The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1890-02-20
JESUS TEMPTED.
International sunday-school Lesson for
February ~, 1890.

LESSON TExT-Luke 41-13.
GOLDEN TExT-In that He Himself
hath suffered being tempted, He is able to
succor them that are tempted. Heb. ais.
CENTRAL TRUTH = Temptation by
satan; victory by Jesus Christ.
TIME-About January, AID. 81, immc-
diately after jesus baptism, as in the
last lesson.
PLAcE-The northern part Of the will
derness Of Judea; probably in Mount
Quarantania, west OF the Jordan, near
Jericho.
PARALLEL AccoUNrs--Mark 1:12, 1s;
Luke 4:1-13
INrEoDUCTIoS--1. How could Christ,
a perfectly holy being, be tempted? In
every act of sin are two parts: ~ The
natural desire. which is right; (2) the
indulgence of that desire in forbidden
circumstances. As hungeris not wrong,
but 1t may tempt us to steal food, which
is wrong, Christ had the innocent de-
sires, and therefore could be tempted.
Q. These temptations were real tempta-
tions, as real as ours, and He had no
helps which we have not. 3. The rea-
sons why He was tempted: ~ That He
might sympathizo with us in our temp
tations; (2) to show US that we can re-
sist; (3) to show US how we can over
come; (D it was test whether Christ
was able to be our Messiah--our Sa-
viour. 4. The manner Of the tempta-
tions. These were real occurrences
an actual temptation by personal
devil, but net in the form or appearance
of satan. Satan always DISCUSSES him
self as some angel Of light when no
tempts us. 1t is likely that the appear
anco on the pinnacle, and the vision OF
the kingdoms of the earth, were in
thought or vision.
HELPS Oven HARD PLACES Wzder-
ness: see place. Being forty days: the
| temptation continued all this time, but
only the last three great assaults arc
described. .. Tempted: tried and
proved. The decl: Satan, the great ad-
versary Of man. Did cat nothing; 1.
dtteredrd hungved: when the intense
absorption in thought came to an end,
the hunger came upon Him with intense
force. It was terrible, deathly
hunger.
In each temptation note four things:
(D What was the allurement? In this
case intense hunger. (2) What was
wrong in turning stones to bread? 1t
would have prevented Him from being
tempted as we are, and hence He could
not have been our Saviour. (3) The means
Of victory-Gods word and promises. 4.
II 10 ,rritten: in Deut. s:3. By euery toord,
etc.: not by food alone, but by spiritual
food. Not by the ordinary food, but
God has many ways (words, commands)
in which to supply our wants, without
our doing wrong. (D OF what tempta-
tions are these type? Temptations OF
appetites, pleasures, tho body. s.
Sheaced unto Him.: by vision. @. VIII
girs thee: 1 will persuade men to accept
of you as the Messiah; will withdraw
my opposition. (D What was the
outward success in establishing the
kingdom Of God, without life Of suf-
fering, without delay, without great
hardships on the part of His disciples.
This was what the Jews expected. (2)
What was the sin? 1t was yielding up
God and the saving of men from sin for
an outward success. 1t was an utter
failure as to the redemption of men.
Z. Worship mo: not in form, but in reali-
ty, as men worship money, or fame, or
fashion. (S) The rictory: Gods word,
straightforward duty ". 10Y. 0. Set him:
either literally, or in thought or vision.
Pinnacle: Herod's royal portico, over
hanging the valley, three hundred
to five hundred feet above the
ground below. Cast Myself doson: (1)
What was the temptation? To come
down marvelously among the crowds, as
II from Heaven, and so be received as a
prophet and King, without suffering or
death. 10. Written: in Ps. 91:11. Ht
shaH gtce, etc., quoted to show that Jesus
would be safe in obeying Satan's sug-
gestion. (2) What was the sin: it was q
false use Of Gods promises. 1t was de.
nying and defying Gods plan for the
Messiah. He could not then have been
Saviour from sin, but only a glorious
King. -. Tempt the Lord: trife with
His promises; act as II God had promised
what He had not. (s) The victory: by
simply refusing to do wrong. He over.
came by tho Scriptures.
LESSON QUESTIONS. Why did satan
tempt Jesus Christ? Because he
knew who Christ was and what
He had come to do. Though meu
failed to realize that Jesus wal
the Son Of God, the devil knew 1,
we'll. (Read Mark .1:24; Mark 5:7; Matt
$780, Satan realized that II he could
tempt Christ to sin, then He could ns
longer be the Saviour Of men. For III
would have to be saved himself. IfHs
was guilty Of breaking tho law of God
then He could not be the perfect Laml
Of God whose blood could cleanse III
: from our sins. The Bible tells us tha
, satan as roaring lion goeth abou
seeking whom he may devour. Il Pet
5:s.) He therefore doubtless knew tina
II Christ sinned there was no help 70,
, any Of Gods sinful creatures. Therefor,
. he used all his power to induce Jesul
Ch rist to yield to his temptations.
II. What help con we derive from thi
story OF tho temptation Of Jesus? A
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