Did you ever wonder why there is such an emphasis on transgression, temptation and evil in the Lord’s Prayer? The Lord’s Prayer draws us to contemplate who God is and how we are to conduct ourselves in relation to Him. Our Father is all holy, the almighty God, king above all kings. We are his beloved children, redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, subjects of his kingdom. We are to lead a life of full submission to his sovereignty rule, bearing witness to his holy name and his will on earth. However, the sinful nature of our old selves won’t let us go free so easily. And Satan would try all that he can to pull us away from God.
Jesus said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” (Matt 26:41) What temptations have you encountered before? What temptations may you be facing today? Could it be disappointments, afflictions, disillusions, or emotional turmoil? Or could it be lures of pleasure, money, success, praise from others or the like. Do you know where lies your weak spot that is most susceptible to Satan’s attacks?
The 3 temptations of Jesus (Matt 4:1-11) are often considered together with the “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life” succinctly encapsulated in 1 Jn 2:16. When Jesus was most hungry and tired, the devil tempted him with bread, an essential life necessity that mirrors “the lust of the flesh”. Jesus was also tempted with “the lust of the eye” when Satan took him to the mountain top and showed him the splendor of the world. “All this I will give you if you bow down and worship me”, said he. The same trick was used in enticing Adam and Eve to see that the fruit was “good for food and pleasing to the eye”. “You will not surely die… you will be like God” so he said. Knowing full well what we love and want deep inside our hearts, Satan often appeals to our inner desires. The lures may look harmless and may even carry visible merits and benefits. But the end goal, the intent and means are not from God. If succumbed to Satan’s temptation, it would be nothing short of outright distrust, disobedience and rebellion against God and God’s commands. Are you aware of what areas or weak spots in your life may be most vulnerable to Satan’s attacks?
Another insidious trick that Satan uses is to craft deceptions by twisting God’s words, promises or even seemingly indisputable truths. In the temptation that mirrors “the pride of life”, he told Jesus to make a spectacular show of power by jumping down from the highest point of the temple. He asserted with first Jesus’ Sonship saying, “if you are the Son of God”, and secondly with God’s promise in Ps. 91 that He would command angels to lift him up. Both assertions are rightful claims of truth but twisted and manipulated for the purpose of self-glory and self-gratification. NT scholar D.A. Carson called this “manipulative bribery”, that “behind Satan’s challenge was an invitation to approach God with a kind of emotional blackmail, a twisted spiritual bribery. God’s watch-care over his people does not give them the right to treat God with cheap presumption”1. Jesus firmly answered, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test”. We must approach God with utmost trust, full obedience and total submission.
In facing temptation, let us remember:
“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful: he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (1 Cor 10:12-13)
In face of trials and temptation, let us hold on to Jesus:
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.” (Heb 4:14-16)
With prayers and thanksgiving,
Josephine Chow
- D.A. Carson, God with Us: Themes from Matthew, (Tennessee: JKO Publishing 1995), p. 28