How to Overcome Temptation Like Jesus
The Problem of Temptation
As humans, we are all susceptible to being tempted to indulge in sinful thoughts and behaviors. We are naturally inclined to this, and we face a clever enemy who knows how to use our weaknesses against us.
Many of us face temptations that have more minor earthly consequences, such as gossiping, lying by omission, or [blank]. But we also may face temptations that have more dire consequences, such as drinking, various drugs, sexual promiscuity, pornography, and gambling, just to name a few.
No matter the earthly consequence, any indulgence in sin has damaging effects on our souls, and unrepentant sin is like cancer to our hearts. It eats away at our intimacy with Jesus. Sin puts distance between us and God.
Why are we tempted?
Sometimes, we are specifically tested to see how strong our convictions
God allows trials that can test our faith, but temptation itself does not come from Him. Instead, it arises from our desires and the enemy’s schemes (James 1:13-14). When we resist, our faith strengthens, just as a muscle grows through resistance training.
It is the same with our faith. God lovingly offers us opportunities to choose the truth and hold fast to our convictions so that others might see Him in us and that our faith in Him might be strengthened.
James 1:2-4 reminds us that trials and temptations test our faith and produce perseverance.
How was Jesus tempted?
Matthew 4:1-11 outlines the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. The Bible tells us He was “led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” and that “He was hungry.” The devil then tempted Him to use His God-given power to turn the stones around Him into bread.
Satan then tempted Him with power and tried to plant seeds of doubt in His mind by attempting to manipulate his identity and mission.
He used phrases like, “If you are the son of God..” and offered Him complete power of the world, if He would only worship Satan instead of God.
During these temptations, Jesus was tired and hungry and surely in a weakened state. He had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before the temptations came.
Often, this is how it looks in our lives too. Our temptations don’t usually come when we are strong and ready; they often come when we are already weary and tired and doubting our faith. That is when the devil strikes and seeks to tempt us with lies and seeds of doubt.
He is cunning and smart and knows exactly how to play on our weaknesses. While he was tempting Jesus, he even quoted Scripture; this is why it is so important for us to know the Bible for ourselves. Scripture can be taken out of context and twisted and we need to know for ourselves what the real truth its.
But during these petitions by Satan, Jesus models for us how to best overcome temptation. He didn’t give in to a single one and eventually, Satan retreated.
How did He overcome temptation?
So, how did Jesus do this? By rebuking Satan’s lies with the truth of God’s Word.
With every temptation Satan offered to Jesus, there was the truth of Scripture to rebuke it.
Satan tempted Him with turning stone to bread because He was hungry. Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 which says that “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.“
Jesus overcame temptation by trusting in God’s provision rather than meeting His needs in His own way.
Satan tempted Jesus with throwing Himself down on a city and letting the Angels carry Him, quoting and twisting Scripture that speak to His authority over the angels. Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, which says “you shall not put your God to the test.“
Jesus refused to test God, showing that true faith trusts without demanding signs.
And finally, Satan tempts Jesus by offering Him power and authority over all of the kingdoms of the earth without having to endure the cross if only He will give satan worship and allegiance.
Often Satan will offer us shortcuts or outcomes that seem great. They may even look a lot like a path that God wants us to take, but we can be sure that the easiest, least resistant path is not of God. If it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
Jesus rebukes this temptation by referencing Deuteronomy 6:13, saying, “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only you shall serve.“
Jesus rejected shortcuts to power, showing that God’s plan is always worth the cost.
Jesus was not tempted by Satan’s lies because He was assured in His heart of God’s truth. This is the model for us, friends.
We cannot be led astray with lies and seeds of doubt if we are rooted in truth.
How can we overcome temptation like Jesus?
You might be thinking, “Of course, Jesus could overcome temptation. He is God! How am I supposed to do that?”
The answer is the Holy Spirit and hiding Scripture in your heart and mind.
There is also a theological theory that Jesus “put off” His Godhood in order to experience humanity fully. This is why He needed to eat, sleep, and rest as we do. This is also why He was able to be tempted like we are. He was fully human.
The same power that Jesus had to overcome his tempter is the same power that lives within us. The same truth Jesus relied on is available to us through Scripture, but we must intentionally root ourselves in it. Temptation loses its grip when we are anchored in God’s Word.
One of the best ways to fight temptation is to saturate our minds with Scripture and commit it to memory.
Here are some great examples of Scriptures to memorize, specifically to help overcome temptation:
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Psalm 119:11
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Deuteronomy 6:13
Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
I use a beautiful spiral-bound index card journal from The Daily Grace, co. to record the verses I want to memorize and quiz myself.
Deuteronomy 6:13 from above is one of the verses I’ve chosen to memorize to remind my heart that God is the only one I am to serve. This is a great reminder when I feel other things in my life creeping into first place.
What do we do if we have given in to temptation?
No one is perfect, including me. If we have indulged or given ourselves over to temptation, that is the time to repent and seek forgiveness.
If you’ve given in to temptation, know this: God’s grace is greater than your failure. He invites us to repentance, not condemnation. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and will forgive us (1 John 1:9)
This is when we seek to repair relationships that our sin has damaged and even when we begin to seek accountability and counsel to fight against temptation. This might look like a support group, a dedicated accountability partner, counseling, rehabilitation treatment, pastoral counseling, personal Bible study regarding the topic or Celebrate Recovery groups at your church.
The first and most important step is to admit our weaknesses and surrender fully to Christ because His strength in us is made perfect in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).
No matter how many times we stumble, God’s grace is greater. His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), and He is always ready to restore us when we turn back to Him.
Once we recognize it and admit our shortcomings, we can begin to ask for help and support and begin to heal.
If this was encouraging to you, would you share it? Thanks, friend.
Your Sister In Christ,
