Matthew 4:1-4
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
The Problem: the enemy preyed on Jesus’ human vulnerability – He was hungry, and the enemy knew it.
The Solution: The Word of God.
The Perception: Had Jesus focused on his physical hunger, the tempter would gain a foothold, but instead, He immediately drew His sword – the Word of God, which held the answer; we do not live by bread alone but by EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God.
The world’s view would have us focus (bound by) on what is wrong, but we see in the first sentence of this passage that the Spirit led Jesus up. This was an opportunity, and God was already in control! God’s Word lights the way, which is why we must “eat it.”
The Opportunity: God allowed the temptation of His own Son to show His superiority over the enemy. Remember, Jesus was fasting for 40 days and nights on purpose. He was readying Himself for battle. He sacrificed His own human desires, and the Father was with Him, preparing Him.
Jesus showed us how to deal with temptation – to live by every Word that comes from the mouth of God. He showed us how to view temptation – as an opportunity to show God’s supreme authority over the enemy.
While Jesus was on this earth, He was 100 percent God but also 100 percent human. He felt human needs completely, just as we would.
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
Hope: The way of escape.
Not a way, not our way, but THE WAY. As we are in the Word, His Spirit is leading us. When we are focused on the temptation before us, it may seem unbearable. We have the ability to choose God’s authority over our weaknesses and follow His escape plan from temptation. We can ENDURE the “opportunity” of God’s plan when focused on the solution – EVERY WORD that comes from the mouth of God.