When we look at how Satan presented a temptation to Jesus, we gain insight into how he operates and has successfully infiltrated, forming what is known as Christendom. Christendom represents a faith in Christ that is void of Christ Himself because it is earthly and rooted in the sensual. Unfortunately, this is a large part of what modern Christianity consists of and clear to see through the taking of Satan’s bait. We gain how this is so, as we learn from the text from Matthew 4-

Satan tempted Jesus through:

1. Hunger
2. Putting God to the test
3. Lust for riches and infamy so he may gain our worship

On every turn, Jesus was able to overcome temptation through not only knowledge of the Word of God, but obedience to it.

Today, Satan tempts us in the same way where many succumb through both ignorance and disobedience to the Word of God.

(Spiritual) Hunger

Satan has been successful in tantalizing through our spiritual hunger. Rather than seek God’s Word as our food and sustenance, we look for the exciting and entertaining. Out of this, we lose our taste for the true meat of the Word over the latter. We run to this teacher or that one because they offer us entertainment or an easy Christian playbook. 

When we look to men and women to teach us the bible rather than going to for ourselves – to not only read it but study, meditate and put it into practice, we are ripe for Satan’s picking. 

Putting God to the Test

A great deal of erred doctrinal teaching stems from what is known as the word-faith; name it and claim it, blab it and nab it, proclaim and decree what is yours in Jesus name! Satan has twisted scriptures into a formula to be used rather to live by.

Lust for richest and infamy in exchange for our worship (to Satan)

In the temptation of Jesus we learn that Satan is the ruler over the wealth and kingdoms of the world. 

They are his to give and use for his purpose, and a means to gain man’s worship. He has created the belief that wealth, health and success are ours because we are the children of the king. When we take the bait, we pay him homage and worship though it is in Jesus name; he will take it any way he can. We are under a spell and cannot see the blatant contradiction to the teachings of Jesus and the Word of God. This ‘truth’ is what drives Christian book sales off the charts. Satan has eloquently married greed, envy and lust for selfish gain under the guise of our status of sons and daughters of God. 

Knowing what is true

As believers and followers of Christ, how we measure success is not by the world’s standard. To gain is to lose, and this is the economy of the Kingdom of God; 

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:35-37.

Instead of seeking what the world treasures, we are looking for what is to be thrown overboard, so they do not weigh us down!  The less we have rooted in this world, the less we are easily prone to accept Satan’s bait.