Temptation is real, and it can be powerful. Every one of us will face temptations daily. Some temptations are stronger than others, and some attract our personality uniquely—but however temptation is presented, we know it is coming. Remember the words God spoke to Cain in Genesis 4:7, when Cain was being tempted by his anger to harm his own brother. God said, “‘You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master’” (NLT). God speaks a similar word to all of us: sin and temptation are coming, but you must master it, avoid it, and flee from it.
So this raises a big question. How do we avoid temptation? As in all things, the answer is in Christ, because in Jesus are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3 NLT). Jesus shows us the perfect example of how to overcome temptation. He avoided stumbling into temptation even when Satan came to harass him while he was fasting in the wilderness. This account is found in Matthew 4 and Luke 4.
When Satan came to tempt Jesus, he threw at our Lord three temptations. One was to satisfy His physical hunger while fasting, one was to prove His spiritual power by calling on angels to catch Him as He threw himself off the pinnacle of the temple, and one was to worship the devil and in return receive all the kingdoms of the world. Jesus said no to each temptation. He stood His ground and stayed true to his Father.
In analyzing how Jesus accomplished this, we see He has one major tactic. He wields the Word of God and cuts down every attack of the enemy with it. Every time Satan tempts Jesus, Jesus responds with “The Scriptures say...” Jesus fights back with God’s Word. When Satan tempts Him to eat while He is fasting, Jesus says, “The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone,’” quoting Deuteronomy 8:3. When Satan tempts Him to throw Himself off the temple and be caught by angels, Jesus says, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God,’” quoting Deuteronomy 6:16. When Satan tempts Jesus to worship him in order to receive dominion over all the nations, Jesus says, “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only Him,’” quoting Deuteronomy 6:13.
The Apostle Paul reinforces how this works in the letter to the Ephesians. In chapter 6, he tells us all about the armor of God, which we are to wear in the spiritual battles of life. Most of the equipment is defensive and protects us from harm…but one piece of the armor is offensive and we use it to strike back against evil. This is the “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:17 NLT).
Why is God’s Word so effective for combatting temptation? Because God’s Word tells us what to do. It is a “lamp to guide [our] feet and a light for [our] path” (Psalm 119:105 NLT). If someone is tempted to steal, God’s Word says don’t! When someone is tempted to commit adultery, God’s Word says don’t! When someone is tempted to blaspheme, God’s Word says don’t!
God’s Word offers guidance, correction, and the right path forward regarding every moral topic imaginable. So when we speak to our temptations with “The Scriptures say…,” the power and light of God’s Word drives away the darkness of the temptation.
This means that we have a call to action. We need to know God’s Word and have it written upon our hearts. Temptation will come at many and various moments. There will be many times it hits us when we don’t have our physical Bible on us, and so we must know the Word by heart. Therefore, we need to study the Word, meditate on it, and memorize it, so that we know the will of God deep in our soul.
A Prayer for Overcoming Temptation
Lord, thank You for Your Word. It is my moral compass; it is the truth on which I build my life. By Your Word, I am strengthened and enlightened as to how to best combat temptation. Help me, Lord, to know your Word, apply your Word, and overcome temptations when they present themselves. I want to honor you, and to be like Jesus. It’s in His name I pray, amen.
