[Propertalk] Gospel sermon tips - Mt. 4:1-11 - Part 1

[Joe Parrish]

Parallels in Gospel of John
The story of the Temptation is one of the notable omissions in the Gospel of John. However some readers have identified parallels inside John which indicate that the author of John may have been familiar with the Temptation narratives in some form.                    
    Stones into Bread ? John 6:26,31 to make bread in the wilderness.
    Jump down from the temple ? John 2:18 to perform a Messianic sign in the temple.

    Kingdoms of the World ? John 6:15 to take the kingdom by force.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temptation_of_Jesus

Wikipedia
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      M. McVann has demonstrated the ritual structure of this passage. He argues that Jesus, who had most likely been a disciple of John's is himself transformed into a prophet (1993:14-15, 19). Following Jesus' baptism by John at the Jordan (3:13-17), he was "led up" (anêxthê) into the Wilderness by the Spirit, 4:1a. Jesus is thus separated from the community at the river for forty days of fasting. The three tests by "the tester" (ho peirazôn v3), "the devil" (ho diablos vv5, 8, 11), or "satan" (satana v10) culminate in the ascent to "a very high mountain" (eis oros upsêllon lian ) in v8. Jesus is now alone with his ordeal-master on the mountain to complete his testing.

      This ordeal, or ritualized initiation (peirasthênai, v1b), tests his spiritual strength, loyalty, and obedience: will he opt for food, or perform spectacular feats, or accept power from an ungodly source? The element of testing is further accentuated by specifically playing on the larger context of Deut 8:2-5 (see also Exod 16:4), part of which is quoted in Matt 4:4. The motifs employed are: forty, leading, Wilderness, commandment, humbling, testing (nassotheka), discipline, obedience, hunger, bread: 5. 
            5. For Deuteronomy, see 


                  Weinfeld, Moshe: 388-91; 1991 Deuteronomy 1-11. AB 5. New York: Doubleday; 
                 

             -for this type of midrashic technique, see Sanders 1972 and 1991: 
                  Sanders, James A., 
                  1972 Torah and Canon. Philadelphia: Fortress. 

                  1991 "The Integrity of Biblical Pluralism." Pp. 154-69 in "Not In Heaven": Coherence and Complexity in Biblical Narrative. Eds. J. P. Rosenblatt and J. C. Sitterson, Jr. Indiana Studies in Biblical Literature. Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press.  


           

      http://www.kchanson.com/ARTICLES/mountain.html#wei

      K. C. Hanson
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They are invitations not to avoid but to wrestle with our own demons and confront the relentless temptations that are unique to each of us.

http://day1.org/2694-choose_life

J. Neil Alexander
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The first great temptation is to gain power. After his forty--day fast in the desert, Matthew tells us that Jesus was hungry. Thus, Satan appeals to the physical dimension of Jesus' character to satisfy his hunger: "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into bread." The devil's challenge seems reasonable under the circumstances, but Jesus turns the tables on Satan and responds, citing the scriptures, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." Jesus is able to forego the desire of power and to rise above the temptation. The power suggested by Satan does not attract Jesus.

The second temptation is prestige. Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, the most sacred place in all Judaism, to make his plea. Satan realizes that Jesus is an important person. His prestige is so great that the heavenly host of angels will not allow any harm to come to Jesus. Thus, he chides the Lord, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, and on their hands they will bear you up, so you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " Jesus is above the fray again. He knows who he is and does not need the recognition suggested by Satan. Knowing he is God is sufficient prestige for Jesus. The prestige that the world claims is so important - namely having people see and recognize your importance - is of no significance for the Lord.

The last great temptation is wealth. Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain and displays before him all the kingdoms of the earth and says, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." The irony of the temptation is significant since Satan offers Jesus what he already possesses. All things are from God and, thus, all belongs to God; Satan controls nothing. Jesus responds in what must have been an exasperated tone of voice: "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' " Jesus already possesses all that he needs. Whatever Satan can offer is of no value, for it is already his.
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A very overweight man decided that it was time to shed a few pounds. He went on a new diet and took it seriously. He even changed his usual driving route to the office in order to avoid his favorite bakery. One morning, however, he arrived at the office carrying a large, sugar--coated coffee cake. His office mates roundly chided him, but he only smiled, shrugged his shoulders and said, "What could I do? This is a very special cake. This morning, out of my forced habit, I accidentally drove by my favorite bakery. There in the window were trays of the most delicious goodies. I felt that it was no accident that I happened to pass by, so I prayed, 'Lord, if you really want me to have one of these delicious coffee cakes, let me find a parking place in front of the bakery.' Sure enough, on the ninth trip around the block, there it was!"

http://www.sermonsuite.com/content.php?i=26084&key=l6qk6kmnzezczAUw

Richard E. Gribble
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