We had a guest preacher this week. The pastor who led this church for 28 years—and retired just a couple years ago—delivered today's sermon. 

Matthew 4:1-11

According to the 2023 American Worldview Inventory, 44 percent of born-again Christians believe Jesus is sinless. … This seems incredibly low. Why would someone claiming to be a born-again Christian not believe Jesus was sinless? Perhaps we have downplayed Jesus too much and made Him seem less important, less holy, less perfect. 

Who tempted Jesus? 

• The devil (v. 1). … The devil is a real being, one that tempts us to sin and also tempted Jesus. 

Who led Jesus into the desert to be tempted? 

• The Holy Spirit (v. 1). … God never tempts us Himself, but sometimes He allows us to be tested. So, the devil and the Holy Spirit can have two very different purposes in the same situation. The devil is trying to bring us down, but the Spirit is using the tests to strengthen us. 

When was Jesus tempted? 

• After his Baptism (v. 1). … When we make big commitments, it is normal for the devil to attack to test that commitment. So, if you faced trials after being baptised or making another big commitment, that is normal, and pushing through it will lead to victory. 
• When he was hungry (v. 2). … The devil also likes to strike when we are vulnerable. Whether we are hungry, tired, sad, angry, or in some other compromised state, we are vulnerable to temptations. 

How did Jesus respond to temptation?

• He quotes Scripture (vv. 4-10). … Jesus quoted the Old Testament scripture to fight off the devil. He went straight for the Sword of the Spirit and used it in this battle. This is also how we should fend off temptation. Find verses that address what you are struggling with. One good resource for this is the Nave's Topical Bible, which has an index of topics and scripture related to them. After Jesus quoted scripture, so did the devil, for he is a clever tempter. We see here that it is possible to misquote and twist scripture to achieve our own ends. This is why it is important to interpret scripture with scripture. If the interpretation doesn't match up with other parts of scripture, it is an incorrect interpretation. This misquote doesn't stop Jesus from using scripture again, and it shouldn't stop us either. It's the best way to fight off temptation. 

What did the devil do when Jesus resisted him?

• He left (v. 11). … When we resist temptation, it will leave us, at least for a while. The devil and his temptations will return. James 4:7 promises that if we resist the devil, he will flee. But we should remain vigilant because he will come back. 

Why is the sinlessness of Jesus important?

1. Because Jesus is sinless, he sympathizes with us in our temptation and can intercede for us (Hebrews 4:15). … Jesus faced the temptations but He resisted them and never sinned. He's experienced all kinds of temptations and situations and emotions, and He prevailed. We can take comfort in knowing that we have someone in Jesus who has gone through whatever we are experiencing and that He came out victorious. 
2. Because Jesus is sinless, he is able to redeem us from our sins (1 Peter 1:18-19; 3:18). … Before Jesus, the Jews sacrificed animals to atone for their sin, but it couldn't be just any animal; there were requirements the animal had to meet. They had to be without defect. Jesus was perfect, without defect, without flaw, without sin. We divide people into two groups in many ways. Do you eat the crust of your pizza? Do you fill up the tank at ¾ or wait until it's on the E? The Bible does this too. The two groups are righteous and unrighteous. Where do you think you are? Pelosi? Trump? Putin? Billy Graham? Your pastor? We all are in the unrighteous group. That’s the bad news. The good news? The only member of the righteous group is Jesus. And He died so that we may join Him in Heaven and know the Father. The good news is that even though we are unworthy, there is a way to enter the pearly gates. The gospel gives us a secure hope of eternal life in Heaven instead of eternal suffering in Hell.