Matthew - The Lust of the Eyes

For those of you who do follow along quite regularly, you will notice that I am not including an audio version of this study. What I have found is that I get far more listens when the study is in a video format than I do if it were only in an audio format. As a matter of fact, the numbers are drastically different. So, going forward, all studies will be in video format, plus there is no cost for data storage on my part.

In today's study from Matthew 4:5-7, we are going to look at the final temptation of our Lord. 

The Third Temptation 

The devil took Jesus to a mountain to view all of the kingdoms of the world and their glory at the same time. The devil offered all of these kingdoms to Jesus in exchange for his worship. Again, the devil was working from a scriptural standpoint. He knew that Jesus would rule over all of the kingdoms of the world following his second coming. Revelation 11:15 says, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” The devil was simply offering him a "shortcut" to bypass the cross.

Lust of the Eyes

This temptation appealed to the lust of the eyes mentioned in 1 John 2:16. This is the third area of temptation common to man. This is the same way that the devil tempted Eve. We see this in Genesis 3:6 when Eve saw that the fruit was “pleasant to the eyes."

Quoting Scripture

Again, Jesus quoted Scripture from Deuteronomy 10:20 which says, “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.” When Jesus quoted that verse, the devil left him.

Practical Lesson
Someone once said that the lust of the flesh is the consuming desire to do, the lust of the eyes is a compelling urge to have, and the pride of life is a constant thrust to be. Sadly, when the temptation does come, even though God will lower the gate of warning, sound the bell, flash the red light, but He will not keep you from crossing the tracks!”

Temptation is Common to Man

We also need to understand that all of us are tempted in the same way. Paul told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 10:1 that “there hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Solution Comes By Submission

If we want to be victories over our temptations we must heed the counsel of James when he said, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:7-10).