March 20

All of this in three chapters is a summation of the evidence to indicate that Jesus and no other is the Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Messiah. There is one other issue, however, in order to validate His Messiahship and that is His ability to conquer the devil and sin. It’s fine to have all of these evidences, all of these proofs, all of these credentials in place. But the ultimate question is: Can He save sinners from sin? Can He save sinners from the destroyer, from death and hell? That’s the compelling question. Can He overturn the curse? Can He get us paradise regained? Can He undo what the destroyer did with the first Adam? Can He conquer Satan? Can He conquer sin and therefore conquer death and conquer hell, not only for Himself but for us? And if He can’t for Himself, then it’s for sure He can’t do it for us. And so the compelling question that is answered in the fourth chapter of Luke is the question: Can Jesus conquer the devil and sin? And there is a ringing yes to that question. ~ John MacArthur

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