Jesus was fully God but that doesn’t mean his temptations weren’t real. Let’s learn from him how to resist temptation.
This is Scripture for Students. I’m Steve Whitacre, president of Trinity College and a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. I want to help students build a daily habit for life-long Bible reading. Today is February 18, 2025 and this episode of Scripture for Students is called Jesus Would Not Have Eaten the Marshmallow. Grab your Bible and let’s get started.
Our readings for today are Exodus 1, Luke 4, and Job 18.
Please open your Bibles to Luke 4.
I wonder if you have ever heard of the famous marshmallow test? In the 1960s, a psychologist named Walter Mischel ran a series of tests with children about self-control. The test worked like this: a child sat down and a table in a room and a researcher placed a marshmallow on the table in front of the child and told the child, “You can eat this marshmallow now if you want, but I’m going to step out of the room and I’ll be back shortly. If you don’t eat this marshmallow and wait until I get back, then you can eat this marshmallow and get another marshmallow.”
Some kids pounded the marshmallow right away. Some kids waited. Among those who waited, some struggled more than others. Some sang to themselves, some tried to take a nap, some just sat and stared at the marshmallow, others would not make eye contact with the marshmallow. The fascinating part of the study came years later, when Walter Mischel followed up with the subjects of the study to see where they ended up. Generally, the kids who exercised self-control with marshmallow had gone on to do better: they had higher standardized test scores, progressed further in education, had a higher average salary, less likely to go to jail or do drugs; they were generally healthier and happier than their marshmallow-moshing counterparts.
Today, we’re going to read how Jesus resisted temptation. His temptation, however, was far greater than a marshmallow on a table. And the method he used to resist the temptation was far greater than just not making eye contact.
Follow along with me as I read Luke 4:1–13,
1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness
2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’ ”
5 And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,
6 and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.
7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’ ”
9 And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,
10 for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’
11 and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
May the Lord bless the reading and the hearing and the keeping of his Word.
This passage is surprising in many ways. This story kicks off with Jesus at a disadvantage: he has been in the wilderness for 40 days, being tempted by the devil. It says in verse 2 that “he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.” I bet. It takes me about 40 minutes to get hungry, so I can’t imagine not eating for 40 days. But did you notice how Jesus ended up in this spot? We think that the devil has somehow grabbed the upper hand here and is tempting Jesus to within an inch of the limit of his self-control. But it says in verse 1 that he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. The devil didn’t just jump him. This was all part of God’s plan for him. It was the Holy Spirit’s direction.
Also, notice that the devil tempts Jesus three times and each time he tempts him in three distinct and different ways. First, in verse 3, the devil tempts Jesus with his physical needs. Second, in verse 5 and 6, the devil tries to appeal to pride and the desire for power. Third, in verses 9–11, the devil tries to trick Jesus into doubting God’s goodness. The devil twists and misuses God’s word. But Jesus is not so easily fooled.
In fact, that brings us to a key point about how Jesus resists temptation. Did you notice that at every point, Jesus uses God’s Word as his defense against temptation? When the devil tries to entice Jesus to sin, Jesus fights back with Scripture.
This makes sense, if you remember that there is a paragraph in Ephesians 6 that describes “the whole armor of God.” In verse 17, Paul says to “take up… the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God…” Many Bible scholars and preachers have pointed out that in the entire outfit of the armor of God, this is the only offensive weapon.
But God’s Word is a powerful weapon and it will help Christians like you and I fight back temptation. If this approach is the approach that Jesus took to fight temptation, maybe we should consider it as well!
So ask yourself: where do you think you will be tempted this week? Will you be tempted to speak disrespectfully to your mother or grow impatient with a sibling or complain about homework? There is probably something coming to mind. Whatever it is, you can prepare for that temptation by asking yourself: what does Scripture say about this sin? How can God’s word help me resist temptation? If you aren’t sure where to find a Scripture to speak to your specific situation, ask your parents or your pastor! I guarantee you that they would love to help you find verses that will help you fight off temptation!
Our temptations will never be as significant as Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness. But they are more significant than mere marshmallows, too. Let’s learn from Jesus and strive to be like Jesus when temptation comes!
That’s all for today. If you enjoyed this episode please share it with a friend and follow us on Apple Podcasts.
This content is sponsored by Trinity College of Louisville. We shape young men and young women for Christ and for the church. Learn more at TrinityCollegeLou.com. Until next time, keep growing!