Matthew 4:1 - Temptation

Matthew 4:1 NIV

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

Have you ever noticed that there are three characters mentioned in this one verse that introduces the story of the temptation of Jesus? There's Jesus, of course, and the devil (the tempter), and the Spirit. The Spirit leads the Son of God into the wilderness. We know Jesus is the beloved Son of God because, in the previous chapter, God speaks from heaven, during Jesus' baptism. And the Spirit descends upon Jesus and stays with Him.

Matthew 3:17 NIV

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Therefore, God the Father, the creator of heaven and earth, is another character implied in the story. Through the Spirit, God is leading Jesus into temptation.

Do we not pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Lead us not into temptation"? Some translations render that phrase from the Lord's Prayer, "save us from the time of trial." So this temptation in the wilderness is a test.

This implies yet another character, or multiple characters really, that is Moses and the Israelites. The wilderness is where Moses and the freed Hebrew slaves wandered for 40 years after their deliverance from the tyranny of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. We learn from their experience that God was testing them. Immediately after their deliverance at the Red Sea, the Hebrews were tested first by thirst, then by hunger. In both cases the scriptures alert us to the fact that God is testing them to see if they will follow His instructions. (Exodus 15:25; 16:4)

This is prior to the Israelites receiving the law at Mt. Sinai. The testing in the wilderness is to prepare this people to receive the Holy covenant, and become the people of God who will reveal Him to the nations. They will do so by living in holiness as prescribed by the law given through Moses.

So when the gospel of Matthew uses the term "wilderness", he is pointing to the Old Testament story of the testing the Israelites under the leadership of Moses. We learn from their story that there is purpose in testing. When Moses was reflecting on their 40 year experience in the wilderness he wrote,

"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." (Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV)

And now Jesus is led by His Father God through the Spirit into the wilderness, much like the Israelites, to be tempted by the devil, to see what is in Jesus' heart. This test is required to prepare Jesus to always be listening for the Spirit's leading. As you read the rest of the story you'll find that in each of the temptations from the devil, the Spirit guides Jesus with the scriptural law, God's commands given to His holy people.

Jesus was very familiar with the scriptures. He was raised in a devout family. At age 12 he astonished the teachers of the law at the temple with His knowledge and understanding. Later in Jesus' ministry, some will address Him as rabbi, which means teacher.

Have you ever felt at times in your life that you are wandering in a wilderness, that you are alone and cut off from comfort and security? Feelings of fear can make us desperate at such times. But remember that there is a holy purpose in wilderness testing. It is to see what is in our hearts.

What will control you in your wilderness moments, fear or faith? Will you remember that God is with you? Didn't Jesus promise His disciples to be with them always, even to the very end? (Matthew 28:20) Will you grumble against God and His church, like the Israelites grumbled against God and His appointed leaders, Moses and Aaron the high priest? Or will you be led by the Spirit to keep God's life giving commands?

I feel like I'm in the wilderness wandering about. I am tempted and tested. I struggle with fear, anger and despair. But I am not alone. Christ is with me in Spirit. I struggle to listen, to hear His voice over the clamour all around me and within me. And by hearing the Spirit, I might thwart the temptations of the devil and emerge from this wilderness a stronger man, prepared for what the Lord has next for me.