Luke 4:1-13

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Temptations of Christ

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The temptations of Christ were proof that Jesus could not sin.

  2. The temptations of Christ are proof that only Jesus did not sin.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Expect Satan to use Scripture, but out of context.

QUESTIONS

  1. Were these temptations the only time that Satan tempted Christ?

  2. How do these three temptations emphasize the humanity of Christ?

  3. Who led Jesus into the wilderness?

  4. Does the fact that Jesus could not sin make the temptations meaningless?

  5. How did the Lord resist and refute Satan’s temptations?

ANSWERS

  1. No, verse 2 indicates that He was being tempted during the entire 40 day period. The temptations described here come at the end of the 40 days. After Satan departed he looked for other opportunities to tempt Christ.

  2. Man is body, soul, and spirit. Luke’s order of the three temptations emphasizes appeals to those three areas, in order. Compare this to 1 John 2:16.

  3. The Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness specifically for Him to be tempted by Satan. This experience proved that Jesus could not sin.

  4. No! These were real temptations, and our Lord withstood the pressure. See Hebrews 4:15. Remember the illustration of the wooden train trestle versus the steel trestle.

  5. He quoted Scripture – three times from the book of Deuteronomy!

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss this statement: Jesus not only did not sin, but as God, He could not sin.

  2. Just as Jesus used Scripture to refute Satan, we can use the Word of God, our Sword of the Spirit to fight his temptations. In the face of danger, the Holy Spirit can bring Scripture truth to mind to combat the lies of Satan. But how can He bring it to mind if it is not in your mind? Do you memorize Scripture regularly?

CHALLENGE

  1. Satan quoted Scripture as well, but out of context! Beware of him using these same tactics today.

KEY VERSES

  • “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil.” Luke 4:1-2

  • “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” Luke 4:4, quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3



Luke, Talks, New TestamentDeb HarmsLuke 4:1-13