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WHO’S GOT YOUR NUMBER? (MATTHEW 4:1-11)

Jesus is tempted and He emerged victorious over the devil. 

REFLECTION

‘Who’s got your number?’ is the theme of our reflection today. To say “I have got your number” is an idiomatic expression which means to understand someone or realise the true purpose of their actions. In today’s scripture reading (Matthew 4:1-11), Jesus proves to us that he has gone through all the temptations human beings go through but unlike us, He has got the devil’s number. In other words, the devil tried to get into the mind of Jesus and lure him to disobey God just like He did to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden but Jesus uses the word of God to warn the devil that He has got his number. 

Jesus uses Scripture to expose the devil’s destructive motives and goals. Beloved in the Lord, the idiomatic or figurative language we are using as our theme suggests that many continue to encounter temptations but fall through disobedience because they are ignorant about the devil’s destructive motives and goals. Many Christians of our time do not know the devil’s number because they have refused to read and study the Bible. Jesus’s power was the Holy Spirit and His weapon that enabled Him to defeat the devil or get his number is the Word of God. Anytime the devil tries to tempt Jesus, He gets the devil’s number or hidden motive or agenda by answering him “It is written. In Matthew Chapter 4, verses 4,7 and 10, Jesus used the Scripture to overcome every single attempt of the Devil to deceive Him into disobeying God. The big question of the day is, are you a true Christian or disciple of Jesus? if so, do you know your Scripture? Do you have love and passion for studying the Bible for which you have been able to tell the devil in the face of temptations that “I have got your number” through the phrase “it is written?”

Jesus overcomes the temptation of gluttony and materialism when He said to the devil “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Matthew 4:4) Are you able to remember these words when you are being lured into situations that make you lose focus on your relationship with God because of money, wealth and pleasure? We also see Jesus overcome the temptation of pride when He proves to the devil that he has his number when said: “It is also written: ‘ Do not put the Lord your God to test’ ” (Matthew 4:7). Jesus did not come to abuse his power but to humble himself and do the father’s will. Jesus knew that in Proverbs 16:18 it is written,   “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Again Jesus overcomes the temptation of forfeiting one’s salvation to possess power by all means including selling one’s soul to the devil in exchange for the power and possession of this world. Jesus proves to the devil that He has the devil’s number when he said “...For it written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” (Matthew 4:10). My dear friend Jesus knew the temptation of wanting to become powerful and rule over others so he teaches us what true power means when he said to disciples in Matthew 20:26-28 that “…Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and go give his life as a ransom for many.”

 My dear friend, you cannot overcome the temptations of the devil if you lack knowledge of the Word of God. For Hosea 4:6 admonishes us that “my people are destroyed (or fall to temptation) from the lack of knowledge (of God’s word). God has given us His Word as a weapon to overcome the temptations of the devil “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the hearts” (Hebrews 4:12) It will suffice to conclude with Jesus’ words that “whoever has ears, let them hear (Matthew 11:15). Shalom

PRAYER 

ALMIGHTY GOD, LET YOUR WORD FOREVER BE A LAMP TO MY FEET AND LIGHT TO MY PATH. AMEN (PALM 119:105)

JEAN-PAUL AGIDI (REV)