The Three Temptations of Jesus in the Desert

Mt 4:1-11

I've been reflecting on this passage and want to expose succinctly what the Holy Spirit has shed light on my understanding this biblical passage known as Christians - as regards the temptations faced by Jesus in the desert by Satan.

The first point I wish to emphasize is that none of us are exempt from the temptations of Satan, after all he is the very temptation and this was made clear in the text analysis once invested with his devices against the Son of God, Jesus Christ the Incarnate Word. However, although we are subject to temptations, we have God-given resources to resist it successfully - The Word of God. Jesus gave us a great proof of that, because all of your answers are based on the Word of God.

We talked about initially tempting, now let's talk about how he attacks. Identified in the text that Jesus was fasting and praying for 40 days until he was hungry - here's an important tip - the famine was the point of contact for Satan to enter your suggestions. Now this brings light to our hearts, so hunger was a great need for Jesus at that moment, then, Satan will always tempt us in some area of ​​our life, which is detected in some grace, for example, if someone will not well in your financial life, it will make suggestions in this area to "solve" the problem, if the love life the same way, etc.. Underscoring Satan is always lurking in trying to discover our vulnerabilities, our needs and wants.

Usually when we refer to this happened we say the temptation of Jesus, but it deeply into the text, we see that the temptation actually unfolds in three temptations. The first one is related to hunger, when Satan says:

"If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." Jesus replied: It is written: 'Not by bread alone doth man live, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. "

The enemy shows his cunning in order to induce Jesus to error, taking advantage of their vulnerability, their hunger, now if Jesus was hungry was plain he could turn stones into bread and quench your need, after all he was hungry.

How often the enemy seeks to maximize our problems in order to induce us to break the principles established by God in his word. Jesus gives us a great example, we can not put our needs above the word of God. We can not break principles - turn stone into bread is broken first, after stone is stone and bread is bread, things are totally different in nature. This is exactly what Satan wants us to suggest, if you are experiencing need, you can do anything at all you need, no problem, so God will understand. Most people who commit some moral failure when confrontas often say - "oh but I was spending needs, my family needs to eat, my marriage was not going well, etc. all do this."

The great lesson we can draw from this first temptation, is that we must trust God in difficult times material, knowing the right time He will supply our needs as happened with Jesus, because in vescículo 11 of the same chapter says that the angels themselves came from heaven and served Jesus, hallelujah. We never want to negotiate with God, disobeying its principles in their own words. Never can mix things up, the mixture is not of God. Let's keep the differentiation of things: Holy or unholy, honest or dishonest, right or wrong! There is no middle ground with regard to spiritual principles established by God himself. If the Break away certainly pay the price and do not honor God.

Let us consider the second temptation.

And he said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and will take you in hand, For ever strike your foot against a stone . Jesus said to him: It is written: You shall not tempt the Lord thy God. Matthew 4:6-7

The second temptation is no less gloomy, I say it is even more hellish, as the first temptation was related to breach of principles and moral fall, however, the second is related to life itself, which subtly suggests Satan here is nothing less than Jesus paid attention to his own life, or even suicide! Mercy!

Now the big balcony of Satan was to make Jesus paid attention to his own life, as someone who plays from the top of a tower obviously can only die. God the Father would have no commitment to save Jesus in that situation because he own, in theory, would have given rise to what happened.

When we are exposed to a risk voluntarily God has no commitment to honor us, eg if I have to go through a deserted road and dangerous because I have no other option of course, God will honor me, but if you step on this road knowing their danger and still put myself at risk for no reason, simply trusting in God's protection, God in this case will have no obligation to grant your deliverance. Who is trying to act like the Lord, as wisely retorted by Jesus Christ, hallelujah!

Unfortunately, this temptation by Satan still being explored today quite successfully, after all, there are few people in extreme moments of despair and end up listening to the suggestions of the adversary and give out to their own lives. Suicide unfortunately remains a fact of life in our daily lives. People are asked the same in the false hope that they will have relief from their pain, their problems, all suggestion of the adversary. Whoever violates his life, according to the word runs the risk of losing eternal salvation, it is written that the Lord will destroy those who destroy the temple of the Holy Spirit, so when someone commits suicide is impairing the temple of the Holy Holy is his body.

Reflecting on the third and final temptation.

"Again, the devil taketh him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And saith unto him, All these things shall give thee up, down and worship me. Then said Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan, for it is written: worship the Lord thy God, and serve him only. "Matthew 4:8-10

This text is perhaps the most subtle temptations. After all who does not want to be successful in life, honored and recognized. And the word makes clear that Satan also has his glory, we saw how many things he promised in exchange for worship Jesus, mercy!

Unfortunately, many people have fallen into this third temptation, we live great appeal for personal fulfillment, professional success, prosperity, etc. so that it becomes even the main message of many religious denominations - the success and financial achievement!

However, we can not take us by appeals and satanic worldly recognition and success above all else and at any price. No, God alone is worthy of worship nothing and no one can take your place.

We must keep in mind that when it comes to worship Satan the first idea that comes to our understanding are those people who make pacts with the devil in exchange for fame, wealth etc., although this is real, as exists in the world today that some churches adore and worship Satan openly known as satanic churches, including branches in Brazil, mercy!

But worship can give so subtle and veiled, for example, we love everything that is replaced by absolute value in our lives, so if money becomes an absolute value, so it also becomes worshiped, if success becomes a compulsion in personal life, it becomes an absolute value and also the subject of worship. Therefore, be attentive to anything that comes to occupy the place of the Lord in our hearts, after all He alone is worthy to be worshiped, hallelujah!

Finally, extract what is useful for your life in this simple article, remembering that we have yet effective weapon against Satan and his temptations is still the Word of God, nothing can replace the Word, however, not enough for a shallow knowledge of the Word we must study it regularly and intensely, because Satan also knows the word lightly, so much so that Jesus quoted for this episode!