Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 47, DeMotte, Jasper County, 12 October 1939 — IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL Lesson [ARTICLE]

IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL Lesson

By HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST. D. D.

Dean of The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago. (Released by Western Newspaper Union.)

Lesson for October 15 Lesson subjects and Scripture texts se- i lected and copyrighted by International Council of Religious Education; used by permission. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS LESSON TEXT—Matthew 4:1-11. GOLDEN TEXT—For we have not an highT priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but w'as in all points tempted like as we are. yet without sin.—Hebrew's 4:15. Temptation is the common lot of all mankind (I Cor. 10:13). The strongest and most ' noble of men are subject to it; angels were tempted, and our scripture reveals that even Jesus was tempted. We recognize that Jesus was tempted as the Messiah (vv. 3,6) and as one without sin (Heb. 4:15), but it is also true that He was tempted in all points as we are, apart from sin, and that w’e may learn from His temptation how we may meet and be the victors over temptation, i 1. What Is Temptation? “Temptation is seduction to evil, solicitation to wrong. It stands distinguished from trial thus: trial tests, seeks to discover the man’s moral qualities or character; but temptation persuades to evil, deludes, that it may ruin. God tries; Satan tempts” (A. M. Fairbairn). Temptation is not sin, but yielding to temptation is sin. Luther said, “We cannot keep the birds from flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building nests in our hair.” Temptation comes frpm within, that is, from our own lusts (James 1:13, 14). Satan also tempts us (Eph. 6:11). God may permit temptation as a means of proving our faith (James 1:2, 3). 11. How Temptation Works. It is significant that the temptations of Jesus were along the threefold line of the temptations of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:6) and the general threefold temptation of all men, namely, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, and the lust of the eyes (I John 2:16). These three temptations really exhaust Satan’s bag of tricks, but he can dress up these three fundamental temptations with almost endless variety. He works 1 By appealing to the flesh (vv. 2,3). He observes the normal appetites and desires of a man’s body, excites them to a high degree, and then suggests an improper method of satisfying them. Hunger is normal and a sign of good health. Jesus had fasted forty days and Satan took advantage of that fact to suggest the use of His. divine power to satisfy His hunger. This would involve a denial of His entire mission on earth, namely, the redemption of man by a divine person who had become a real man. 2. By. appealing to pride (vv. 5, 6). Satan misapplied Scripture to tempt Jesus to presumption on the assumption that He was exercising faith. God had promised to keep Him “in al! his ways” (Ps. 91:11). To cast himself down from the temple was not one of the ways in which Christ was called to walk. Satan comes to us with the same kind of temptation. If He cannot get us to forsake faith, he tempts us to become fanatic and to proudly substitute presumption for faith. 3. By appealing to the eyes (vv. 8. 9). By showing Christ the kingdoms of the world and offering them to Him by the short-cut of a brief act of worship rather than by the way of the cross, Satan tempted Him again. Here the devil showed his true desire that man should worship him rather than God. 111. How to Meet Temptation (vv. 4. 7, 10). 1. By the right use of Scripture. If Jesus needed that weapon, how can we do without it? How can we use Scripture if we do not study it and hide it in our hearts? 2. By dependence on God. Every Scripture used by Jesus honored God. We cannot fight Satan in our own strength. To attempt to do so is to fail utterly. The real victory for the Christian is to bring Satan back to the cross where Christ won a decisive victory over him. 3. By denouncing Satan. Jesus sent him on his way. We may do the same in Jesus’ name. It is always a serious error to try to argue with Satan or to engage in any discussion with him. Let us meet him with Scripture and with a “Get thee hence.” IV. The Result. Satan left and angels came to minister to Christ. The overcoming of temptation results in peace, victory, and blessing. This is ever so in the life of the believer. Temptation overcome makes us stronger to meet the next temptation, and also enables us to help our weaker brethren.