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Intermediate Sunday School Lesson 18 : The Temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ IV

Text: Matthew 4:1-11
1 May 2022

INTRODUCTION

1. Satan tried to tempt the Lord Jesus

a) To yield to tempting thoughts
b) To succumb to human desires
c) To step outside the Word of God

2. Satan was thoroughly defeated

a) The Lord Jesus defeated him completely
b) How?
i) His devotion to God the Father
ii) His discernment
iii) His knowledge of God’s word
iv) His steadfast obedience to the Father
v) His strength of character

THE THIRD ATTEMPT BY SATAN

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. Satan attempted to tempt the Lord Jesus:

a) By showing the Lord Jesus
i) The kingdoms of the world
ii) Their glory
b) Most would be tempted
i) By wealth
ii) By fame
iii) By power
iv) By glory

2. The offer of Satan

a) He would give to the Lord Jesus all these kingdoms and their glory
b) The price
i) To fall down before Satan
ii) To offer worship to him

THE ANSWER 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

1. Once again, the Lord Jesus saw through Satan

2. He replied:

a) “It is written”
i) The knowledge of the Lord Jesus was outstanding
ii) His understanding was impeccable
iii) He cited the Word of God
‘You shall worship the LORD your God,
and Him only you shall serve.’
Matthew 4:10

3. The question of worship

a) This was the very first commandment
“You shall have no other gods before Me”
Exodus 20:3
i) The Lord Jesus would never acknowledge any other God
ii) There are no other gods to whom worship may be offered
b) The Call to worship God may be found throughout the Scriptures
c) One outstanding text may be cited
1 Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.
4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also.
5 The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.
Psalm 95:1-7
d) Reasons to worship God
i) He is the Rock of Salvation
ii) He is the great God
iii) He is the great King above all gods
iv) He is the Creator
e) Satan is none of the above
Why should he be worshipped at all?

4. The question of Service

a) First statement
13 You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. 14 You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you
Deuteronomy 6:13-14
b) Second statement
(To strengthen the first one)
12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
i) Only God is to be served
ii) He is to be feared
iii) He is to be loved
iv) His commandments are to be kept

THE MINISTRY OF ANGELS

Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Matthew 4:11

1. The Devil was defeated thoroughly

2. The Lord Jesus resisted him

3. The angels of God then came to the Lord Jesus and ministered to Him

CONCLUSION

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

1. Be sober, be vigilant

2. Resist him, steadfast in the faith

3. Let us look forward to being established in the faith