Temptations of Christ
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1-4 (ESV)
The temptation in this section is far from obvious. There is no commandment that, “Thou shalt not transform rocks into bread.” Jesus is, after all, the Son of God. It would be well within His power to do this. Yet He refuses. Why?
Jesus did not come to change reality to suit His will. Nor did He come to live in divinely assured luxury. Rather, Jesus came as a true human to live the life that we could not–one of constant perfect submission to the Father’s will. Jesus was to endure the same hardships, hungers, trials, and temptations that we do.
By refusing to exert divine power to sate His own hunger, Jesus demonstrated His commitment to this plan of salvation. He showed His commitment to live like us–even when pushed to the brink of starvation.
In keeping with His humanity, He did not banish the devil with His own divine might. Rather, He used the same tool that God has provided for you and me: God’s mighty word. Jesus summoned forth Scripture as His defense. He did not reference it like a dusty academic winning an argument on morality. Instead, when Jesus says that man shall live by the words of God, He is giving the rule by which He lives.
Jesus has shown us the path to resisting temptation. God has equipped us with His Word. Know it, live by it, and the devil will flee from you.
My Jesus, as Thou wilt. If needy here and poor,
Give me Thy people’s bread, Thy Word, so rich and sure.
This manna from above, let my soul feed upon;
And if all else should fail, My Lord, Thy will be done.
The Lutheran Hymnal 420:2