Learn Scripture: You never know when you might need it.

During the Temptation (Luke 4:1-13), Jesus defeats Satan using Scripture:

[1] And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit [2] for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they were ended, he was hungry.  [3] The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” [4] And Jesus answered him, “It is written, `Man shall not live by bread alone.'”  [5] And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,  [6] and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.  [7] If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.”  [8] And Jesus answered him, “It is written, `You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'” [9] And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here;  [10] for it is written, `He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,’ [11] and `On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'” [12] And Jesus answered him, “It is said, `You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'”  [13] And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Jesus could choose to defeat Satan any number of ways.  But He chooses to quote Scripture.  Why?

As in all things that Jesus Christ does, we need to meditate in Him and learn from what He is teaching us.  Consider:

• Jesus could ignore Satan.  Jesus could vanquish Satan without lifting a finger or with a simple spoken command (which He does, saying “Begone, Satan” (Matt 4:10).
• Instead, Jesus chooses to respond to Satan’s various temptations, perhaps for variety of reasons (see previous post).
• In each attempt by Satan, Jesus refutes Satan’s devious efforts by quoting Scripture, saying “It is written…” or “It is said…” (Luke 4:4, 8, 12).
• Jesus is demonstrating the power of relying on God for our needs and to use Scripture to help in the daily battle with the Temptations of Satan.

Each man battles with Temptation, many times each day, and Satan knows what kinds of temptations are most likely to be successful with each man.

To battle one’s own personal temptations, we should heed Jesus’ demonstration of the use of Scripture and learn passages that can help us better rely on Christ during times of temptation.