Exposing the Strategies of Satan (and How to Fight) Part 2
A Bible Study on Luke 4:1-13
If you’ve not read the first part of this three-part series on the strategies of Satan, then I urge you to read it. Read part 1 here.
In the previous edition, we explored the background of this passage and looked at the first temptation of Jesus. We saw that, as Jesus was fasting, He was weak. The devil took this opportunity to tempt Jesus by luring Him to eat bread, thus breaking Jesus’ fast. However, Jesus was able to resist the devil.
In this edition, we will examine the second temptation of Jesus.
Second Temptation (Luke 4:5-8)
In the first temptation, the devil showed Jesus bread and attacked his momentary weakness. While in the second temptation, the devil used fame and glory to lure Jesus away from His God-given mission.
In this instant, the devil led Jesus to a high place. He showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. Let’s pause here.
Imagine that you are the creator of all things seen and unseen. Then, some guy comes and says that he will give all of this to you. How would you feel? Pity? Anger? Perhaps Jesus might have felt the same way.
One question that comes to my mind is this: Does Satan really have authority over all the kingdoms of the world? John 12:31 and John 14:30 says yes, Satan has the authority over the kingdoms of the earth. That is why he is referred to as the ‘prince of this world’.
Speaking of the prince of this world, his offer seems good, right? Jesus gets to be the prince of the world and not Satan. Jesus would dethrone the prince from this chair. This means that there will be peace in the world. All the chaos of this world would turn into order. The Kingdom of God would finally reign this world. The pain that God’s creation is going through, would finally turn to joy—if only Jesus had accepted the offer of Satan. So, why did He reject it?
Because there was a catch. At the end of the Satan’s offer, there was a tag of ‘conditions apply’. What was that condition? Jesus had to worship the devil. Seems like a little price, right? I mean what could go wrong? Let’s see what it means.
Firstly, to worship Satan is to do the exact opposite of what God has commanded. It is God who alone should be worshipped. Secondly, if Jesus worshipped Satan, Jesus might become the prince of the world, but the devil would definitely dethrone God and become the sovereign ruler of the entire creation; the evil would have defeated the good. Finally, the devil is a liar and so, what if he backs out of the terms he made? There is more to pay than what seems at first. But you get the point.
Jesus’ Response
So, what was Jesus’ response to this cunning tactic of the devil?
Jesus again used the Word of God to tackle the crafty schemes of the devil. He quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 which reads, “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.”
This shows that Jesus was very well-versed with the Scriptures. This also verifies James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
The devil can never offer any good thing—at least not better than what God has to offer. Jesus resisted the devil and look what God offered Him:
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13 (NIV)
Key Takeaways
Two things we can learn from our study today:
Be well-versed with the Scripture. Study the characteristics and the schemes of the devil. Know that he always lies. Through the help of the Scriptures, discern the truth from the lies.
Secondly, use the Bible to resist the devil. The next time the devil comes with the temptations, you resist him with the help of the Scriptures. Confront the father of lies with God’s truth.
I hope and pray that this brief meditation on the second temptation of Jesus would help you to read the Bible more and resist the devil more.
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