Satan – The Tempter

I've been reading out of the book of Mathew lately. A chapter that caught my eye and tugged at my spirit was chapter 4, when Satan tempts Jesus.

The enemy comes to Jesus three times and finally flees after Jesus rebukes him. Then angels come to minister to Jesus; after this is when Jesus starts his ministry (verses 1-11).

The chapter begins with: "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit (ESV verse 1)." From my understanding, when Jesus came to earth he was still one with the Trinity, he was still God. But because he was human, he had flesh thus being tempted by sin; he had to listen to the Spirit to lead him. He had to use the discernment of the Spirit to know where to go.

Even Jesus, the Son of God, had to listen to the Spirit to know his father’s will. If Jesus had to listen carefully and follow; what makes us think that we don’t have to?

In verse 3, when Satan first comes to tempt Jesus, the verse calls Satan "the tempter." The verse reads that Satan, the tempter, came to Jesus and spoke to him.

In verse 5, it reads "the devil took him (Jesus)." The context of the verse is that Satan took/lead Jesus to the holy city.

In verse 8, the last time we hear of Satan tempting Jesus; again the verse calls Satan the devil and says that he took/lead Jesus.

Then in verse 10 it reads that Jesus rebuked the devil by saying: "Be gone Satan!"

In verse 3 you notice that the author addresses Satan as "the tempter." How true is that? When the enemy is first starting to get us to stumble, to sin, he comes to us and tempts us. He whispers to our heart that we desire, want or deserve something. He comes to us; he walks right up and speaks to us.

In verses 5 and 8 you notice that the author calls Satan the devil and writes that he lead Jesus to locations. Again, how true is that? I know with me, after I'm tempted to sin I am then somehow magically in a place where I'm face to face with that sin. Sometimes we allow ourselves to be lead. We give Satan the foot hold to direct our path.

In verse 10 you notice that this is the first time the author addresses Satan as Satan. First Satan was the tempter, then the devil and then he is called out by name - to show who he is. I find this very significant.

It's almost as if the author is slowly identifying the enemy. Giving substance to the name. Satan is not just an evil spirit, a demon or a follower; he is the one in charge of the darkness. But, you also see with just three simple words from Jesus Satan had to flee, he had to leave. Even with all of Satan's authority he had no rule over Jesus - the King of Kings.

Now, look at how Satan was tempting Jesus.
1) Satan wanted Jesus to show that he was hungry (unhappy) and to provide for himself.
2) Satan wanted Jesus to prove himself. To show who Jesus was. To show his authority. To test his power. I find it ironic that Satan told Jesus to jump from the temple. The enemy tried to get Jesus to jeopardize his life. Satan reminded Jesus that the angels wouldn't allow him to strike his foot. And Jesus responded with: "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." (verse 7)
3) Satan wanted Jesus to make Satan his god. Satan used lies and false fantasies to tempt Jesus. However, Jesus knew the truth and didn’t fall into the trap of Satan’s lies.

And then, all it took was three little words for Satan to flee Jesus: "Be gone Satan!" Nothing less and nothing more. No pleading. No compromise. No tricks. No trades. Just strong faith in knowing that Satan was powerless against Jesus.

In ending this story, verse 11 reads: "Then the devil left him, and behold, angles came and were ministering to him."

After the battle is over, and the enemy gone, angels came to Jesus to minister to him. This got me thinking, if we as believers have the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead and the same Spirit that lead Jesus through this trial and stayed with him through the attacks of Satan. And if we have the same authority to rebuke Satan and command him to back off, then why wouldn't angels also come to minister to us after a battle?

Have you ever noticed when you win over a battle, even after a mini battle, with the enemy you have a spiritual high; sometimes an emotional high. You feel stronger, bolder, and more confident in your faith. Because you know that you, with the Spirits help, overcame temptation from the tempter, the devil, from Satan. I don't know what you call that, but I call that being ministered to.

I’ve read this story many times. I’ve heard this story preached many times. And I’ve heard the familiar saying: “Jesus was tempted just like you.” But I never understood it. I could never get past the point of: “Jesus wasn’t tempted the same way I am.”

But looking at this again; I realize that sin, temptation or situations don’t matter. It doesn’t matter if we’re not tempted to turn stones into food or to command angels to come to our rescue. And it doesn’t matter that Jesus wasn’t, stated in the Bible, tempted by: drugs, alcohol, sex, stealing, cursing, etc.

What ‘matters’ and what’s the ‘point,’ is that Satan has a way of tempting and causing one to stumble. He wants you to A) think you can do it by yourself, B) place your life on the line and C) make him your god. He puts all of us to these tests, even Jesus. But Jesus was able to resists the temptations and jump the hurdles. I might not be able to do it. But knowing that Jesus was placed to the same tests as I am makes Jesus more personable and makes Jesus more real to me.