In the previous article we have reflected on the temptation that the Lord Jesus had to undergo in the desert in direct confrontation with the devil. How perfectly He acted!!!
From this section in Matthew 4:1-11 we can also learn a lot about the way the devil works. How he approached the Lord Jesus and responded to Him also says something about what we can expect. When Satan tempts believers - and he will not fail to do so - then there are the same characteristics.
The Devil's Tactics
∴ He works step by step
Only after forty days and nights of fasting does the devil come with his final offensive. He doesn't start with that, no, he knows that the preparations are important. That's how he still does it. He does not immediately jump into it with a Bible-believing congregation. It starts out small and seemingly insignificant. Some other views here and there, until there are enough holes in the whole to make it collapse. It starts small, but has big consequences. It is like leaven that leaves a whole lump (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). That is true in our own hearts and lives, but it is also true of the common life.
That is why we must be alert to any deviation from the teaching. Paul calls on the believers in Rome to be alert to people who hold different views than they learned from the apostles. If they heed that call, the result will be that God Himself will crush Satan under their feet (Romans 16:17-20).
∴ He comes with God's Word
It is remarkable that the devil uses God's Word and tells the Lord Jesus that He must obey it. He is God's Son, isn't he? Then there is no reason to think of why He should not do what it says in God's Word? But the devil has a purpose, even when he quotes scriptures. The Lord's answer to the first request shows that He sees it through and will only listen when it comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).
Satan's tactic is to detach the believers from God's Word and from the teachings of the apostles. Paul was aware that the Corinthians would have views different from his own, even in the case of the repented brother. Satan's intention was to play the church and Paul apart. Paul says of this “(…) lest Satan take advantage of us. For his thoughts are not unknown to us” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11). No wonder Satan uses people who pose as apostles (sents, messengers) of Christ and as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15), who have no other goal than to free the believers with beautiful words and biblical texts from the apostle and from what he taught.
Today it is no different. Hence the appeal again to abide by the trustworthy Word of God and the teachings of the apostles.
∴ It matches our natural needs
With his first question the devil connects to the natural needs of the Lord Jesus. "He got hungry after all," it reads. Wouldn't He have felt a great need to eat something and regain some strength? And if He Himself could provide that, why wouldn't He? We have already seen above that the Lord Jesus did not accept the devil's suggestion because He only wanted to do what the Father asked Him to do.
If you think about this, it has far-reaching consequences for us. Because how many needs can we as natural human beings not have? Simply think of food, clothing, a roof over your head (please feel comfortable), someone to share your life with, but also things like a meaningful life, recognition, appreciation and love. In themselves these are not wrong things, but things that are part of our normal human existence. But the big question is how we deal with it.
Satan tells us we just have to take these things. You can just appropriate what is within your reach. Enjoy! Enjoy it! There's nothing wrong with that, right?
In addition, we live in a worldly culture that is aimed at immediate satisfaction of needs: 'I want it and I want it now'. All around us we hear and see nothing but this ego-oriented satisfaction of man's natural needs. But we probably realize too little (at least I do), that Satan cares about being influenced by this, being sucked into this worldly thinking and being drawn away from God our Father and the Lord Jesus in that way.
In this way, our lives are increasingly focused on the here and now, on enjoying what you like. These are elements that typically belong to 'the other gospel‘.
The answer of the Lord Jesus to the devil reminds us that in all things of life we should trust in God our Father. As He also teaches it to His disciples a little later:
“Therefore do not be anxious and say not, What shall we eat? or: What shall we drink? or: What shall we clothe ourselves with? For all these things the Gentiles seek. After all, your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:25-34)
People who do not know God are concerned with satisfying their needs. That drives their lives, that motivates them to act. But it will not be so with God's children. They have a Father in Heaven who cares for them and knows what they need. God's children should be primarily concerned with "the things of God." That should drive their lives and motivate them in their actions. Then their Father takes care of all the other things we need as natural humans.
I will not elaborate further here. It probably gives us enough food for thought.
Father, You the love,
always remain faithful and good to us,
You Who keep us in Your truth,
rest in your love.
Oh, how great is Thy love!
You gave Jesus in death.
Would you then give us your Son?
and not always think of us?
Spiritual Songs 106:1(2016 edition)
∴ It fits our religious needs
While the previous question was about natural needs, the second question is about the relationship with God. Man by nature needs a God (or god) who takes care of him and arranges it so that his life runs smoothly. The devil says, as it were, to the Lord Jesus: “Okay, I understand. So you depend on God in everything? And you live by the Word of God? God always takes care of you? Then I have another test.”
In fact, the test is whether God is good. Does He do what He has promised, does He take good care of you? The same trick Satan uses with Eve, suggesting that God is withholding something from her and is not 100% good for her.
Thus he leads the Lord to the highest point of the temple to test His trust in God.
It sounds biblical, but it isn't
To begin with, the devil quotes a scripture, but he takes it out of context and misapplies it. Psalm 91:11-12 says: “For He will command His angels for you that they keep you in all your ways. They will carry you in their hands, so that you do not strike your foot against a stone“. That is said to believers, people who trust in God. God keeps them even in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Then He sees to it that nothing happens to them. That's the context. But Satan takes the text out of context and just applies it to this situation. This makes what the devil says a lie. God did not say that He keeps the believer when he does irresponsible things.
He still uses this tactic. In the evangelical bookstore you can come across a lot of books with views that you have to say are deceptions, despite all the biblical texts that are quoted in them. The reason is the same as here in Matthew 4, namely that biblical texts are taken out of context and used in a story to introduce certain unbiblical views. Those kinds of texts sound very biblical, but Paul calls them, for example, “unholy, empty talk” and “fictions” (1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16; 4:4).
No problem-free life
If a man jumps down from a high place, there is no doubt that it will have great consequences. The same goes for a believer. God will not suddenly catch him and put him neatly on his feet. He is not the One who makes sure our lives go smoothly. Yet many Christians have an image of God as the one who cares for them in everything. So that they don't have to worry and it doesn't matter so much what choices they make in life. But as a human being—and that includes a Christian—you are responsible for your choices and actions.
The devil actually tells the Lord Jesus that God will keep Him even if He would throw Himself down from the highest point on the temple. God takes care of you, right? Didn't he promise that himself? The Lord knows that it is tempting God when He should do this.
Tempting God
The Lord Jesus' answer, "You shall not tempt the Lord your God," is a quote from Deuteronomy 6:16, which refers to the experience of the people of Israel at Massah in the wilderness (Exodus 17:2 ,7). There they quarrel with Moses because there is no water and Moses calls this that they test the Lord. The people wonder whether God is really in their midst, whether the Lord actually cares and cares for them. They don't think so because there is no water. They blame the Lord God that these circumstances befall them. Couldn't he have easily prevented this?
Interestingly, Psalm 95:8 and Hebrews 3:7-16 also mention the story of Massah and Meribah. From this it can be inferred that tempting God not only involves blaming God for our circumstances, but also results in hardening of the heart, unbelief, and ultimately apostasy from the living God (Hebrews 3:12).
A trick of the devil
Our lives are often not a bed of roses and some things are the result of our own choices.
You never stop worrying.
You protect us day and night.
To the evening, to the morning
keep watch over us.
For Thy great love' is Lord,
nothing too small and nothing too delicate.
Yes, you will lead us safely,
and prepare our eternal joySpiritual Songs 106:2 (2016 edition)
But it is a trick of the devil to blame God for this. That's what happens a lot. Often you can hear it in all sorts of keys: “Where is God when this happens to us?” “Why this and why that?” Ultimately it leads to hardening, unbelief and apostasy from God.
The latter (apostasy) we see reflected in the devil's third question.
∴ He promises great glory
Finally, the devil offers the Lord Jesus dominion over all the kingdoms of the world. In this way He could become the 'King of kings' and enjoy the glory that goes with it, without first having to travel His way of suffering to Golgotha and die there. Enjoying deliciousness immediately, that would be fantastic, wouldn't it? Imagine that you are immediately moved from a situation of great need and suffering into a situation of great glory. Wouldn't that really be unbelievably beautiful?
The Lord knows that this is not the way He should go. He knew what His Father had sent Him for. He knew that He had to go through the suffering first and that the glory would come afterwards. He knew that'all things should be put under His feet” (1 Corinthians 15:27-28; Hebrews 2:5-9), not just the kingdoms of the world. The Lord Jesus will not and cannot anticipate this. His glory comes only after His suffering.
The devil made only one condition, which was that the Lord Jesus should kneel before him, acknowledge his superiority in him and worship him. Of this the Lord Jesus knew that He would never, ever do this. God is the only One worthy of His worship and honor and He would not give that to the devil at any price.
“You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” (Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20)
This text appears several times in Deuteronomy in a context where God's people are called to love God, keep His commandments, and serve Him. They are done before the people are in the promised land, where there are strange peoples who serve their own gods. They are warned beforehand not to serve God in a way that those nations serve their gods that would make them fall into idolatry (e.g. Deuteronomy 6:14; 7:4,25-26; 11:28; 12:4,30, 31).
That is the choice: serve God or idols. The devil is so bold that he does not even put his question to the Lord Jesus in veiled language, but openly calls on him to worship. It is now enough for the Lord Jesus: 'Go away Satan!' There is no greater temptation.
His thoughts are not unknown to us
In summary, you could say the devil's tactics are a complete total package. 'All inclusive' so to speak.
- The first step is to make our natural life increasingly important. The here and now, enjoying the things in life. Life increasingly revolves around ourselves. God's Word has less and less to say to our daily lives.
- Then we got into such a lifestyle that we blame God for difficult things in life. Why didn't You prevent it or solve it for me now? Blaming God, as a result of which He disappears further and further from our lives and we no longer seek refuge with Him even when we have difficulty.
- But a Christian does not just remove God from his life. That is why Satan finally tempts man to worship and serve him. This is where idolatry comes in as we have highlighted elsewhere. Have fellowship with the demons and meanwhile think you are approaching God. That is the ultimate temptation!
Let's follow the Lord Jesus and serve only God. He provides what we need, even in difficult circumstances. Let's keep trusting Him!
You refresh and strengthen the courage,
gives comfort and strength to the weak.
Thou wilt faithfully tend thy children,
by your hand you lead them gently.
Faithful Guide, good God,
I give my future, way and fate
over to Your Father's cares.
I am safe with you.
Spiritual Songs 106:1.3 (2016 edition)
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