20250112 Luke 3:23-4:12 Resisting the Devil

How do you imagine the devil? I remember watching a movie about the life of Jesus with two of my younger brothers. When the movie got to the temptation narrative, we met the devil. In this movie, the devil was so cool and funny. By the end of the account, one of my brothers said, “The Devil’s not that bad!” The director had done a great job! His nice devil, lured my brother.

In Genesis 3, the snake is a nice snake. The devil wants to lure us away from God. To do this he can be very nice, cool, and enticing. We can be fooled if he is tempting us to do what our sinful hearts want to do.

We must be aware of the work of the devil. When it comes to the Devil, his "niceness" is besides the point. The glory of God, and eternal destinies are at stake.

In the West, we rarely talk about the devil or demonic forces. We can attribute most of the evil in the world to genetics, mental illnesses, social environment, brain chemistry, oppression and things like that. These are all contributing factors and still there is an evil that is beyond us that we cannot eradicate.

I don’t know how it all works, but C.S. Lewis’ words resonate with me. He writes, "There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them." Lewis encourages a balanced view, where we recognize the existence of the devil and his work but do not allow it to dominate our thinking or distract us from our faith in God. 

In line with Lewis’s quote, we want to focus on Christ but also be wise in dealing with the devil. We will focus on Christ. We will see that Jesus is the New Successful Adam who brings salvation. We will learn from Jesus to resist the devil.

First, we see that Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness shows he is the New Successful Adam Who can bring salvation to his people in Luke 3:23-38, Luke 4:1-2, 3, 9, 12.

Luke composes his narrative in a way to teach us that where Adam and Israel failed, Jesus was successful. Adam sinned, and his sin led to humanity and Israel's sin. Jesus overcame the devil and his triumph leads his people in righteousness, so that we can overcome the devil. The reversals of Adam and Israel show that Jesus the savior we need.

First, Jesus reverses the work of Adam.

The first way we see the parallel between Jesus and Adam is with the genealogy. In Luke’s Gospel, the genealogy ends with “Adam, the son of God” (Luke 3:38). This verse about Adam precedes Jesus' temptation account. Luke wants us to read the temptation account in light of Genesis 3, now with a new Adam.

The second way, we see a parallel between Jesus and Adam is with Luke's order of the temptations. Luke’s order differs from Matthew's in Matt 4. Luke's order matches the order from Genesis 3, with "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.”

The first temptation corresponds to the lust of the flesh. In Genesis 3, the fruit was good for food. In Luke 4, the devil tempts Jesus to turn the rock into bread.

The second temptation corresponds to the lust of the eyes. In Gen 3, the woman saw that the fruit was a delight to the eyes. In Luke 4, the devil tempts Jesus with authority.

The third temptation corresponds to the pride of life. In Gen 3, the fruit was desirable to make one wise, so the Man could be self-sufficient. In Luke 4, the devil tempted Jesus to show off that God would protect him if he jumped off the temple, so all would see that he is the son of God.

Jesus’s parallel and reversal of Adam is important. Through Adam's sin, sin came to all along with hostility and death. Jesus replays Genesis 3 to show that salvation, restoration, and life has come into the world through him.

There are also parallels between Jesus and the people of Israel.

Jesus in the wilderness for forty days matches Israel in the wilderness for forty years. This parallel is confirmed by Jesus’ quotations of scripture. Each time Jesus quotes scripture to the devil, it comes from Deut 6-8. These chapters teach us what the people of Israel should have learned in the wilderness.

We can conclude that Jesus reverses the work of Adam to reverse Israel’s destiny.

We can conclude that while Adam failed and led humanity and Israel to sin, Jesus did not sin and leads his people in righteousness.

This is great news for us. Jesus is the savior of mankind. If we trust in him, pledge allegiance to Him, seek refuge in him, though we like Adam and Israel fail, Jesus lived righteously on behalf of his people. Col 3:3 says that the lives of Christians are hidden with Christ in God. Jesus offers salvation and reconciliation. He presents us to the father with his record of obedience rather than our record of sin.

Luke 4:12 closes this account with “the devil leaving until the opportune time.”

This phrase invites us to look for another confrontation in Jesus’ ministry. In the Gospel, there will be no such direct confrontation with the devil until the crucifixion. The Roman soldiers will sound like the devil. Twice in Luke 4, the devil tempted Jesus saying, "If you are the Son of God."

When the Romans mock Jesus they say, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself!” (Luke 23:35-37). This again is the voice of the devil trying to derail Christ's redemptive ministry. By his death, burial, and resurrection Jesus will triumph mightily over the devil and offer the forgiveness of sins.

While sin entered through Adam, Jesus, the New Adam triumphed over the devil. Adam’s sin led to humanity’s and Israel’s sin. The work of Christ offers the forgiveness of sins to his people. Jesus is the new successful Adam who saves his people. Thoughts about the devil and demonic activity cannot be separated from thoughts of Jesus our savior, who is no match for the devil.

Second, in Luke 4:3-12, Jesus teaches the way to resist the devil. We will look at the temptations one by one and draw applications.

We look at the first temptation in Luke 4:3-4

Luke 4:3-4

In Luke 4:3, the devil says, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become a piece of bread.”

The devil implies that the Son of God should not have to suffer. Jesus is the Son of God. He is anointed by the Holy Spirit for a divinely mandated mission to reveal the true nature of God. The devil attempts to draw Jesus away from his pattern of sonship. The devil implies that Jesus should not have to be hungry or suffer. The truth is that Jesus’ pattern of sonship requires obedience even if it leads to suffering and humiliation.

In Luke 4:4, Jesus responds by quoting Deut 8:3. Deut 6-8 highlights lessons what Israel should have learned during their 40 years in the wilderness (Deut 8:2). In the wilderness the people went hungry, and then God fed them manna. Manna was food that no one had had before to make it very clear that God was the one feeding them.

Jesus quotes, “Man does not live on bread alone.” Luke does not record the second half of Deut 8:3 which is “but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” In quoting scripture, Jesus shows that though he was physically hungry, he was full spiritually with God's word!

Application

We learn that we can resist the devil with Scripture. Scripture must have an important role in our lives. Psalm 119:9-11 read, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

In Eph 6:17, the word of God is called the sword of the Spirit. It is a weapon in warfare. The devil tempts us to believe lies to deny God. Scriptures give us truth to fight back.

Luke 4:5-8 records the second temptation.

Luke 4:5-8

In Luke 4:5-7, the devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the inhabited world. Satan offers Jesus all authority (reversal of Ps 2:8) on the condition that Jesus worships him. The devil lures Jesus to forsake God.

While the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness (Luke 4:1), the devil led him up high (Luke 4:5). God’s plan is for Jesus to be exalted through humiliation. The devil tempts Jesus with immediate power by bypassing the path of suffering and service.

In Luke 4:8, Jesus responds. Jesus understands that he deeds to receive from the Father what is the Father’s to give (Ps 2:8). He replies with Deut 6:13. He reminds the devil that only one being is worthy of worship, the Lord God. This commandment was given to Israel who kept falling to idolatry. Here in contrast, Jesus stands firm in his allegiance to serve God alone.

Application

The application for us is that we resist the devil be accepting hardship. The same way, there was no quick and easy road for Jesus’ messianic glory, we need to embrace the slow hard road. There are some hard situations that we need to get ourselves out of. It could be bad company that is affecting our behavior. It could be a toxic work situation that is leading us to burn out. There are family members with whom we may need firm boundaries. Having said all this, Christians must accept hardship. Accepting hardship is at the heart of Jesus' redemptive mission. Jesus was crucified before his resurrection.

The phrase, "God wants me to be happy" has some truth to it. He wants you to enjoy eternal bliss in his presence forever! However, this only occurs when happiness is found in him. Most often the phrase "God wants me to be happy" occurs in the context of sin. The devil tempted Jesus with immediate gratification. The devil works that way with us. He wants us to believe that God wants us to be happy on a sinful path.

This is one example. The Bible teaches sex is for marriage and Christians must marry Christians. Often the lie, "God wants me to be happy" comes up in the context of lonely singles, who are tired of waiting for a Christian companion. I wanted to be married when I was single. I found non-Christians very attractive. I am not judging. I get it! But I also want to plead with anyone heading down that path to stand firm and do not believe Satan's lies. Living for God and his glory is better than earthly happiness found outside of his will.

This applies to other areas as well. Some flee a call to full time ministry for more prestigious careers. Some value comfort and leisure over church membership and discipleship. Some flee hard people that God may be calling us to love.

We must accept hardship as a part of life. We must also rejoice in our suffering, knowing that God uses these to make us more like Jesus. Jesus willingly went to the cross. When we suffer willingly, we participate in his suffering. We reflect Christ and we become more like him.

Luke 4:9-12 records the third temptation.

Luke 4:9-12

Because Jesus responds with Scripture, the devil tries Scripture as well. The devil quotes Psalm 91 to tempt with the possibility of a miracle. Psalm 91 highlights God’s protection of those who are his. He quotes Ps 91:11-12. Satan’s logic is that if God commands the angels to protect David from stubbing his foot, how much more will he the Son of God. This temptation is to test God’s care. It is forcing God’s hand. It is requiring of God that he works on our own terms. Using scripture in this way, Satan is saying, if you do not do as I say, you are actually not trusting the Bible. When we misuse the Bible or try to manipulate people with the Bible, we break the third commandment, we use the name of the Lord in vain. When we quote the Bible out of context, we quote the Bible like the devil.

In Luke 4:12, Jesus’ Responds. He quotes Deut 6:16, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” Later in Luke 11:29, Jesus will teach that it is an evil generation that seeks signs for God to prove himself. Jesus understands his calling. He does not need an extra sign for God to show his care for him.

In Luke 22:43, an angel will come to his help. Rather than preventing him from getting hurt, we read, “There appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.” This was just before Jesus was betrayed and arrested. God will send an angel, not to protect Jesus, but to strengthen him to go to the cross. God cares for Jesus, and God cares for us, but we must trust God and not force his hand. When God’s way is hard, know that he has our eternal destinity at heart, not our instant gratification.

Application

The lesson for us is that we resist the devil by understanding God’s care for us. Satan quotes a verse about God’s care and protection for his people. We believe the verse he quotes. We must, however, apply it biblically, not as we please. God does not promise Christians to never get sick and never die. He does not promise wealth and success in worldly pursuits. He does not promise a spouse or children. Many Christians have died for their faith. If we test God’s care with a specific request of his provision, we fall for Satan’s lie. We must read the Bible in context and wisely. The Bible is not a magical spells book. If we quote three words from a verse and ignore the context, we misinterpreting it and lead people astray. God does care for his people. God cares for you. Ultimately, he cares by guaranteeing us eternal comfort by his side forever. There is no greater care than this.

Conclusion

We cannot deny the work of the devil. He would love to operate unrecognized. When we do think of the devil, we must be quick to remember, that Jesus is greater.

When the devil does tempt us, we have simple tools to resist. Jesus kept referring to the word of God, we must do the same. We must accept that hardship is part of life. Often, we have opportunities to sin to make life easier. God wants us to choose hardship over sin. The devil will either try to convince us that God wants us to sin with the lie that he wants us to be happy. Or, he will want us to believe that God’s care for us in incompatible with suffering. We must accept both that suffering awaits us and God cares for us. This way Satan’s lies will not stick.

Sin is devasting. It leads to hostility, guilt, shame, loneliness, anxiety, and death. The devil wants this for us. We must fight sin at all costs. Jesus came to bring salvation. We have his Word and Jesus is with us through his Holy Spirit indwelling in us. Also, we have Christ's body the church to help us fight.

We desire to be a community of believers that support each other. Together we want to use the tools of this text to resist the devil together. We want to be speaking scripture to one another. We want to embrace suffering, lament, and heartache, and weep with each other. We want to be a community where no one ever needs to ask for a sign of God’s love, because the church of Christ is that sign over and over as we love each other in tangible ways and reflect love of Christ.

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