The Temptation of Jesus
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4
Jesus overcame every temptation with the Word of God. He did not give even a moment’s consideration to Satan’s temptations because they were against God’s Word. He now credits that perfect obedience to us along with his death on the cross to pay for our sins.
What is your attitude toward sin now? Don’t you hate it when you commit more sins against your loving Savior? The new man that the Spirit created in us which delights in the law of the Lord. The devil doesn’t give up trying to lead us back into sin, however, and we are still easily enticed. Jesus gives us the power to overcome every temptation with the same powerful Word. We can also use an appropriate Word of God to stop every temptation in its tracks. This is what God says, how can I do anything else?
Of course, using God’s Word as a shield and weapon against temptation requires knowing what God’s Word says. We can use His commandments to resist those sins. We can use the words of Joseph to resist many temptations, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9) Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 where God told the Israelites that He let them get hungry before giving them manna to eat so that they would know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. God’s Word is even more important than food. So let us live by the Word of God and use it to resist every temptation.
Help us Thy holy Law to learn, To mourn our sin, and from it turn
In faith to Thee and to Thy Son And Holy Spirit, Three in One.
Hear us, dear Father, when we pray For needed help from day to day
That as Thy children we may live, Whom Thou in Baptism didst receive.
The Lutheran Hymnal 288:2-3