Scripture Matthew 4:1-11
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”
Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Meditation
Immediately following his baptism, the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness, to be tested by the devil. On this first evening of our series on Angels and Demons, we meet a devil who is contending with Jesus.
Did you notice the three different words for the “devil” that appeared in that passage? It’s as if the author is trying to get at something essential about the demons that plagued the people of the ancient Middle East. It’s as if the author tries different words to get at different aspects of those devilish forces. Each word conveys something slightly different.
The first word we encounter is “devil.” Most of us grew up with a mental picture of a red human-like being with horns, a tail with a point on it, and a pitchfork… something we might wear as a costume on Halloween. But in the definition of the Greek word, diabolos (as in “diabolical”), there’s nothing about appearance; it’s only about intent. It means “slanderer,” or “false accuser.” The Spirit has led Jesus to be tested by one who wants to paint a false picture of him. A liar.
The next word we see is “tempter,” and the word this translates means, “tryer; the one who’s trying.” The tempter first tests Jesus where he is most vulnerable: hunger. After 40 days of fasting, anyone would this test. Here, says the devil. If you are the Son of God, turn stones into bread. Jesus responds to this with a quote from Deuteronomy, telling the devil that, if you’re looking for life, the Word of God is more important that food. The tempter tries to trap Jesus using a lure that appeals to his physical weakness. The tempter fails.
Next the slanderer takes Jesus to the Holy City, Jerusalem, to the highest point on the temple; this is the moment being depicted by the Tissot painting you see on the screen. I think this is one of the most terrifying depictions of the devil I’ve seen. I never imagined this size. He dares Jesus to jump off, quoting Psalm 91—surely the angels will catch you. Jesus replies with more Deuteronomy: Don’t put God to the test. The slanderer tries to tempt Jesus by testing his confidence in the very thing God has just affirmed at his baptism: that he is the Son of God. Jesus remains steadfast in that belief, without any showy displays required.
The last test appeals to Jesus’ ambition. Taking him to a high mountain, the devil offers the world to Jesus—literally—in exchange for bowing down to the devil and worshiping him. Again, Jesus replies with Deuteronomy: Worship God alone. Serve only the Lord. But first, Jesus calls the devil by name: Satan. A word that means, adversary. Enemy.
So, what does this little story teach us about that character we call “the devil”?
First, the devil is a liar. His first move is slander—to convince Jesus he is someone he is not.
Second, the devil is persistent—the one who tries. And tries. And tries.
Third, the devil is the enemy. The devil hates what Jesus has come to do—to show the world that God is love. The devil is going to do everything in his power to thwart that.
To our modern ears, there are some echoes here of things we know about mental illness, depression in particular. Depression is a liar. It tells the individual that they are not worthy, that they are not lovable, that their misery is their own fault. And depression is persistent. It needs powerful forces to be applied to defeat it.
There’s one more thing it’s important to know about the devil. The devil knows scripture and can quote it at will. We’ve seen this time and time again—the words of Genesis twisted to convince people that African American people are subhuman, that it’s perfectly appropriate to enslave them. New Testament words used to vilify Jews. There’s a Word for this use of God’s word: demonic.
But hear this good news: Jesus emerges from this testing ready to do exactly what the devil has been trying to prevent him from doing: let the world know that God is love. He sets out preach this good news, and nothing—not even death—will stop him
Thanks be to God. Amen.