The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 124

our flesh overcome the devil; tha.t a.a Man, in our human nature, he might conquer that sin by which death came into the world; that as in Adam all died, even so in Christ might all be made alive. He bath given us an example, teaching us that by self- denial, prayer, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, we too may resist temptation. But, more than this, if we are his, he abiding in us and we in him, then his victory is ours; in the strength of his victory we overcome the same dreadful enemy: "God giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Therefore he was led by the Spirit to be tempted. We sometimes seem to be led into temptation; the temptation may be necessary for us, to try our faith, to brace our energies, to make us approved soldiers of the cross. He cannot be a conqueror who has never fought a battle; that virtue is not the highest which is pure simply because it has never met with tempta.tion. But "God will not suffer us to be tempted a.hove that we a.re able." lie who suffered being tempted is with his people in their hour of trial; his sympathy is their comfort; his strength their victory. If need be, they are in heaviness tbrongh manifold temptations; but the trial of their faith is precious; it will be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. (4) The temptation was necessary, but it must have caused the Lord exceeding anguish. We have admitted sin into our hearts; we have loved it in our madness; we cannot tell the intense loathing and horror which the presence of sin must canse in a pure and hol,1 soul. The Lord Jesus, the most Holy One, endured for our salvation's sake to be confronted with that hateful being whose home is in the darkness and the burning flame, whose heart is filled with malice and cruelty, thirsting to destroy those precious souls whom the Lord loved so dearly, for whom he gave himself to die. The close presence of evil, that loathsome thing which God hateR, the wicked suggestions of Satan, must have been intensely horrible to the blessed Saviour. He endured all this for us; he loved us with so great a love. 4. The fasting. The Lord was absorbed in high thoughts and spiritual communion with the Father; this lifted him up for a time above the ordinary needs of humanity. His fast was miraculous, like the fast of Moses, of Elijah. But it is our example also in a measure; we too must fast and pray if we would conquer as the Saviour conquered. Our Father will reward those who fast after the pattern of the Lord, in the like spirit, in faith and in humility. We must practise self-denial in little things, if we would gain strength to support us in the <lread conflict with the tempter. Bodily exercise profiteth little in comparison with the inner spi,it of self-mortification; but we cannot afford to despiso those outward helps; a.nd certainly we cannot do wrong in following the example of our Lord and his apostles (Acts xiii. 3; xiv. 23; 1 Cor. vii. 5; 2 Cor. vi. 5). II. THE Jl'IRBT TEMPTATION, 1. The suggestion of the tempter. (1) The doubt. •• If thou be the Son of God," So he tempted Eve, "Hath God said?" So he tempts us now with his evil whispers, breathing doubts into our souls-doubts of the truth of God's revelation, doubts of his power and love, doubts of our own conversion: "If thou be a child of God." lie suggests again and again that terrible "if," harassing our souls with miserable fears a.nd awful perplexities. He knew probably that Jesus was the Son of God; Jesus knew it certainly with a. full, Divine consciousness. God grants the peace of God sooner or later to all who come to him in humility and faith. 'l'hey ma.y be sorely tried for a. time with anxious doubts; but they shall find rest for their souls in Christ their Saviour. Only let them trust even a.mid fears; and in his good time the saddening doubt, "If thou be a. child of God," will ma.ke room for tho blessed assurance, "I know that my Redeemer liveth;" "I know whom I have believed." (2) 'l'he tempter's bidding. "Command that these stones be rue.do bread." It wa.s nn appeal to the bodily appetite, the lust of the flesh; the temptation once addressed to Eve-" the tree was good for food." The Lonl hungered. It was not meet, the tempter whispered, that the Son of God should be so distressed; it needed only to put forth his power. That power was his for the gooci of souls; the devil would have him use it to supply his owu wants. So he tempts men now to use for worldly advancement, worldly glory, means that were given them to work out their own salvation, to help on the work of God in the world. 2. The Lord's answer. (1) "It is written." This was the first word, as far as we are told, spoken by our Lord after his baptism. lie was the Son of God; he was full of the lluly Ullost; but he begins his ministry with tile sim:iilo words," It is written," lie meets the templ\ll .114TTHEW, J 114 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [oH, 1v. 1-25.