Studying and Knowing the Scriptures

Montreal Monastery Door

Matthew 4: 1-11

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him

After Jesus went to the desert to commune with his Father, he was tempted by Satan.  Jesus had been fasting for 40 days, and I’m sure had incredible spiritual experiences and learned much during that time. Both of which would have left Him exhausted and weak. Satan knew this and thought this was his chance.

Jesus resisted each temptation, but how he resisted is sometimes overlooked.  The words, “it is written” is quoted 4 times in Matthew 4:1-11, where Matthew tells us of the temptations. Jesus used and quoted scripture to resist temptations. He pulled strength from the learning he had as a youth. I’m sure his parents both read and studied scripture with him.  His knowledge and wisdom were built on scripture, and the words of prophets. He used this knowledge to learn, to gain wisdom from God the Father, to strengthen himself, to resist temptation, and to convince others of the truth.  During the interaction even Satan got the picture of what was happening. After figuring it out he tried to quote scripture back to Jesus himself as one of his temptations.  He quoted from Psalm 91-11-12 in an attempt to turn the tables.  It is also interesting that Jesus quoted the law each time, but Satan used a Psalm to make his point.  Jesus quoted or used, Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 6:13, and Deuteronomy 6:16.

If we are to follow him, should we not also know the scriptures well enough to use them to strengthen ourselves?  Should we not work to gain the same strength from them?