March 13, 2025
Temptation - Part 4
Matthew 4:8-10
03/13/2025
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain
and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and
their glory.
9 And he said to him, ``All these I will give you,
if you will fall down and worship me.''
10 Then Jesus said to him, ``Be gone, Satan! For it
is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.''' (ESV)
The final temptation of Jesus shows the true desires of the
devil, the world, and our own sinful flesh. We do not desire to
fear, love, and trust in God above all things, especially when
the choice is between the hardship of remaining faithful or the
ease of denying God.
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and
showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their
glory. And he said to him, ``All these I will give
you, if you will fall down and worship me.'' Then
Jesus said to him, ``Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
`You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall
you serve.'''
Jesus won the victory over sin, death, and the grave. He
has given us the promise of heavenly glory. However, today we
are still in this world, still tempted to turn our backs on God,
still wanting to ease our burdens in any way possible. The devil
promised Jesus the glory of victory without the agony of the
cross. But that would be a hollow glory, for our redemption
rests on Jesus fulfilling the entire Law of God on our behalf.
The first commandment, ``You shall have no other God's
before me,'' says that we turn our backs on the easy gains in
this world. Jesus later told His disciples, ``If anyone would
come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and
follow me.''[1] The victory is indeed ours, but the victory
celebration starts when Jesus returns to judge the living and the
dead. Until then, we are on guard against our sinful desires,
the temptations of the devil, and allure of the glamour of this
world.
May our Lord strengthen our faith to seek Him above all
things. Amen.
____________________
1. Matthew 16:24 (ESV)