Jesus' Temptations and Ours, Part 3

      As with the first two, the third temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11 may be easily misunderstood.

      When we look at it, we may not get past the thought of ruling the world. Who among us would not want all that power, prestige, fame and fortune?

      But was that the real issue? I do not believe so. We must keep in mind that Jesus had already been promised all the kingdoms of the world.

      Psalm 2:7-8 says, “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘Your are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.’”

      Therefore, getting all the kingdoms of the world was not really the great temptation for Jesus like it might be for us. But then, how many of us have ever been or ever will be given the opportunity to rule the world?

      What was the temptation for Jesus then? The temptation was to avoid suffering. God had promised Jesus to be the King, but only through the plan of sacrifice. Jesus would endure earthly life, three years of public work that would end in rejection, and then He would endure the cross. Most of all, He would endure the separation from the Father while on the cross.

      Why go through all of that if Satan was willing to hand over all the kingdoms of the world at that very moment? Surely the ends would justify the means.

      Granted, He would have to worship Satan just once to get it done. But why not? That would make life so much easier for Jesus. Jesus would still get to be King. He could still accomplish all the Father wanted Him to as King.

      But Jesus did not fall for it. The ends did not justify the means. He proclaimed that He would trust God. He would trust God to take care of Him in God’s way. He would follow through with God’s plans no matter how difficult they might be.

      While we have never been offered all the kingdoms of the world, how many times do we compare the delayed gratification plan of the Lord and the instant gratification plan of Satan and make the wrong choice?

      God has promised us eternal happiness with Him in heaven (I Peter 1:3-5). But to get there we must walk a narrow and difficult road (Matthew 7:13-14). Satan offers us happiness and contentment. All we have to do is jump off the narrow road and follow his will instead of God’s.

      We must not be deceived, instead we must follow Jesus’ example, recognizing that we are to serve God only, not ourselves and certainly not Satan.

Edwin L. Crozier