The Gospel According to Satan

Matthew 4 tells the story of the temptations of Jesus. The devil tries to get Jesus to submit to him three times; and all three times, of course, Jesus resists.

And it kind of feels like the things Jesus is tempted with are not the same kinds of things we’re tempted with. First he tries to get Jesus to turn stones into bread.

Now, I don’t want to brag, but I’ve never once been tempted to turn stones into bread. Never even really considered it, to be quite honest. It’s just not one of my weaknesses.

The second thing he hits Jesus with is trying to make him jump off the temple to see if angels would catch Him. Again, not a desire I’ve ever been hit with myself.

And finally, in verses 8-9, it says

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

I guess I can see why that would be tempting to some people, but can the devil even really deliver on that offer?

Actually, I would say YES. This goes back to Babel, and I want to tell you about that today.

Other than that, though, don’t Satan’s temptations of Christ seem quite WEIRD? They’re different from what might cause you or me to stumble.

I also want to show you today: they’re actually more relatable than you think. The playbook Satan used against Christ is the same playbook he uses against everybody. It’s called the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eyes, and the Pride of Life.

Turn to II Corinthians 11, and let’s get weird.

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Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction

2:00 - Another Gospel

9:25 - The Fall of Man

13:25 - The Fall of the World

17:35 - The Three Rebellions

22:15 - The Fast Temptations of Christ

27:00 - Closing Thoughts

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Hosted by Luke Taylor

If you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!