International S. S. Lessons.
"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."—Neh. 8:8 LESSON VII.—SUNDAY, AUGUST 12, 1894. [NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.] - 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 afterward hungered.
- And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
- 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.
- Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
- And saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee; and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.
- Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
- Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
- And he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
- Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
- Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Golden Text: "In all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15. NOTE.—This lesson includes Matt. 4:1–11; Mark 1:12, 13; Luke 4:1–13, and Heb. 4:15, 16, as well as other scriptures. In the Old Testament there are two parallels to this time of fasting, Moses (Ex. 34:28) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8, 14). There is no hint given as to the place to which Jesus went to be tempted. Some authorities think that it was in a part of the wilderness of Judea, between Jerusalem and Jericho, near the Jordan, but of this we know nothing. For aught that we know, it may have been at Mt. Sinai, where both Moses and Elijah fasted. There is one point that is worthy of notice in connection with this lesson, and that is the breaking of the power of appetite under which our first parents fell. Just as the first Adam was tempted at the beginning of his career, so the second Adam, the head of the redeemed race of God, was tempted and tried at the beginning of his work. As has been truly said, "The first Adam failed, and changed Paradise into a desert; and the second Adam gained a victory, and changed the desert into a paradise." - After Jesus' baptism, what took place? Verse 1. Note 1.
- What was his condition after fasting forty days? Verse 2.
- Who came to him while thus hungry and faint? Verse 3. Note 2.
- What temptations did he present?
- How did Jesus meet these temptations? Verse 4.
- What did Satan then do? Verse 5.
- What temptation did he present? and in what words? Verse 6.
- How did Jesus again meet the temptation? Verse 7. Note 3.
- What did Satan then do? Verse 8.
- What temptation did he present to our Saviour? Verse 9. Note 4.
- How did he meet this last temptation? Verse 10. Note 5.
- What followed this? Verse 11.
1. "Led of the Spirit."—Mark shows what the other evangelists do not, that Jesus was led of the Spirit in order to be tempted; but he went not of his own selfish desires. He was led of the Spirit. Whenever we place ourselves in the way of temptation, contrary to God's will, we have no promise of his help. In fact, we take ourselves out of the hands14of the protecting power of God. Wherever God leads us by his Spirit, we may know that he will sustain us, however great the temptation may be. 2. WE are not to understand by this that the tempter just now came to him, because we have already learned that he was tempted of the devil during the entire forty days and nights. See also Luke 4:2, "Being forty days tempted of the devil." Doubtless there was set before him at this time all the teachings of the rabbis in regard to a temporal kingdom, all the conflicts and trials with which the human race was beset, and the improbability of his ever being able to accomplish his work. The three special temptations were doubtless similar to those all the way through, and present before us the three great points upon which men are specially tempted: First, the point of appetite, upon which so many millions have fallen, and with all the baser lower passions which spring from appetite; second, the presumption of standing in his own strength, presuming upon God's mercy; and, thirdly, upon the point of ambition, the very acme of selfishness. It will be noticed that in these temptations Satan came, in the first two, evidently, as an angel of light, presenting scripture as a reason why the Son of God should yield to his suggestions. Jesus meets him on his own ground, and shows just how he has perverted the Scripture. But in the last temptation Satan throws off his disguise, and demands worship. Then it is that our Lord tells him, "Get thee hence, Satan." But he also meets that, as all temptations forever must be successfully met, by the word of God. 3. IT will be noticed that in every instance Jesus quoted from the part of the word of God which is now called in question by the higher criticism. In every instance he met the power of the enemy by "It is written," and in every instance from the book of Deuteronomy. This one proof from our Lord himself ought to establish in the minds of all who love him respect for the word of God. Jesus told the Jews, "Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me; but if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" And it is just as true now as it was then. There is another thought also in connection with this answer of Jesus to the second temptation. Satan quoted scripture in order to fortify his temptation; but Jesus showed that that scripture could not be used against the great truths of God's word. Satan said, "It is written." Jesus said, "It is written again." There are some scriptures which may seem dark to our minds. Let us have them until we can, in the light of other scriptures, see light in them. Satan will suggest a wrong meaning to a text that seems dark to us. Let us leave it until Christ says to us, "It is written again." The last will make the first clear, and we shall see a divine harmony which always exists in the word of God. 4. IN the beginning the dominion of the world was given to Adam. See Gen. 1:26. When Adam yielded that up to Satan, man and all over which he ruled passed into the hands of the enemy; but of course, as man was subject to God, the great, omnipotent Ruler of the universe, so Satan was subject to him in this sense, that he could go no farther than God permitted. So when he presented the temptation to Christ, "All this power will I give thee," as stated in Luke 4, "for that is delivered unto me," he stated what in a sense was true. He is the god of this world. Christ came to win it back, not in the way in which the kings of the world have won it, but by suffering death and humiliation, and meeting the temptations upon which man fell. This was the path which our Saviour must take. Therefore he could not yield to the temptations of Satan. 5. THE scripture used by our Saviour in meeting the last temptation has within it the foundation of all Christian character: "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." It shows this, also, that the only true worship is that which includes faithful service, or obedience. Christ could not give up his spiritual kingdom for a temporal—his spiritual power of love, for armies, palaces, and outward honors. He would not accept the ruling of this world as Satan desired, for the conversion of the world. To have accepted of Satan's offer would have left the world unconverted, and, therefore, under the dominion of Satan. Satan, by this very temptation, revealed himself. Sometimes it may be difficult for us to realize the real motive of the tempter. The persons whom Satan uses may be unconsciously tempting us; their motive may be good. What may seem to them our duty may not be our duty after all. They may come to us as the servants of God. In such cases we should meet them in the same way, and show them by scripture itself that we cannot do wrong. When Satan demanded that Christ fall down and worship him, he showed then his true character, and Jesus rebuked him as such. Christ was tempted in all points like as we are. He is, therefore, able to succor us in all our temptations.