sure that the mission of God was prominent in His mind
e. The Devil highlighted Jesus’ own needs tempting to focus on Himself
f. Jesus faced His predicament with God’s promises and Scripture
II. Lessons
1. Knowing and using the Scripture in its proper context is a powerful weapon against Satan
2. Believers can end up self-serving with their time, talent, and resources if they do not properly discern between God’s guidance and Devil’s enticement
3. Believers desire for success and prosperity may impede God’s mission for their life
Take Away:
Study the Scripture and apply it just as Jesus used to defeat the enemy