THE FIRST SUNDAY

IN LENT
Year C
February 14, 2016
Volume 20, Number 13
ISSN 1071-9962

CONTENTS:
A Thought on Preaching
Title
Sermon in a Sentence
Scripture
Biblical Commentary
Children's Sermon
Sermon
More Sermons on this Text
Thought Provokers
Hymns & Hymn Story
Bibliography
A THOUGHT ON PREACHING: Why is only about ten percent of the Biblethe
Epistleswritten in a straight didactic form while all the rest uses the more indirect
forms of history, poetry, parable, and prophetic visions? Why are ninety percent of the
sermons in evangelical churches based on the didactic ten percent? (Philip Yancey)

TITLE: Keeping the Devil out of the Driver's Seat

SERMON IN A SENTENCE: The devil begins with temptations that are small and
seemingly insignificant, but if we succumb to those small temptations they put the devil
in the driver's seat.
SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:1-13
BIBLICAL COMMENTARY:
LUKE 4:1-13. THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
In Matthew (3:13 - 4:11) and Mark (1:9-13), the temptation immediately follows Jesus'
baptism. Luke inserts a genealogy between the two stories, perhaps modeling his account
after Exodus 6, which inserts a genealogy between Moses' call and ministry (Craddock,
Preaching..., 139). The genealogy also helps to establish who Jesus is. He is "the son of
Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God" (3:38). This title, son of God, is
important to both the baptism and temptation stories.
"the son of Adam, the son of God" (3:38). We might think of Adam, created in the
image of God, according to God's likeness (Genesis 1:26-37) as the first Son of God.
Like Jesus, Adam was also tested. Like Jesus, he was tempted by food (fruit rather than
bread, but food nevertheless). Unlike Jesus, who was famished after a long fast, Adam
had plenty of food at his disposalbut Adam failed the test anyway (Genesis 3). Unlike
Adam, Jesus proves faithful even under the most severe testing.
Luke has already told us of evil forces at work in the worldevil forces that will affect
Jesus (1:79; 2:34; 3:19-20). Satan, the personification of evil, now tries to divert Jesus
from his missionbut Jesus is "full of the Holy Spirit" and so is empowered to resist (v.
1). Thus, these verses "present a clash of cosmic proportions" (Green, 192).
Mark tells us that Jesus was tempted, but does not describe the temptations (Mark 1:1213). Matthew lists three temptations in this order: bread, pinnacle, and kingdoms (Matt.
4:3-9). Luke reverses the last two temptationschanging the order to bread, kingdoms,
and pinnacle. He does this as part of his emphasis on Jerusalem. Nearly half of this
Gospel consists of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem (9:51 19:44), and Jesus' ministry
climaxes in Jerusalem with his death and resurrection. Luke therefore has his temptation
story build toward Jerusalem in keeping with the movement of the larger story (Fitzmyer,
507).
The author of Hebrews makes it clear that Jesus bore these temptations for our sake. He
was not an "ivory tower" high priest, far removed from the experiences of ordinary

people. Jesus had "been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews
4:15). As a result, "he is able to help those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
The three temptations correspond to temptations that Israel experienced in the wilderness:
The temptation to make bread from a stone (vv. 2b-4) is really a temptation not to trust
God for sustenanceand is therefore analogous to Israel's failure to trust God for
sustenance in the wilderness. The Israelites complained to Moses, "We wish that we had
died by the hand of Yahweh in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots, when we
ate our fill of bread, for you have brought us out into this wilderness, to kill this whole
assembly with hunger" (Exodus 16:3). In response, God gave them manna, but forbade
them to gather more than the day's supplyexcept in preparation for the Sabbath
(Exodus 16:4-5). God told Moses that this was a test to see "whether they will follow my
instruction or not" (Exodus 16:4). "Notwithstanding they didn't listen to Moses, but some
of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul" (Exodus 16:20).
The temptation to gain the kingdoms of the world by worshiping the devil (vv. 5-8) is
analogous to Israel's temptation to worship other Gods. God commanded, "You shall fear
Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him, and shall swear by his name. You shall not
go after other gods, of the gods of the peoples who are around you; for Yahweh your God
in the midst of you is a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 6:13-15a). The Israelites first failed
this test at the base of Mount Sinai when they made and worshiped a golden calf (Exodus
32:4; Deuteronomy 9:16)but that was only the first of many such failures.
The temptation for Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple (vv. 912), forcing God to protect him, is really a temptation to test God. This is analogous to
Israel's testing of God at Massah and Meribah, where the people complained to Moses,
"Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock
with thirst?" (Exodus 17:3). Moses named the place Massah (which means "test") and
Meribah (which means "quarrel") "because the children of Israel quarreled, and because
they tested Yahweh, saying, 'Is Yahweh among us, or not?'" (Exodus 17:7; see also
Deuteronomy 6:16).
Each of these temptations has embedded in it a particular pitfall, but there is an
overarching reason to avoid all of them. If Jesus were to succumb to any of these
temptations, he would be allowing the devil to set the agenda. The devil would be in the
driver's seat, and Jesus would just be along for the ride. Who knows where the devil
would take him! Jesus needs to avoid temptation because of its evil source.
We will do well to learn from this. We should automatically question any offer by a
person of unreliable charactershould assume that their apparently innocent proposal
has embedded within it a fatal flawthat it is designed to put that person in the driver's
seat and us in the passenger's seat. If we accept such a proposal, who knows where we
will end up!

Note Jesus' treatment of the three temptations. He uses two not-so-secret secrets to parry
the devil's thrusts:
The first is the Holy Spirit. Jesus is "full of the Holy Spirit," (4:1) and the Spirit helps
him to survive temptation.
The second is scripture. Jesus quotes scripture in response to each of the three
temptations. He knows scripturehas studied it from his boyhood. In his hands,
scripture becomes a "sword of the Spirit" for his defense (Ephesians 6:17). His intimacy
with scripture is so complete that he can, without hesitation, find the exact verse with
which to counter the particular danger at hand.
We have the same not-so-secret secrets at our disposal. We received the gift of the Holy
Spirit at our baptism. The scriptures are readily availabletranslations and Bible
software abound. What we lack is Biblical literacy. The Bible in our hands is like a
toolbox in the hands of an unskilled person. Given time, such a person might succeed
with a simple carpentry project. Given time, we might counter temptation. However,
temptations seldom afford us the luxury of time. Temptation comessnares us
destroysand moves on. We need to be always training, like a soldier or football player,
so we will be ready when the crunch comes. Biblical knowledge readies us for the crisis.
LUKE 4:1-2a. FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRITTEMPTED BY THE DEVIL
1

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the
wilderness 2afor forty days, being tempted by the devil.
"Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan" (v. 1a). For Luke, the Holy
Spiritthe Spirit of God working in our worldis the beginning of everything
important.
The angel Gabriel explained to Mary that she would bear a son, even though she was a
virgin, because "the Holy Spirit will come upon you" (1:35).
John the Baptist promised that Jesus would baptize with "the Holy Spirit and fire"
(3:16).
At Jesus' baptism, "the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove on him" (3:22).
Jesus does not go into the crucible of the wilderness alone, but is "full of the Holy
Spirit" and "led by the Spirit" (4:1).
At the conclusion of the temptations, "Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into
Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area" (4:14).

 In the synagogue in Nazareth, the scriptures proclaim, "The Spirit of the Lord is on me"
(4:18) and Jesus says, "Today, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (4:21).
At Pentecost, the disciples "were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with
other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak" (Acts 2:4). Just as the Spirit
accompanies Jesus in his ministry, so the Spirit will also accompany the church in its
ministry.
"and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness" (v. 1b). This half of the verse touches
the "Spirit" base one more time. In the first half of the verse, Luke emphasized that Jesus
was full of the Holy Spirit. Now he says that Jesus "was led by the Spirit into the
wilderness."
Consider the implications. As we will soon see, Jesus will be tempted by the devil in the
wildernesstempted to do three different things that would be contrary to the Father's
will. We might think that God's Holy Spirit should lead Jesus out of the wilderness rather
than into itAWAY from temptation instead of TOWARD it.
But the author of the book of Hebrews says, "For we don't have a high priest who can't be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted
like we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus' sinlessness would have no meaning
if he had not been tempted. The Father/Spirit insured that he would be tempted, so that
he could experience firsthand the kinds of temptations that ordinary mortals must cope
with. The Father/Spirit insured that he would have an opportunity to develop compassion
for those of us who have succumbed to temptation.
"into the wilderness" (v. 1b). For many people, the word "wilderness" conjures up
images of forests. However, the Biblical wilderness was a deserthot during the day
and cold at nightlonelya place that threatens visitors with death by dehydration or
starvation or snakebite. Desert wildernesses are forbidding places.
But the wilderness has special meaning to Israel. It was in the wilderness that Yahweh
forged Israel into a nation. It was through the wilderness that the Lord carried Israel, "as
one carries a child, all the way that (they) traveled until (they) reached this place"
(Deuteronomy 1:31). During their forty years in the wilderness, the Lord was with Israel
so that they lacked nothing (Deuteronomy 2:7). It was in the wilderness that the Lord
humbled Israel, "feeding (them) with manna, with which neither (they) nor (their)
ancestors were acquainted, in order to make (them) understand that one does not live by
bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy
8:3). The wilderness is inextricably interwoven with the spiritual history and discipline
of Israel.
"for forty days, being tempted by the devil" (v.2a) Forty is a conventional term
meaning many. The connection between forty and hunger is a recurring theme in Israel's
salvation history:

 Moses spent forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai without food or water (Exodus
34:28).
The people of Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness, where they complained
that they were in danger of perishing from hunger (Exodus 16:2-3).
Elijah journeyed forty days without food (1 Kings 19:8).
Thus, the words, "forty days," connect Jesus with the most significant people and events
of Israel's history.
LUKE 4:2b-4. THE FIRST TEMPTATION
2bHe

ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.
The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."
4
Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word of God.'"
3

"He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was
hungry" (v. 2b). Verse 2a sounds as if Jesus is tempted for the entire forty day period,
but verses 2b-3 give the impression that the temptation comes after Jesus is weak from
forty days of fasting. Mark 1:13 is brief and inconclusive on this point. Matthew 4:2-3
strengthens the idea that the tempter came after the forty days of fasting.
"If you are the Son of God" (v. 3b). Luke just reported Jesus' baptism with the voice
from heaven that said, "You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased" (3:22).
Now the devil, like a karate expert, seeks to turn Jesus' strength against himto use
Jesus' Sonship to tempt him to turn his power to selfish purposes.
They say that you are the Son of God. If that is true, you should have no trouble
managing this small project.
If you are the Son of God, your Father surely does not expect you to deprive yourself of
that which is essential to life. Be sensible! Make a loaf of bread! Take care of yourself!
You must maintain your strength!
This is a powerful temptation. Men especially are easily caught up in a challenge that
starts with "If you...." We are tempted to prove ourselvesto do what the tempter is
tempting us to doand thus to allow the tempter to set the agenda. We need instead to
ask, "What right has my (tempter) to ask me to prove it?" (Hendriksen, 238).
But Jesus must do now what he will later teach his disciples to doto pray, "Give us day
by day our daily bread" (11:3)to strive for God's kingdom rather than food and clothing
(12:22-31) (Stein, 146).

We can imagine the devil saying to us, If you are the boss. If you are the one who is
supposed to. If you are my friend. If you are a good mother. If you are a
patriot. If you are an expert. If you are a team-player. If you really believe.
Even, If you love the Lord. Listen carefully to what follows. If it is from the devil, it
will be wrapped in treachery. Note that each of these is a point of strength (i.e., being the
boss or a good mother), rather than a point of weakness. The devil often attacks the high
wall that we thought it unnecessary to guard.
"command this stone to become bread" (v. 3b). Luke's account differs from Matthew's
in a small, but possibly significant detail:
In Matthew, the tempter says, "command that these stones (plural) become bread"
(plural) perhaps suggesting that Jesus should make bread, not only for himself, but also
for other hungry people.
In Luke, the devil says, "command this stone (singular) to become bread" (singular),
suggesting that Jesus should relieve his own hunger.
These are very different temptations. In Matthew's account, the appeal seems to be to
Jesus' compassion for others. In Luke's account, the appeal is more basicmore
personal. While the appeal to compassion is strong, the appeal to self is often stronger.
People (and Jesus is human) have a strong will to survive. It is possible to make a good
case for personal survival. Flight attendants are taught to insure their personal survival in
a crash so that they will be alive to help surviving passengers. Parents need to survive to
care for their children. Jesus needed to survive so that he could carry out his ministry
didn't he!
Note that the first temptation is insignificant. What can be the harm of one loaf of bread?
It will strengthen Jesus for ministry. Certainly nobody will miss one stone from the many
that carpet the desert floor. The second and third temptations are dramatic, but the power
of the first temptation lies in its subtlety.
"It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone'" (v. 4). The quotation is from
Deuteronomy 8:3, which reads in full: "He humbled you, and allowed you to be hungry,
and fed you with manna, which you didn't know, neither did your fathers know; that he
might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but man lives by everything
that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh."
Note the connection between manna (Israel's bread in the wilderness) and the bread with
which the devil tempts Jesus in the wilderness. "Israel's need for bread was secondary to
Israel's need to understand that God gives bread. Jesus, because he understands that fact,
can resist the temptation to take matters into his own hands" (Cousar, 197).
LUKE 4:5-8. THE SECOND TEMPTATION

The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world
in a moment of time. 6The devil said to him, "I will give you all this authority, and their
glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. 7If you therefore
will worship before me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered him, "Get behind me Satan!
For it is written,
'You shall worship the Lord your God,
and you shall serve him only.'"
The second temptation tempts Jesus to worship the devila false Godto accomplish a
good end (glory and authority) by evil means (worshiping the devil). Jesus has come for
glory and authority, but he will obtain them by being lifted up on a crossnot by
kneeling before the evil one. His glory and authority comes from God, not Satan.
We, too, are tempted to accomplish good ends by evil means. Tobacco companies
sponsor charities to legitimize their death-dealing business. State governments find it
easier to win support for lotteries than for school taxes. Casinos provide jobs for Native
Americans, but prey on vulnerable people. Executives enhance stockholder profits (and
their own bonuses) by firing loyal employees. Schools promote self-esteem by passing
students to grades for which they are unprepared. Students pass tests by cheating.
Preachers fill pews by telling people what they want to hear instead of calling them to
cross-bearing. We are all tempted to accomplish good ends by bad means.
"The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms
(basileias) of the world in a moment of time" (v. 5). "The vision is of an empire with
suzerainty over kingdoms (basileia) which in turn control cities, exactly Luke's
perception of (Roman) imperial arrangements (cf. e.g., Luke 19:12-27). Although Luke
usually uses 'kingdom' with reference to 'kingdom of God,' the discussion in Luke 11:1718 shows us the devil as ruler in a counter-kingdom" (Johnson, 74).
"I will give you all this authority, and their glory" (v. 6). This is the first mention of
authority in this Gospel, but the issue of authority will surface again and again:
Jesus will astound the people by teaching with authority (4:32).
Jesus will command unclean spirits with authority, and they will obey (4:36).
The Son of Man will have authority to forgive sins (5:24).
A centurion, a man "placed under authority," will acknowledge Jesus' authority (7:8).
Jesus will give the disciples authority over demons (9:1) and to tread on snakes,
scorpions, and "all the power of the enemy" (10:19).

 Jesus will warn the crowd to fear, not the person who can kill the body, but the one with
authority to cast into hell (12:5).
The priests, scribes, and elders will demand to know by what authority Jesus acts (20:2).
"For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him
only'" (v. 8). The quotation is from Deuteronomy 6:13.
LUKE 4:9-12. THE THIRD TEMPTATION
9

He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If
you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10for it is written,
'He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;'
11

and,

'On their hands they will bear you up,

lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.' "
12

Jesus answering, said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your
God.'"
"He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple" (v. 9a). We
aren't certain which pinnacle this might be, but the temple afforded any number of high
points that would qualify.
"If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will
put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;' and, 'On their hands they will bear
you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone' " (vv. 9b-11). Jesus used
scripture to counter two temptations, so the devil couches the third temptation in Biblical
language, quoting from Psalm 91:11-12. This is not a Messianic psalma promise to
protect the Messiah from harmbut is rather a hymn of praise for the protection that God
affords the faithful.
Ironically, the devil tempts Jesus be unfaithful to God by putting God to the test and,
while being unfaithful, to trust in the promise that the psalm affords to the faithful. It is
backwards languagea dangerous half-truth calculated to confuse.
Again, this demonstrates why we should not associate with people of questionable
character. Such people know how to make bad sound goodto make no sound like yes.
They use language as a magician uses sleight-of-handnow you see it; now you don't!
By the time we see the glint of their hook, they have embedded it in our flesh.
Fortunately, Jesus is not so easily taken in.

In Luke's mind, the challenge to jump from the pinnacle is the climactic temptation,
because it tempts Jesus to let Satan save him from deathperhaps not just now but also
at the cross. "But the divine purpose for Jesus... is that (he) should be preserved through
death, not from death" (Nolland, 181).
"It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God'" (v. 12). The quotation is
from Deuteronomy 6:16, and refers to an incident in which "the Israelites quarreled and
tested the Lord, saying, 'Is Yahweh among us, or not?'" (Exodus 17:7).
LUKE 4:13. UNTIL ANOTHER TIME
13
When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another
time.
The devil does not give up, but just bides his time:
He will inspire the scribes and Pharisees to attempt to ensnare Jesus.
He will inspire others to demand a sign from Jesus (11:16, 29-32).
He will surely be present with Jesus on the Mount of Olives, hoping that Jesus can be
dissuaded at the last moment from his mission (22:39-46).
He will wound Jesus with the betrayal, not only of Judas, but also of Peter (22:3, 5462).
At the cross, he will mock Jesus through the voices of the leaders, the soldiers, and the
criminal (23:35-39).
And yet, the devil will fail, because Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit and is led by the Spirit
(v. 1).
LUKE 4:4-15. JESUS RETURNED IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
"Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread
through all the surrounding area. He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all."
These verses are not in the lectionary passage, but are a fitting ending to this passage. In
verse 1, Luke said that Jesus was "full of the Holy Spirit," and in verse 14, he tells us that
Jesus "returned in the power of the Spirit." Verse 14 seems like a recap of the verses that
precede it.

10

CHILDREN'S SERMON: Filled with God's Spirit

By Lois Parker Edstrom
Object suggested: A cactus or picture of a cactus.
Picture of cactus available at:
https://www.google.com/#q=pictures+of+cactuses
Pictures of cactus flowers
https://www.google.com/#q=pictures+of+cactus+flowers
A cactus is one of the most interesting plants in our world. The first thing you probably
notice about a cactus is its sharp spines. The spines protect the cactus from animals that
might want to eat it, but the spines also serve another purpose. At night the spines collect
dew and that dew helps supply water to the plant. The cactus also gets water from its
roots.
Cacti grow in the desert where it is very dry. They are able to grow there because their
stems store water. If you were to cut a cactus open you would find a thick slimy
substance inside. (Demonstrate this if you have a suitable plant.) The stem of a cactus is
mostly water and this allows it to survive through the dry desert seasons.
We can learn more about our Christian faith by comparing a cactus to something Jesus
said. He had been in the wilderness for forty days and he ate nothing during that time.
He was very hungry and the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this
stone to become bread" (4:3).
Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word
of God'" (4:4).
Jesus is teaching us that we must have more than food to live in this world. We also need
to be filled with the Spirit of God. God's Spirit sustains us and helps us grow. We need to
store God's love in our hearts like a cactus stores water. His love will help us through
dry, difficult times. Be filled with God's Spirit of Love.
SERMON:
After Jesus baptism, the Holy SpiritGods spiritled Jesus out into the wilderness
where he was tempted for 40 days and 40 nights. I have always found that a bit
surprising. Why wouldnt Gods spirit lead Jesus AWAY from temptation?

11

But we needed Gods spirit to lead Jesus into temptationso that Jesus could be a
Messiah who has been tempted as we have, but has resisted the temptation and lived
sinlessly (Hebrews 4:15). The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus is able to help those
who are tempted today because Jesus has been there and done that (Hebrews 2:18).
Theres a sense in which Jesus temptation is a foretaste of Jesus cross. Both were more
than distasteful. Jesus must have been tempted to avoid the temptations at the beginning
of his ministryand the cross at the endbut he had to go through those experiences so
that he could save us. That was his missionto save us.
Jesus experienced three temptations. The first was to make bread from stone. Having
been in the wilderness for 40 days, Jesus was undoubtedly famished. And someone who
has had little or nothing to eat for 40 days will tend to obsess over food. Everything they
see will look like food. Their foremost thoughts will be of food. Never get between a
starving man and a loaf of bread.
The second temptation was to fall down before Satan and worship him. Satan promised
that he would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would just bow down
before him.
The third temptation was for Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the Temple so that
people would say Wow! Look at that! Jesus would gain immediate credibility if he
could jump from one of those high pinnacles and survive. The devil quoted Scripture to
reassure Jesus that he would not experience any harm. The devil reminded Jesus that
God had promised to put his angels in charge of Jesus, to guard himand to bear him up
lest he dash his foot against a stone (vv. 10-11).
But Jesus was having none of it! Every time the devil came forth with a temptation, Jesus
came forth with a verse from the Old Testament that countered the Devils temptation.
When tempted to make bread from a stone and relieve his hunger Jesus replied, "It is
written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God'" (v. 4).
When tempted to bow down and worship Satan in return for authority over all the
kingdoms of the world, Jesus said, "Get behind me Satan! For it is written, 'you shall
worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only'" (v.8).
When tempted to jump from the pinnacle of the Temple and get all the people to
acknowledge his superpowers, Jesus responded, "It has been said,' You shall not tempt the
Lord your God'" (v.12).
And so the devil went homenot permanently, but for the moment. Luke tells us that the
devil departed from Jesus until another time (v.13). You can be sure that he will be back.
That's the way the devil works. He doesn't wait for an invitation, but instead puts

12

stumbling blocks in our pathway. We need always to be prepared to meet Satan, because
he will be tempting us every day. We can count on it.
I would like to point out something that you might not have noticed. When Jesus
countered each of the three temptations, he countered each of them with a quotation from
the Old Testament. Jesus knew his Bible like the back of his hand. That was true of
nearly every Jew. Therefore, when challenged, Jesus needed only to search his memory
banks and find the exact right Scriptureand that's what Jesus did.
I said that nearly every Jew understood the Scriptures. Parents sent children to
synagogue school, where they studied the Scriptures. They had prayers at their table, and
explained to the children the significance of the things they were doingnearly all of
which had some religious foundation. I can only imagine how many Jewish people
countered the Devils temptations by remembering their lessons and seeking to do Gods
will.
We should make note of that. The devil will put a stumbling block in our pathway on
multiple occasions every day. Some of those temptations will be minor, but others have
the potential to cost us our lives. We need to be firmly rooted in our faith, and we need to
know the Scriptures in depth, so that we will have an effective shield against the Devils
wiles. We need to ensure that our children are firmly rooted in their faithand that they
know the Scriptures in depth for their personal protection. We cannot depend on the
schools to give children a firm foundation in the faith. We cant depend on our neighbors
to do that. The only people who are likely to do that are the parents. That means its a
life-and-death issue to ensure that our children are prepared for lifeprepared to counter
the stumbling blocks that Satan will put in their way.
But lets take a moment to think about what this looks like from Satans perspective. If
you were Satan, how would you go about tempting your friends and neighborsyour
children? How would you get started?
C.S. Lewis wrote a wonderful little book called The Screwtape Letters. In that book,
Screwtape is an older experienced devil who is responsible for training a younger
apprentice devil. Screwtape advised the younger devil to start gentlyto use small
temptations as a way of getting his foot in the door. He said, "Murder is no better than
cards if cards can do the trick." He went on to say, "indeed the safest road to hell is the
gradual onethe gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without
milestones, without signposts."
So the devil's strategy is to use small temptations to get his foot in the door.
The commentaries that I read on this passage it commented that the first temptation of
Jesus was small compared to the other two. The temptation was merely for a hungry man
make bread from stones so that he might feed his starving stomach. A small temptation.
Who would have criticized Jesus if he had decided to make bread and eat?

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But if Jesus had done that, he would have been allowing the devil to set the agenda. It
would have been as if the devil had said to Jesus, "Hop in! I'll give you a lift!" The
problem with that is that the devil would be in the driver's seat, and you never know
where he will take you. You can only be sure that you will pay a price in the endif the
devil is at the wheel.
I came across a piece by Paul Harvey that he recorded 50 years ago (April 3, 1965). In
that piece, he thought about things that the devil might do to win people. But he was also
thinking bigger. What strategy could the devil follow to destabilize nations? For
instance, what could the devil do to destroy America? Harvey said that the devil would
start small. Just as he had whispered to Eve in the garden, the devil would whisper to our
young people, "Do as you please. Do what makes you feel good."
The devil would try to persuade people that the Bible is a myth. He would tell them that
what is bad is goodwhat is good is "square."
The devil would try to persuade young people that work is debasing, and that they should
spend as much time as possible having fun.
Paul Harvey said that the devil would teach us to pray, "Our Father, which art in
Washington." Stop and think about that for a moment. Is it our Father in heaven who
will save usor our Father in Washington? As more and more people drift away from
our Father in heaven, they place more and more trust in their Father in Washingtonin
spite of years of evidence that Washington politicians create as many problems as they
solve. I would go even further. The old saying is, Power corrupts, and absolute power
corrupts absolutely. If you wonder who is in charge in Washington, it very well may be
the devil.
The devil would teach authors to write sexy literatureand television producers to
produce dirty movies. Then, of course, he would have to persuade us read trashy books
and watch dirty movies. What a great way to corrupt our spirits!
I am always impressed with the way that many people try to improve their health by
avoiding certain kinds of foods and emphasizing others. We understand that what we
take into our bodies can affect our livesand even our longevity. We need to learn that
the same is true spiritually. What we read and what we watch what we say and what we
do either strengthen us or weaken us for life's journey.
But let me continue with Paul Harvey's piece. He said that one of the things the devil
could do is to try to persuade people that they shouldn't work so hardbecause idle
hands are the devil's workshop.
The devil would peddle drugsand alcohol.

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He would run God out of the courthouseand then out of the schoolhouseand then out
of the halls of Congress. I would say that the devil has already succeeded in doing those
things. We have gone much further. It has become awkward to speak of God in public.
It takes a courageous person to stand up and claim their faithor to defend their
behaviorin a culture that no longer wants to acknowledge God's presence.
Harvey went on to say, "If I were Satan, I'd make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the
symbol of Christmas, a bottle. If I were the devil, I would take from those who have and I
would give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And
then, my police state would force everyone back to work. Then I could separate families,
putting children in uniform, women in coal mines, and objectors in slave camps. In other
words, if I were Satan, I'd just keep on doing what he's doing."
Keep in mind Harvey wrote that 50 years ago. We sometimes forget the impact that the
devil was having on our society 50 years ago. Harvey has been dead now for a number
of years. I wonder what he would think if he could come back and see what we have
today.
But we need not despair. God will not lose the contest. The struggle will go on and on
until the end of time, but the devil will end up among the fires of hell, and Christ will sit
on his throne alongside the father in eternal glory.
And we will be there with Christ. That's the thing to keep in mind. In the end, Christ's
victory is ours as well. That's the Good News. Whatever our circumstances now, keep in
mind the vision of Christ welcoming us into his eternal kingdom. That will be a day of
great joy! Start taking delight in it now!
FOR MORE SERMONS ON THIS TEXT:
Go to http://www.lectionary.org/
On the LEFT side, under SERMONS, click on the "By Book of Bible" link.
Then click on the "Luke" link in the right-hand column.
THOUGHT PROVOKERS:
There is an eagle in me that wants to soar,
and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud.
Carl Sandburg, poet

* * * * * * * * * *
We have an enemy inside of us
who tries to convince us that there is something out there that is better than what God

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wants for us,

but that's not true.
Every day I remind myself that what God is providing is always the best thing for me.
Lauryn Hill, musician

* * * * * * * * * *
We cannot be dedicated to Christ without giving Him our bodies.
The devil gets at the soul through the body.
Billy Graham

* * * * * * * * * *
Who is the most diligent bishop and prelate in all England?
It is the devil...he is never out of his diocese.
Bishop Hugh Latimer

* * * * * * * * * *
The devil is continually tempting thee to seek high things,
to go after honors.
Thomas a Kempis

* * * * * * * * * *
HYMNS:
Baptist Hymnal (BH)
Chalice Hymnal (CH)
Collegeville Hymnal (CO)
Common Praise (CP)
Evangelical Lutheran Worship (ELW)
Gather Comprehensive (GC)
JourneySongs (JS)
Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW)
Lutheran Service Book (LSB)
Lutheran Worship (LW)
Presbyterian Hymnal (PH)
The Faith We Sing (TFWS)

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The Hymnal 1982 (TH)

The New Century Hymnal (TNCH)
United Methodist Hymnal (UMH)
Voices United (VU)
With One Voice (WOV)
Wonder Love and Praise (WLP)
Worship & Rejoice (WR)
GATHERING:
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (BH #15, 18; CH #16; CO #446; CP #354; ELW
#807; LBW #499; LSB #686; PH #356; TH #686; TNCH #459; UMH #400; VU #559;
WR #68)
I Want Jesus to Walk With Me (BH #465; CH #627; CP #512; ELW #325; PH #363;
TNCH #490; UMH #521; WLP #805; WOV #660; WR #506)
Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (BH #20; CH #6; CP #310; JS #458; PH #483;
TH #408; TNCH #6; UMH #126; VU #216; WR #56)
PROCLAIMING:
At the Name of Jesus (BH #198; CO #538; CP #375; ELW #416; JS #371; LBW #179;
LSB #512; LW #178, PH #148; TH #435; UMH #168; VU #335; WR #321)
Forty Days and Forty Nights (CH #179; CO #242; CP #175; GC #384; JS #241; PH #77;
TH #150; TNCH #205; VU #114)
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley (CH# 211; GC #393; PH #80, TFWS #2112; WR
#254)
Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days (CH #180; GC #392; JS #260; PH #81; TH
#142; TNCH #211; UMH #269; WR #252)
O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High (CP #628; ELW #322; LBW #88; LSB #544;
LW #275; PH #83; TH #448, 449; TNCH #209; UMH #267; VU #348)
The Glory of These Forty Days (CP #170; ELW #320; GS #388; JS #248; PH #87; TH
#143; WOV #657)
SENDING:
Take the Name of Jesus with You (BH #576; CH #625; UMH #536)

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Also known as Precious Name

Take Time to be Holy (BH #446; CH #572; UMH #395; VU #672; WR #483)
HYMN STORY: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High
This hymn looks with wonder on the love expressed through Jesus' lifehow he came
down from heaven to live among us (v. 1)how he bore temptations for us and was
baptized for our sake (v. 2)how he prayed for us and worked for us (v. 3) how he
died for us (v. 4)and rose from death to return to his heavenly home (v. 5). It calls us to
give glory to "our Lord and God for love so deep, so high, so broad."
The author of this hymn, Thomas a Kempis, was a Catholic monk who is well-known for
his devotional book, The Imitation of Christ, in which he calls us to live like Jesus lived.
This hymn is very much in keeping with that book as it reminds us of the sacrificial life
that Christ lived in our behalf.
We need to hear what Thomas has to say. We have heard so much about Jesus being born
in a manger that we have largely lost our sense of wonder that God would come down
from heaven to live among usand to die for us. It is a true story of a prince becoming a
pauper to serve his people. We need to be reminded that God loves us and has gone to
great lengths to save us. We need to recover our sense of wonder that God would love us
even when we don't deserve it.
NOTE: See other hymn stories at http://www.lectionary.org/hymnstories.htm
SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright)
modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard
Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text
New Testament. The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good
translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc.), which the WEB has updated. We are
using the WEB because we believe it to be the best public domain version of the Bible available.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Barclay, William, The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of Luke (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew
Press, 1953)
Bock, Darrell L., The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Luke, Vol. 3 (Downers
Grove, Illinois, Intervarsity Press, 1994)
Campbell, Charles L., in Van Harn, Roger (ed.), The Lectionary Commentary:
Theological Exegesis for Sunday's Text. The Third Readings: The Gospels (Grand
Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001)

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Cousar, Charles B.; Gaventa, Beverly R.; McCann, J. Clinton; and Newsome, James D.,
Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the NRSVYear C (Louisville:
Westminster John Knox Press, 1994)
Craddock, Fred B., Interpretation: Luke (Louisville: John Knox Press,(1990)
Craddock, Fred B.; Hayes, John H.; Holliday, Carl R.; and Tucker, Gene M., Preaching
Through the Christian Year, C (Valley Forge: Trinity Press, 1994)
Culpepper, R. Alan, The New Interpreter's Bible, Volume IX. (Nashville: Abingdon,
1995)
Evans, Craig A., New International Biblical Commentary: Luke (Peabody,
Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 1990)
Fitzmyer, Joseph A., S.J., The Anchor Bible: The Gospel According to Luke (I-IX) (New
York: Doubleday, 1970)
Gilmour, S. MacLean & Bowie, Walter Russell, The Interpreter's Bible, Volume 8.
(Nashville: Abingdon , 1952)
Green, Joel B., The New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Gospel of
Luke (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1997)
Hendriksen, William, New Testament Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids: Baker Book
House, 1978)
Johnson, Luke Timothy, Sacra Pagina: The Gospel of Luke (Collegeville: Liturgical
Press, 1991)
Lindberg, Paul H., Lectionary Bible Studies: The Year of Luke, Lent-Easter
(Minneapolis: Augsburg/Fortress, 1978)
Nickle, Keith F., Preaching the Gospel of Luke (Louisville: Westminster John Knox,
2000)
Nolland, John, Word Biblical Commentary: Luke 19:20, Vol. 35A (Dallas: Word
Books, 1989)
Ringe, Sharon H., Westminster Bible Companion, Luke (Louisville: Westminster John
Knox Press)
Stein, Robert H., The New American Commentary: Luke (Nashville: Broadman Press,
1992)

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Tannehill, Robert C., Abingdon New Testament Commentaries: Luke (Nashville:

Abingdon, 1996)
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