Jesus Tempted of the Devil

Jesus Tempted of the Devil

I. The Idea
II. The Difficulty
III. The Purpose

A temptation is the Devil's attempt to lure someone to sin and therefore ruin. The devil does this through deception in making obedience appear bad and disobedience appear good. Our sinful nature is an ally of the devil.
How can Jesus who is God be tempted?
1.) Jesus was sinless. Impossible for Him to sin as to his person: the Son of God
2.) Jesus was really tempted. Hebrews 2:18 and Hebrews 4:15 shed light on the temptations of Jesus.
The Gospel of Matthew promotes Jesus as King. Look at Mat. 1:1 and Mat. 2: 1-2. In this context, the devil's purpose was to slander God and his promise in Gen 3:15. The devil's temptations to Christ involve alternative routes without suffering to establish the Kingdom.
Devil's purpose in tempting Christ
1. Destroy Jesus Christ the seed of the woman (Gen 3:15)
2. Destroy you and me
3. Chief purpose: To Slander God.
The Holy Spirit's purpose in leading Christ to the wilderness to be tempted: To give glory to God in the fulfillment of God's council and reveal Jesus Christ the triumphant son of God.