March 20

Hounded

And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. ~ Luke 4:13 ESV

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ~ Luke 4:8 ESV

If you boldly choose to share the true Word of God—the Bible alone (“Sola Scriptura“)—be prepared to face opposition from those who distort His message for their own purposes. This is exactly what Satan did when he twisted Scripture to tempt Jesus in Luke 4:1-13. Throughout the Gospels, we see how Satan influenced religious leaders to resist Jesus and reject His truth.

Shortly after His time of testing, Jesus entered the synagogues to proclaim God’s Word, but the false teachers had already reshaped Scripture to fit their own desires. Instead of receiving the truth, they were filled with rage (Luke 4:28). Nothing has changed today.

As Christians, we are called to stand firm and defend the truth of the Bible. No matter the opposition, we must remain faithful to God’s unchanging Word.

John MacArthur emphasizes the necessity for Christians to uphold the absolute truth of Scripture, asserting that “Scripture is God’s truth, whether it affects anybody or nobody.” In a world where truth is often subjective, MacArthur calls believers to recognize the Bible’s inerrancy and to defend its teachings without compromise. He warns against the dangers of false teachers and encourages unwavering commitment to biblical truth. By standing firm on the authority of Scripture, Christians can effectively navigate and counter the deceptions prevalent in today’s society.

For a deeper understanding of this topic, you might find the following video insightful:

Read / Listen

Numbers 30:1-31:54
Luke 4:1-30
Psalm 63:1-11
Proverbs 11:20-21

New Testament

Luke 4:1-30

Summary
The Temptation of Jesus
Jesus Begins His Ministry
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

Luke 4:5

And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 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. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” ~ Luke 4:5-8

“so far he (i.e the Devil) spoke modestly, in that he owned an original, superior governor of them, by whom he pretended they were transferred to him; but lied, in that he suggested they were put into his hands by him, who had the supreme power over them; and that he acted by his constitution and appointment, as a deputy under him; when what power he had, as the God of the world, was by usurpation, and not by designation of God; and at most only by permission: and least of all was it true what follows;” ~ John Gill

The Temptation of Jesus

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, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ~ Luke 4:9-12