“IT IS WRITTEN!”

 Matthew 4:1-4                    (ESV)

The Temptation of JESUS 

“[1] Then JESUS was led up by the SPIRIT into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [2] And after fasting forty days and forty nights, HE was hungry. [3] And the tempter came and said to HIM, “If you are the SON of GOD, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” [4] But HE answered, “”IT IS WRITTEN”, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that comes FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

Since I am considered to be an “uneducated” man, I tend to research things I write in an effort to make sure that I am sharing TRUTH, and NOT error!  Undoubtedly, I have failed in the past, and will from time to time fail again, until I am called HOME by my LORD and SAVIOR!  But it is my goal to expound nothing but TRUTH, and my prayer is that HE will take me HOME before I fail HIM too greatly!!!

In the preceding verses before Matthew 4, JESUS displayed humility as he was baptized by John in Matthew 3:14-17.  WHY did our CREATOR have a need to be baptized?  Could it be that HE was setting an example for us to follow, not to be SAVED, but as a TESTIMONY of HIS OBEDIENCE to our HEAVENLY FATHER!  I find it VERY telling that the CREATOR responded “IT IS WRITTEN” to “the enemy” in verses four, seven and ten of Matthew four!  How did JESUS KNOW the BIBLE so well at such a young age?  According to John 1 verse 1 “In the beginning was THE WORD, and THE WORD was with GOD, and THE WORD WAS GOD.  The SON IS THE WORD, and we mustn’t forget to recognize that point!

“The enemy” tried to tempt JESUS with temporal things that had no ETERNAL value to them.  My mortal mind IMMEDIATELY goes to Matthew 27:4 when Judas told the Chief Priest and the Pharisees when he was trying to GIVE BACK the 30 pieces of silver, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.”  Money had NO VALUE to him now, so he proceeded to hang himself (Matthew 27:5)!

Our LORD and SAVIOR KNEW THE WORD, because HE WAS THE WORD (John 1:1)!  HE KNEW what SCRIPTURE said, because HE WAS THE WORD!  Perhaps if I had a more serious and devoted relationship with “IT IS WRITTEN” I would be a stronger vessel to be used for HIS GLORY???