Matthew 4:11

Matthew 4:11

The final repulse of the tempter was accompanied by a command, "Get thee hence, Satan." And we may well conceive that this command was to the enemy a word of power, which he might not disobey. He who henceforth cast out the evil spirits with a word here proved His authority on their chief. And now His present conflict is over. He stands victorious, while the tempter has fallen. He, the Second Adam, has brought in and secured righteousness for us. Let us endeavour to gather up the general instruction to be gained from the history of the temptation.

I. He has, by His example under temptation, taught us how to resist it. Our weakness is, when any unlawful course is proposed to us, to be ever on the search for separate excuses to shield us in each case. He shrunk from applying general principles which may cover every attack. We are ashamed too often to stand at once in God's ways and refer to His will. Here we have an eminent example in our blessed Lord. He did not enter into the separate circumstances of each form of temptation, but applied to them all, as His means of resistance, His position as the servant of God, subject to His law, and from it taking the maxims of His conduct.

II. His example shows us the proper use of God's word. Let our Lord's example keep us from rash or random application of Scripture texts. With what precision is each brought forward by Him. We must study the Bible, and we must study it devotionally, not as a mere intellectual exercise, but to ascertain the mind of the Spirit of God a search which requires spiritual discernment, the fruit of a communion with Him in singleness of heart and a holy life.

III. But unquestionably the greatest lesson for the disciple of Jesus to learn, from the temptation of his Master, is one of encouragement, tending to draw him closer to Christ, and to make Him more precious. When One is set before us as our ever-present Helper, who Himself has passed through the struggle; when we know that we are not alone in the bitterness of our spirits, and that in the darkest place in our course we shall find His footsteps; what a different matter does each Christian's appointed conflict become how full of sympathy, how full of promise, how full of Christ!

H. Alford, Quebec Chapel Sermons,vol. i., p. 201.

References: Matthew 4:11. W. Landels, Christian World Pulpit,vol. iv., p. 49; W. H. Hutchings, Mystery of the Temptation,p. 230. Matthew 4:12. Parker, Hidden Springs,p. 310. Matthew 4:12. Ibid., Inner Life of Christ,vol. i., p. 129. Matthew 4:14. Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 28. Matthew 4:15; Matthew 4:16. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xvii., No. 1010. Matthew 4:16. D. Davies, Christian World Pulpit,vol. 27:114.