Christ’s First Temptation.
By Thirza M. Foster
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.” Matt. 4: 1, 2. The person here tempted was Jesus. He was so named because it was said of him, “He shall save his people from their sins.” The tempter was the devil, the prince of the fallen angels. The Holy Spirit suffered Satan to tempt our Redeemer, that by this means he might manifest his pure and sinless character. The Father designed that the very ways which the tempter employed to disqualify his Son for the work of redemption should increase his fitness for that work. “For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” Heb. 2: 10. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Heb. 5: 8. The first Adam, placed in the garden of Eden, with everything pleasant to look upon and good for food, yielded to the power of Satan, disobeyed God, and fell. The second Adam, away in the wilderness, “with the wild beasts,” after a long fast, and when suffering keenly from hunger, encountered the same wily foe, obeyed God, and overcame. We read, “And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” Matt. 4: 3. Jesus in his mediatorial work “took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.” His human nature rendered him dependent upon his Father’s providential care; and to have wrought a miracle by converting stones into bread, to supply himself with food, would have been to distrust God’s promises and withdraw his confidence in his Father’s all-sufficient power to provide for him. Satan doubtless pretended to be a friend to Jesus. He reminded him how much he needed bread, and advised him to take care of himself, at the same time insinuating that if he did not exercise his power, he would be wanting in proof of his divine mission; for he says, “If thou be the Son of God,” &c., implying a doubt as to whether he really was the Son of God or not. Having considered the nature of this temptation, and the motive which Satan presented to give it effect, let us now see how Jesus met and repelled it. “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matt. 4: 4. The expression, “It is written,” frequently occurs in the New Testament, and refers us back to the Old Testament Scriptures. Whatever is written there is always referred to by Christ and his apostles as sufficient proof of any doctrine to be believed, or duty to be performed. The scripture to which our Saviour here referred is written in Deut. 8: 3: “And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not; neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.” This passage was very appropriate to the circumstances in which Jesus was then placed. Israel journeyed forty years in the wilderness, when they were ignorant as to how they would be provided for. God wanted to teach them to put their trust in him and depend wholly upon his word; and he verified his promise unto them, and fed them with bread from heaven. “Man did eat angels’ food.” Jesus knew that he was in the path of duty. God by his Spirit had led him into a solitary place to fast and pray, that he might be better prepared for the work he would have to do, and the trials he would have to endure. Jesus when he was upon earth ate and drank to sustain life, but he did not make it his first inquiry, What shall I eat, or what shall I drink? Oh, no. He made it more than his meat and drink to do his Father’s will. He said to disciples, “I have meat to eat that ye know not of. . . . My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish his work.” Jesus was tempted, yet without sin. He was always obedient, his faith never wavered; he overcame, and he is set down at the right hand of the Majesty in the Heavens, there to make reconciliation for us. Satan is working in this world with all power. He has agents helping him all through the land. They design to overcome the little company who are striving to keep the commandments of God. We need to fortify ourselves mightily to withstand their influence. Then let us give heed to the exhortation of the apostle, and have on “the whole armor of God” and “above all take the shield of faith.” Jesus in every encounter with the adversary held fast to this shield. He fully believed every word which proceeded out of the mouth of God. It is only such faith as this, that will make us valiant soldiers for God and his truth. Satan can do nothing with those who by faith stand upon God’s immutable word. They may be looked upon as the filth and offscouring of the world. They may have to follow Jesus into prison and to death, or they may be banished to the most solitary place in the earth, but God will not forsake them. He has promised, saying, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isa. 41: 10. We can be strong in the Lord to endure every trial, while we look by faith beyond earth’s conflicts to the victor’s crown. We have only a little longer to stay in this wilderness of sin, only a little longer to battle with our foes. Then Jesus the mighty Conqueror will come to deliver his faithful ones, and take them home to reign with him forever in his kingdom.