The Temptation of Jesus and its Old Testament Background

The account of Christ’s temptation in the wilderness is like a New Testament song set to an Old Testament tune. The timetable (40 days), the location (wilderness), the structure (baptism then temptation), the Bible quotes (all from Deuteronomy 6-8), and many of the Greek verbs are all borrowed from Israel’s time of testing in the wilderness. In this week’s video, we will see how Christ comes as Israel-reduced-to-one-man to overcome evil and provide us with the Gospel gift of his faithfulness to his Father.

[@kentlovelace4108]

This is so good! As a confirmation of what you are saying, Paul says in Romans 5:19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous”. Keep these coming. You are such a blessing!! ❤

[@brightbite]

When one is standing on a Golden Road leading to a Golden City, the Accuser always seems to stand off to the side and say, "Would you like to buy a bridge??" 🙄

[@jgeph2.4]

Love that !

[@CrazyCrossWalkingChristian]

Thank you for your on going work of the life of Jesus! I am leading a bible study on the chronological life of Jesus thru the four Gospels and your videos have truly been a God send. I pray one day I can be in a place to just study the word in depth like you and others have. Keep up the great work of helping to spread the Good News! You are not just teaching men to fish, you are teaching men how to teach other men how to fish.

[@brentarnold4442]

Brother, you are an awesome teacher! I am from south Georgia, and long for the word to be explained, rather than spoon fed. You do an awesome work with your description 😎

[@noeline0]

I thank HaShem for recently finding your teachings. This teaching has found me right in the midst of temptation because I’m on the battle field sharing the love of G-d in my workplace, his word and his testimony that all man might be saved that none should perish. . It is a hunger that remains with me always. But of course it doesn’t come without the tempter. A timely message l appreciate. Thankyou

[@ChristCrucifiedforyou]

Good morning Chad. Thank you for your videos and social media presence.

[@roberttaylor2607]

Greatly appreciated!

[@navychiefpastor]

Outstanding!

[@snibushds]

You have put forth all this information in a very helpful manner. Thanks for the slides showing the texts. Now, to give the deaf people here in Hong Kong a sense of what you were sharing. Blessings upon your continued work. Thank you.

[@mariostars32]

Hi brother Chad, im a young pastor that has follow you for sometime. You are a very anointed teacher of the word. Thank you for your Hebraic approach and biblical insight. Your technique is very helpful and it helps the text come to life.

[@brunet42]

Thank you once again Chad. In my prayers. Sam

[@brentarnold4442]

Amen, also pray for DRMSH, he led me to your page. Again thank you for your insight brother!

[@unitedlutheranchurch5147]

Wonderful insights as always! Thank you. I'm curious what your thoughts are about the devil in the gospel of Matthew/Luke vs. the devil that is allowed to test Job. Are they the same devil(s), or do you think they are different? Also, if the devil is the one that tests Adam, Job, Jesus, and us, who is the devil working for? Is the devil Gods agent for testing faithfulness and righteousness, or this devil working for his own evil intent and purposes?

[@chadbird1517]

You are very welcome! Thank you for watching and leaving a reply. Yes, I think they are the same tempter. The devil, as the father of lies, is working for himself, ensnaring others in his same pit of death and falsehood, but he is also involuntarily being used by God. As one of the Lord's creatures, he remains under divine control, only able to do what the Lord allows. As with our crosses of grief or pain or loss, which the Lord uses to make us lean more heavily upon him, so the Lord uses the trials brought upon us by the devil to call us more fully to himself.

[@-adc]

Wow, in all my years as a Christian (and this is somewhat sad to me, feel like I should have looked it up) I never knew that when the devil quotes from Psalm 92, he frikkin omits the very next bit about Jesus curb-stomping him in the face. In modern parlance - cosmic self-own, bruh. Geesh.

[@elligrettenberger4191]

Could it be that in Luke's telling, how he centers the devil's tempting of the glory and and power of the world and Jesus responds with "Worship Adonai your God and serve Him only" is because that was traditional in Jewish literature anyway? That the climax or the pinnacle point of the story is in the middle of the story? That response is the one law that covers everything, it's the first commandment. I just don't know why Matthew didn't also do that, also being a Jew.

[@Petertutinski]

Is it possible that the serpent being the most crafty of all the beasts of the field was leading Jesus to misinterpret the treading of the serpent in Psalm 91 as being fulfilled in that moment as opposed to the second advent? Surely he is too crafty to choose a passage and stop before his own trampling without a motivation to do so.

[@artinthechurchmeraolive1098]

Could the order of the Temple temptation be a symbol of Jesus entering the promise land? At the beginning of the passage, he is led “out of Judea [part of Israel’s land] into the wilderness” and then it’s Satan who leads Jesus into the land again, into Jerusalem. It makes me wonder if it reflects the OT account of inheriting the promise land? Any thoughts?

[@chadbird1517]

I had not thought of this. Intriguing suggestion! I will give it some more thought. Thanks!

[@paulmuhle5840]

Jesus' temptation is a metaphor on the wilderness trials of the Sons of Israel. The fact that the duration of time is '40', means that it was completed. If Jesus was only tempted 40 days I have a bone to pick with God. I have been tempted every day of my life and it has been longer than 40 days. 40 means that Jesus was tempted everyday of his life, to its conclusion. Jesus was tempted as we all are; bread (welfare); worship (power); and to be kept from danger (security). Jesus was faithful (pistos) to God. How you wish to translate/interpret this it is about Jesus being tempted as you and I are. Jesus did not get a free pass.