Pt 12 KNOWING AND USING GOD'S WORD/YOUR BIBLE

"Ave Christus, morituri te salutamus!"

    F inally, there is similarity in that Eve and Jesus respond to the temptation presented by Satan with what God has said;

"And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said,...'" (Genesis 3:2,3/NKJV)
"But He answered and said, 'It is written,...'" (Matthew 4:4/NKJV)
"Jesus said to him, 'It is written again,...'" (Matthew 4:7/NKJV)
"Then Jesus said to him, 'Away with you, Satan! For it is written,...'" (Matthew 4:10/NKJV)

    T he need to use God's word in overcoming temptation is plainly shown in both situations.  Matthew Henry puts it best in his commentary on Matthew 4;

"Christ answered all the temptations of Satan with "It is written;" to set us an example, he appealed to what was written in the Scriptures. This method we must take, when at any time we are tempted to sin." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary On Line)

    F urthermore, the need to use scripture to interpret it self was briefly discussed in a previous post.  We see Jesus using this very principle in Matthew 4:7 when Satan attempts to twist and pervert God's word for his use;

"Jesus said to him, 'It is written again, "You shall not tempt the LORD your God."'"

    I n summary the following similarities between the temptation of Eve and the temptation of Jesus were discussed;

1. In both passages Satan questions God's word. (Genesis 3:1, Matthew 4:3, 5)
2. In both passages the temptation begins with the legitimate desire to fulfill a God given need.(Genesis 3:6, Matthew 4:2)
3. In both passages Eve and Jesus are "alone".(Genesis 3:1,2, Matthew 4:1)
4. In both passages Eve and Jesus use scripture.(Genesis 3:2, Matthew 4:4, 7, 10)

    N ext we will briefly discuss the differences.

"Simul iustus et peccator"*
*Martin Luther

scripture sources;
Bible Gateway
image source;
sword