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Sunday Worship 3 September 2023 : “It is written”

Text: Matthew 4:1-11
3 September 2023

INTRODUCTION

1. Series of Pulpit Messages in 2023

a) Patrology (January- February 2023)
b) Christology (March- April 2023)
c) Pneumatology (May-June 2023)
d) Ecclesiology (July- August 2023)
e) Bibliology (September- October 2023)
f) Soteriology (November- December 2023)

2. Bibliology

a) Doctrine of the Scriptures
b) A correct view of the Scriptures is of great significance

3. Our Approach

a) To study how the Lord viewed the Scriptures (September 2023)
b) How Bibliology was taught by the Apostles (October 2023)

THE FIRST TEMPTATION OF THE LORD JESUS

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.

Matthew 4:1-2

1. The Context

a) The Lord Jesus began His public ministry
b) He was led by the Spirit of God into the wilderness
c) He entered into a great spiritual fast of 40 days and 40 nights

2. The Contest

a) Satan would try and tempt the Lord Jesus
b) The Lord Jesus would have to overcome whatever test/ temptation Satan may come up with

3. The Challenge

Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”   Matthew 4:3
a) If the Lord Jesus was the Son of God
b) Then He can command stones to become bread
c) The Temptation:
i) It sounds logical
ii) It even sounds good and relevant
iii) It does not sound wrong at all

4. The Lord’s Counter Argument

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”   Matthew 4:4
a) Reference was made to the Scriptures
b) Regard for what God said is of critical importance
c) How should Man live?
i) Not by bread alone
ii) But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God

THE SECOND TEMPTATION OF THE LORD JESUS

5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,

6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’
and,
‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

Matthew 4:5-6

1. The Cunningness of the Devil

a) As the Lord Jesus cited Scripture
b) Satan also cited Scripture

2. The Challenge

a) What if the Lord Jesus were to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the Temple
b) Would not the angels of God come to His rescue lest He hurt Himself?

3. The Counter of the Lord Jesus

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’ ”   Matthew 4:7
a) One does not put God to the test
b) One cannot do foolish things and expect God to send deliverance!
c) Again, the Lord Jesus made reference to the Scriptures, effectively

THE THIRD TEMPTATION OF THE LORD JESUS

8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Matthew 4:8-9

1. A Candid approach taken by the Devil

a) He offered the Lord Jesus all the kingdoms of the world
b) All the glory of the kingdoms were revealed and promised
c) All the Lord Jesus needed to do was to prostrate Himself and offer worship to the Devil

2. The Counter of the Lord Jesus

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”   Matthew 4:10
a) For the third and last time, the Lord Jesus said, “It is written”
b) There is only One Person to be worshipped
c) Satan is NOT that one!

CONCLUSION

1. The Regard for the Scriptures was of Paramount Significance

2. The Reference to the Scriptures:

a) It was Clear
b) It was Correct
c) It was Compelling
d) It was Conclusive

3. Our Challenge is to have the Right Regard for the Holy Scriptures!