May 13, 2015 – “T” is for Temptation

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[c]”

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” Matthew 4:1-11

It is difficult to know how to translate the Greek words peirazo (4:1) and the more intensive ekpeirazo (4:7). Should they be translated as “to test” or “to tempt”? One of the things biblical scholars will do is to look how the word(s) is(are) used elsewhere in the Bible. For example, in the LXX the word is used to describe God testing people:

“God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son” (Gn 22:1).

“When God rained bread from heaven, God asked that they gather only enough for that day. “In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not” (Ex 16:4).

Here is how Brian P. Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources describes in his commentary:

“Why does God test people? One reason is given in Dt 13:3b: “for the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you indeed love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul.” A slightly different reason is given in Dt 8:16: “to humble you and to test you, and in the end to do you good.” On one hand, I don’t like the idea of testing that will do me good, but on the other hand, I have an appointment for a test at the doctor’s office. The reason a doctor prescribes tests is for the good of the patient. Perhaps the reason for Jesus’ “testing” in the wilderness is given its best expression in Dt 8:2-3 (v. 3 is quoted by Jesus in answer to the first “test”):

“Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

There is this positive side of peirazo and ekpeirazo — they refer to a test. Generally when teachers or driving instructors or doctors give tests, they are not trying to flunk the testees, but to help discover what they know and what they can do. This is one way of looking at “being tested by God.” God wants Jesus/us to pass the test — to prove our abilities to God and to ourselves. “Peirazo” and “ekpeirazo” can also have negative connotations: “to tempt” or “to try and cause someone to make a mistake” or “to try and cause someone to sin”. At the same time that God is “testing” to discover the depths of one’s faithfulness, the “Tempter” may be “tempting” someone to sin. God’s purpose is to strengthen faith. Satan’s purpose is to weaken faith.”

We will always be tested in our faith, and tempted to sin. It is the human condition – we are tested and tempted each and every day. We rely on the Spirit to guide us through our temptations, and we rely on the Spirit to lead us not only into the valley experiences of our lives, but through and out of them as well.

Pastor Dave