This article has been adapted from a full sermon entitled, “Jesus on Temptation.” We encourage you to listen to the full sermon.
Temptation is a given in life. We all face it daily—whether you are 18 or 80—and no one is exempt from it. But how do we resist temptation? How do we stand firm when everything in us wants to give in? In Luke 4:1-13, we see how Jesus faced temptation and emerged victorious, giving us a powerful model for overcoming our own struggles.
The Timing of Temptation
One of the most striking aspects of Jesus’ temptation is when it occurs—immediately after His baptism. This was a spiritual high point, a moment of divine affirmation when God declared, “You are my beloved Son; with you, I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22). Yet, right after this, Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
This teaches us an important lesson: temptation often follows spiritual victories. We tend to think we are most vulnerable when we are weak, discouraged, or struggling, but in reality, the enemy often attacks right after moments of great spiritual success. It’s been said that “new levels bring new devils.” We must recognize that some temptation will come, not during the low points, but right after the high points!
King David’s downfall with Bathsheba happened not during war but when he was at ease. He fell prey to temptation after a victory in battle. Things were good! He was the King, life was going his way. The same pattern plays out in our lives—after our “mountaintop” moments, the enemy tries to lure us away from God.
The Nature of Temptation
Temptation is not just about breaking rules—it’s about undermining trust in God. In Luke 4, Satan tempts Jesus in three ways, and these same temptations are common to all of us:
Satan targets physical appetites (feasts on the flesh)
Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread (Luke 4:3). Jesus fasted for 40 days—of course, he was hungry and probably hangry! But Satan wasn’t just offering Jesus food. He was tempting him to doubt that God would provide. Jesus refuses to use His divine power for self-satisfaction, instead trusting God to provide.
Lesson: Satan often tempts us through our physical needs or desires—hunger, comfort, and pleasure, but God calls us to trust Him rather than satisfy our cravings in ways that dishonor Him.
Satan targets personal ambitions (life about you)
Satan offers Jesus authority over all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship (Luke 4:5-7). The temptation is to bypass suffering and take the easy road to glory. He says, “Bow down, and I’ll give these to you.” Talk about temptation! Jesus was worthy of the glory of all the world’s kingdoms, but the lie was that he would gain all the kingdoms by bowing down. Instead, he would do so by dying on the cross. The target was spiritual allegiance: Bow down and worship “me.” Jesus chose to worship God.
Lesson: The devil tempts us with shortcuts, promising success, influence, and achievement if we compromise our integrity. Jesus reminds us that true fulfillment comes from obeying God, not from seeking power.
Satan targets spiritual allegiances (who will you listen and bow down to)
Satan challenges Jesus to throw Himself off the temple, forcing God to send angels to guard Him (Luke 4:9-11). Essentially, what is being said is: “People are not going to follow you to the cross, Jesus. Do something spectacular. Wow the world! You are God; prove it!” This is a temptation to manipulate God rather than trust Him.
Lesson: We often want proof of God’s presence before we obey, but faith doesn’t demand signs—it trusts that God is faithful and will fulfill His promises.
The Strategy for Victory
How did Jesus overcome temptation? He used three powerful tools that we also have access to today:
1. The Word of God
Every time Satan tempted Jesus, He responded with Scripture: “It is written…” (Luke 4:4, 8, 12). He didn’t argue with Satan or rely on willpower—He used the truth of God’s Word as a weapon. If we want to resist temptation, we must know God’s Word.
Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Your mind is ground zero for the battle against temptation, and it needs to be soaked in—saturated in—God’s Word. Scripture is “alive and active” (Heb. 4:12), and it’s the only offensive weapon listed in Paul’s outline of spiritual armor (Eph. 6).
2. The Spirit of God
Luke 4:1 tells us that Jesus was “full of the Holy Spirit” when He entered the wilderness. The Spirit’s power sustained Him.
We receive the Spirit of God when we trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives. When you yield to His Lordship, he gives you his Spirit, who battles against the sin nature. He is living in you, and when you abide in him, you are connected to the power source that enables you to say “no” to Satan and “yes” to God.
3. The Armor of God
Ephesians 6 describes the spiritual armor that protects us against the enemy’s attacks. Jesus embodied this armor—He walked in truth, righteousness, faith, and God’s Word. You can wear this armor every single day to help you wage war against Satan and the sin nature, too.
Interestingly, the armor of God listed in Ephesians 6 is Jesus personified. He is truth, righteousness, salvation, and the object of our faith. If we want to defeat temptation, this is the way to do it: You wake up every day and clothe yourself in Christ. You arm yourself—especially your mind—with His Word and ensure you’re connected to the power source: the Holy Spirit.
