The Suffering Son
By: John Whiteaker
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. If you hear those famous words, it most likely means you are about to invest a good chunk of time into watching The Lord of the Rings. Lord of the Rings for you who may not know may be the most famous and beloved fictional books of all-time.
The title of the series, Lord of the Rings, highlights the main antagonist Sauron, and his wanting to rule the world of free-men. Sauron makes one ring to rule over the world. As the story goes, certain characters join together in the hopes of destroying the ring, and essentially evil itself.
The one meant to carry the ring, was one of humble beginnings, and one that no one expected. If you had to guess who would carry this great ring of power, you would most likely choose Gandalf, or Aragorn, or one of the elves. But no, the little, humble hobbit Frodo would carry it.
The ring brings the theme of temptation to the story, Throughout the story, almost every character is tempted to take the ring for themselves. Some want to wield it with good intentions, others bad.
The hero of the story Frodo, is in a lot of ways like the hero of this story in Matthew 4 and in the entire Bible, Jesus Christ. You see Frodo is like Jesus in that they both come from humble beginnings, and to the people around them seemed
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like unlikely candidates. Frodo is not like many other heroes, for it is through a slow, full of suffering, long journey he defeats the enemy. Jesus will defeat the enemy of sin and death not by overpowering His enemy, but by suffering and dying.
Today or text gives us 3 points. Ill go ahead and give you all three. The first point. The Context. The second point. The temptations. The third point. The Point. The context, the temptations, the point.
Point One, The context.
Our author Matthew, one of Jesus’ apostles is writing to a particular audience, the Jewish people of his time. It seems that Matthew is trying to convince the Jewish people, that in fact, Jesus was the Messiah or the Christ that the Jewish people had been expecting. He just wasn’t the Messiah they were expecting. You see many of the Jewish people of the day did not believe Jesus was the messiah, but what Matthew does throughout this book is give them reason after reason, to convince them that he was the messiah but just not the one they expected.
We see in the opening of the book, there is a genealogy. This genealogy highlights two people Abraham and especially David the King. This is to show to the Jewish audience with help from the Old Testament, that if the Davidic kingly
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line, were to be established, and someone was to sit on the throne, Jesus would be the most qualified candidate.
Then the rest of the chapter and even into chapter two, Jesus’ birth and early childhood, Matthew is trying to wave down the Jewish people’s attention to show the uniqueness of Jesus. He does this by highlighting miracles, angels, and the fulfillment of old testament scripture. Whether that’s a virgin conception, angels, dreams and visions, or even the guiding of men by a star. Matthew attempts to show his audience that if you look at the old testament and all the wonders, the evidence that Jesus is the messiah is overwhelming.
However, I kept saying “He’s not the one they expected”. What I mean by that, many of the text of the old testament point to a messiah and his reign has him reestablishing Israel, and if a king is to come back to Israel, for them that meant someone had to defeat Rome. Every Jewish person expected the Messiah to come in, defeat Rome, reestablish Israel as a world power and bring peace, justice, and joy to the world. However, Matthew is trying to show them through the scriptures and how Jesus fulfills them, that indeed He is the messiah but he is different then what they expected. He would not reestablish the ethnic Israel, but the true Israel. He would not defeat Rome with an army, but Sin and death, by suffering and dying.
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In verse one of our chapter we see the word “Then”. Which points us to what happened right before. We are introduced to a character named John the Baptist. He is a prophet coming to prepare the way of the Lord, and has a similar appearance of Elijah the prophet. He baptizes Jesus, the heavens are opened, The Spirit descends on Jesus, and a voice from Heaven says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
One may think, alright, now here comes the ministry. He has the Spirit on Him, the prophet just baptized Him, and the Father just made a public proclamation to all around, “This is the Son of God”. Yet, there is one more thing He must do.
Our text tells us that the Spirit leads Christ into the wilderness, and for a purpose, to be tempted. The text does not tell us why Jesus fasted in verse 2, but fasting is often used throughout scripture as a way to spend time and it helps heighten one’s effort to pray and be with God.
The text then brings in another character. He is given three names in our text, Devil, Satan, and the Tempter. Devil, and Satan both mean “The accuser” one for the Greek, the other Hebrew. The tempter, highlights his other role, which we see in this section, tempting. He is not given these names by accident. He is an expert in his field. He does his job better than any other.
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It is important to note, that while the Spirit leads Jesus to be tempted, it is Satan who actually does the tempting. We see here God is sovereign over Satan. While God tempts no one, he can use the tempter for his own bigger plans. While Satan wants to tempt Jesus, God’s plan is simply to test Jesus and prove to the world who He is.
Its also note-worthy that here Jesus is fasting 40 days and 40 nights, a means of grace that led to a quality time to be with God, this is Satan’s in to tempt. He is taking the good gift of fasting and using it for temptation. How often do our own times with God, or acts of service also open us up to temptations of pride and self- dependency. Satan is like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. This leads to our second point.
Point Two THE TEMPTATIONS (V.3-11)
Now is the time for the thrilla in Manilla of the 1st century. The Allies v. The Axis, Luke v. Vader, Gamecock football v. The Citadel, all the great rivalries. Here we find another, the oldest of all rivalries. God v. Satan, and they meet again head on in the wilderness.
Satan tempts Jesus three times in our section, so let’s address each temptation separately. The first temptation is seen in verses 3-4.
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The tempter begins his temptation with the phrase “If you are the Son of God”. Then he tempts Jesus to turn the stones to loaves of bread. Because of the fast, Jesus is now at the point of starvation. Interesting though, to create bread does not at first glance appear to be a sin. What’s going on here? I think the key to this temptation and to the rest of the temptations is to pay attention to his opening statement.
“If you are the Son”. This is casting doubt on the words of the Father at the end of the previous chapter. He said this is my Beloved SON. Not only is he the Son but He is also loved. You can hear the heart of what Satan is really asking.
“If you are actually Son, why is the Father holding out on you. Why are you in the wilderness, alone, and starving. You know what you should do? You should disregard the Father, and take matters into your own hands. I mean, you are Jesus. Who does he think he is telling you to sit in the wilderness, and starve? You deserve better. Go ahead, you got the power, turn those stones to bread and feast.”
Does this not sound familiar? “Eve did God really say? He is holding out on you. If He loved you, He wouldn’t hold out from giving you everything. Take what is yours. You work this garden; you can exercise dominion. Eat that fruit.”
This is the real temptation for Jesus here: Be self-reliant and don’t trust and rely on the Father.
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How does Jesus respond? He quotes Deuteronomy 8:3. Which in itself tells us a few things. Jesus being God could have simply spoken and it would have been the Word of God, but instead it was enough and sufficient to quote scripture. If it is enough for Jesus it should be enough for us. Also, as Leon Morris notes, this shows the “reliability and the unchangeability of scripture.” Even though Deuteronomy was written a thousand of years before Jesus of Nazareth, it is as still true and efficient as the day it was written.
If the temptation was self-reliance, Jesus seems to reply with I will rely on the Father and what He says, and not on the thing’s humans can create.
Anger, Lust, Greed, and many other sins like them ask us the same question, “Will you rely on God or do you feel the need to take matters into your own hands? These temptations show us that often we care too much about what do not have rather than caring enough about who we do have. I’ll say that again. These temptations show us that often we care too much about what do not have rather than caring enough about who we do have.
Later Jesus will feed thousands by making bread and fish. So, I’m not saying you can work hard, or don’t think what you do doesn’t matter, but it’s a question of your heart and intentions. Friends work hard, but you still may lose your job. Care for your family, but you may lose your family. Love your neighbors, but God still
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may lead you in lonely seasons. Evangelize to the lost, but you may not see any come to salvation. We see this clearly in Job’s life.
Friends, beloved, Trust God and know if you are suffering it may not be because you did something wrong, it may but it ay not. The sinless Christ was let to the wilderness to be alone, and starving. Lean into the everlasting arms, love well and work hard, but do not give up your spiritual priority for your physical priorities.
The second temptation is in verses 5-7.
It begins with a change of scenery. No longer is the wilderness the backdrop but in Jerusalem, called the holy city, and they are located at a very high point of the temple. High enough to were if one jumped off and survived with would be nothing less than miraculous.
While the first temptation was countered by placing trust in God, now Jesus is being tempted with that very assurance. “If you are the Son, and you trust God so much, why don’t you jump off this building for all to see. Look even the scriptures say so.”
Since Jesus quoted scripture, so the tempter shows his knowledge of the scriptures as well quoting Psalm 91. This is a great example of the importance of
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application. You can know the scripture; you can even have a right interpretation and yet still misapply the text.
Here Satan misapplies how the angels are to care for Jesus, and using care of the angels as a reason to test God. Just a side-note if you want to see what the correct application of those verses in Psalm 91 are look at verse 11. The angels are ministering.
When you sing you are ministering. When you pray you are ministering. When you paint the gym or put in floors you are ministering. When you go out of your way to make someone feel special, little random acts of kindness. Here is my encouragement to you if you want to minister someone in the church, take a little time and come up with a creative way to help someone feel loved, do that or ask Grant. He will find something for you to do.
But, back to this temptation, the real temptation here is not to jump from a building. The real temptation is to test God’s faithfulness. To test God in a way that manipulates God to act so as to bypass suffering, even if that suffering is self- inflicted suffering. Putting God to the test is like, neglecting to study and begging your teacher for a better grade. It’s like running red lights and asking for warning.
We can relate easily to this temptation. We make demands of God all the time. If not outwardly and verbally, its often internally. I was doing it as a kid. At
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sporting events, Lord if you get us out of this inning Ill promise to be better. God if you help me have a good game, then Ill read and pray. Some habits die hard. It’s the same temptation but shows its face in different ways.
We may say if my life doesn’t go the way I want Ill neglect reading and praying. Life is hard so Ill miss church. I am so guilty of doing this, Ill go through a time where its hard to read, its hard to pray, I’m not doing well with God, and I find myself falling into sin. Doesn’t matter the sin, its often a new one every day. But I find myself in a place easily available for the tempter, and then I ask God why He didn’t do anything. “You could have prevented me from sinning, you could have stopped it in an instance. My sin against you was your fault.” I threw myself off the building spiritually and then I blamed God for not catching me.
Even here though Jesus is tempted with testing God. So, what does Jesus do? He goes back to Deuteronomy. He quotes Dt. 6:16.
The context for that text is referencing Israel at Massah, where they demanded God to provide them with water in Ex. 17. They ask “Is the Lord among us or not?” They experienced real suffering. Do not villainize Israel. I mean walking through the desert and not knowing where your next meal or even drop of water will come from. Their problem is God had already given them enough proof that He was among them. He delivered them out of Egypt. Yet, they were filled
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with anxiety and worry. The began to grumble, and then they were ready to kill Moses.
Perhaps you are not a Christian and you decided to joining us today and listen in. If you are, I want to thank you so much for be willing and open to hear us out. To giving church a chance. I would like to ask you though; have you been putting God to the test? Have you been living your life in contrast to what He wants and then find issues with God? I have heard from friends, that in order for them to believe in God, He would have to do a miracle in front of them or show Himself in the flesh. Friend, Israel didn’t trust God even though he did signs and wonders and freed them from Egypt. Satan, wanted Christ to demand a sign even though the Father had already spoken that Jesus is the Son whom He loves. Its possible God has already given you enough evidence to believe. Have you considered the creation? Have you considered that all things here are temporal? If all things here are temporal, where do those things come from? Why is there justice and beauty? Friend, have you considered Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection? Perhaps the Bible is more believable than you thought? If what I am saying resonates with you, feel free to give me a few minutes to have a further conversation so that together we can think deeply on these matters. Maybe get some coffee this week.
Our third and last temptation is in verses 8-11.
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The devil again wants a change of scenery. He goes from the temple to a high mountain. Since there is no actual mountain where one can see all the kingdom of the world, Satan works where he commonly does for us, in the mind. He brings the kingdoms before the mind of Jesus.
What does Satan tempt Jesus with? Take the world and forfeit your soul. Rule the world, but serve me.
Now, we can see this in two different ways. It could be a temptation to take everything that the world has to offer. Here, take all the pleasures life has to offer. You won’t have to worry a day of your life. Yet, you must serve the devil.
The other and I think the most likely way to interpret is, here rule the world. Bring peace and justice to the world now. But serve Satan.
The real temptation is to get what you want by means of cutting corners. To get the reward by unsavory ways. A way to get past the suffering in life.
Its fascinating because it seems somewhat obvious now, but Jesus is to get not just all the kingdoms of the Earth, but all of Heaven and Earth, but he would have to suffer and die on the cross. What Satan is offering is a way to get around the pain and suffering that Jesus life will entail.
The questions we must ask is what corners are you willing to cut in order to get what you want? What sins are acceptable to lift the suffering in your life. Will
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you trust God with your circumstances and the plan He has for you? You see whatever Satan has to offer vanishes at death. It’s a lie. We often can live in an end justifies the means mentality. Beloved but the end is not here and now, but then and there. Trust God, He is faithful.
Here is the encouraging part of this text. Jesus once again resisted the devil and overcame the temptations. Here He quotes Dt. 6:13. Three temptations, three quotes from Dt. What does Hebrews say about Jesus’ temptation?
Hebrews 2:18: “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
Or Hebrews 4:14-16: “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Good news beloved he felt what we feel and He does not look down on us, but He sympathizes with our weaknesses. We can go to Him for rest and help. He is the master let us learn and lean into Him for help, that we may receive mercy and find grace.
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How does the story end, “The devil left him” He left Him, but he will not be gone long. Which brings us to our last and final point.
Point Three: The Point.
While we have talked about a lot of good and edifying things that Matthew has offered to us, we do not want to forget or miss Matthews main point. Remember Matthew is writing this to Jewish people to prove to them that Jesus is the Messiah who was to come, but not the one that they expected.
Matthew is primarily telling us that He is the true Son of God. As in the end of chapter 3 God says this is my Son. Then Satan asks Him If you are the Son... Matthew is drawing on to Old Testament references, which is common for him to do to show these Jewish people from their own scriptures look Jesus is the Christ. Matthew shows us that He is the Son of God by 3 main ways. He says Jesus is the Son of David, He is the New Adam and the True Israel. Each of these are referred to as God’s son.
For the Son of David, when talking to David in 2 Samuel 7:14; He tells David this about his son. “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. David’s son is to rule as king. This was clearly shown in the genealogy. The title Messiah or Christ means anointed one. This is a title that was originated with David, and became synonymous with the king and the future king, Son of David.
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For the new Adam, In Luke’s gospel, when doing Jesus genealogy, he just doesn’t go back to Abraham, but he goes back to Adam. He says, “Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”
Yet, Adam when tempted failed, Christ did not. Through this story could you see all the allusions Matthew was making to Adam and Eve in the garden? While Adam and Eve were in paradise, Christ was in the wilderness. While Adam and Eve had everything to eat, Christ was starving. While Adam and Eve had each other, Christ was alone. While Adam and Eve were tempted once, Christ was tempted 3 times. While Eve misquotes God from chapter 2 of Genesis, Christ perfectly quotes God from Dt 3 times.
This is what Romans 5:12-14: Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 13 for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. 14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
While we all are connected to Adam and are sinners through Adam, Christ is the new Adam. He offers righteousness and life in Himself.
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Lastly Christ is the true Israel. The nation Israel is often mentioned as God’s son. Even earlier in Matthew 2:15; quoting Hosea 11; Out of Egypt I called my son.” In our scripture reading Dt. 8, “led you these forty years in the wilderness...testing you.” Israel grumbled and complained, made a golden calf, and did not trust God to protect them in taking the promise land. The fell in the wilderness. Jesus trusted the Father wholly.
So, Matthew has made his point that Jesus is the Messiah, but their Son of David, their true Adam, their Israel was not made to suffer but they were the chosen people. Matthew shows them they are mistaken. The true Son does suffer. The true Son trusts the Father even to death. It seems the story has come to a close, but Matthew brings the story back up in Matthew 16.
Jesus asks the disciples who they think He is? Peter rightly answers in v. 16 “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That was not the hard part for him. What was hard was in verse 21. Read 21-23.
What no one expected, something so amazing so profound, thousands of years of prophecy was being fulfilled, God had taken on flesh, and He was going to suffer and die for his own creation’s sin. He was going to take on the cross the punishment for the sin of those who would repent of their sin. Here we see the
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serpent one more time. Slithering up and asking, “If you are the Son, why suffer and die? The Father must not truly love you.”
It is here in the Death and Resurrection of Jesus He offers us forgiveness of sin and life and reconciliation with God. He is offering freedom from sin. He is offering Himself, if we would only place our trust in the one who stepped in our place for us, overcame the temptation we could not, died the death we deserved and would give us true life in Him. And if you have placed your life in Him, then you do have life. You too have the power to overcome temptation. Only in Him alone. The Suffering Son.
Work Cited
Blomberg, Craig. Matthew. Vol. 22. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
Morris, Leon. The Gospel according to Matthew. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans; Inter- Varsity Press, 1992.