A, Lent 1 - Matthew 4:1-11 "Lead us not into Temptation"

Forty days out in the wilderness is a long time to be without food. Jesus had just been baptised in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. He was immersed into his ministry, the Holy Spirit was upon him, his Heavenly Father was pleased with his one and only Son – Jesus Christ is the fulfilment of all righteousness. He is the Holy Son of God doing exactly what he was sent to do, fulfilling all the requirements of the Old Testament Law, as he moved towards Jerusalem to atone for the sin of all humanity.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Matt 4:1) The Holy Son of God, whom God said, this is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased (Matt 3:17), was now weak and bitterly hungry after forty days of fasting. And in this feeble state the tempter comes in pursuit of Jesus.

If you are the Son of God; these are the devil’s words of temptation. It’s a loaded sentence set to play on any sniff of doubt and worry, or pride and arrogance. If you are the Son of God why are you so hungry, why are you in the wilderness suffering? Are you really the one whom God loves, how pleased with you is he really? If God loves you why are you out here? If you are the Son of God, why then don’t you do something about your situation? Get fed, get more comfortable, get out of the wilderness!

From the waters of baptism into a wilderness of worries and doubts, Our hallowed Father in heaven delivers us from evil. The evil one confronts Jesus and says, “If you are the Son of God tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answers, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matt 4:3-4) Our Father in heaven give us this day our daily bread.

Then the temptation moves to Jerusalem, the holy city; and right to the top of the temple, the holy place where heaven meets earth – God’s holy throne on earth in the Holy of Holies. Our hallowed Father in heaven, his will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

The Holy Spirit had just come down in the form of a dove and rested on Christ in baptism. And now the devil seems to mimic the action of God by saying, “If you are the Son of God throw yourself down.”

Did the devil find any doubt or pride to push Jesus into proving he was really the Son of God? As if God’s word was not enough when his Father said, “this is my Son whom I love, with him I am well pleased.” The devil even impersonates Jesus by using the scriptures in the same way as Jesus saying, For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (Matt 4:6) But Jesus doesn’t fall. He doesn’t compromise God’s word or will as did Adam and Eve, and he answers, “It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test” (Matt 4:7)

When the Holy Spirit came down on Christ in baptism, our Father’s will is done on earth and in heaven. Because of the devil’s temptation, Christ was caused to stand over the temple in Jerusalem. Because humanity’s temptation and fall into sin the Holy Spirit comes down upon us in baptism. Now Christ stands over us and temples in us. In us God’s will is done on earth as it is done in heaven, so our Father forgives us our sin, against him and against heaven and earth. And having the peaceful, living will of God in us, we are moved to forgive those who sin against us. Such is the power of God over our pride and arrogance, our worry and doubt.

The third time the devil takes Jesus up a mountain where he can see all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus is the Son of God, he has come from the Father, and yet the devil seeks to lead Jesus into temptation by luring him with the promise of earthly glory away from his heavenly kingdom. He also tempts Jesus into worshipping him to gain this wealth. What the devil is doing here is moving Jesus to do extra, over and above what the Father has already set in motion at his Baptism. Jesus himself said to John concerning his baptism, “Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.” (Matt 3:15)

Our hallowed Heavenly Father’s kingdom comes to us when he gives us his Holy Spirit, so we believe his word. We are led away from temptation when we remain in our baptism and trust that the kingdom of God has come to us even without our praying for it. This is the fulfilment of all righteousness in us. We are the righteousness of God by remaining and abiding in Christ.

When pride takes over, our human nature always seeks to add something to worship, and therefore fails. Jesus was human too; he felt the same temptation as well! Yet he replied to the evil one saying, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” (Matt 4:10)

We worship God, showing him his full righteous worth when we remain in him, being drowned through daily repentance in our baptism, where we are raised anew each day. After Jesus left the wilderness he preached, “Repent for the kingdom of God is near” (Matt 4:17) Seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness, is a recognition that God has already come to you in baptism, that he loves you and that he is pleased with you because of his Son who bore all your sin on the cross, fulfilling all righteousness.

We find ourselves in this world today, with all the struggles of the sinful self, the devil, and anything else the world can throw at us. The simplest things like worry, and doubt, and pride, are the greatest sins against God, and yet every human can’t go one day, even one minute, without worry, doubt, or pride. We fear everything over God! What will I eat, where will I live, will I be well, when will I die? I haven’t done enough for God, will I be saved?

Just like Jesus, we too are tempted. Most of the time Satan needs not come to us, our own nature causes us enough trouble alone. So don’t rest on your own understanding, live on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Know that in baptism all righteousness has been fulfilled. God’s word to you is this: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased. And he is for the sake of his Son Jesus Christ.

As you leave here today, to face the struggles in the wilderness of your lives, take Jesus with you. He’s been there before, and promises to walk with us through our troubles. Through him look to your Heavenly Father, who provides, who sustains, and is worthy of your worship through Christ. You are a part of his will, his kingdom, and his righteousness. Trust he will give you your daily bread, that he is forgiving you your sin. Pray that he will lead you from all temptation to do otherwise. Pray and trust he will daily deliver you from evil and the evil one. For Jesus’ sake! Amen.

Our Father in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours, now and forever, Amen.