As the curtains close on Matthew 22, I couldn’t help but notice that it truly felt similar to Y’shua Jesus’ sojourn in the wilderness. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat and see for yourself.
Matthew 22:46 CEB
[46] Nobody was able to answer him. And from that day forward, nobody dared to ask him anything.
*From that day forward*
Luke 4:12-13 says, ‘Jesus answered, ‘It’s been said, don’t test the Lord your God.” After finishing every temptation, the devil departed from him until the next opportunity.’
Although we don’t hear Y’shua using those words to His detractors, you might agree with me that it was implied in the Matthean text. Prior to that, each question seemed to have been followed by yet another. The spiritual leaders even colluded with politicians to press their questions forward. They didn’t even realize that they were being manipulated by the devil to accomplish the devil’s purpose.
Self-Check
Have we been manipulated by the devil to falsely accuse someone? Did we recognize it as manipulation before or after we yielded?
Application
It is obvious that the devil didn’t stop tempting Y’shua after that season of fasting. In fact, my ‘_Manipulation Theory_’ posits that thereafter, the devil used others to do the dirty work. It wasn’t just those detractors. There were others, including Peter.
Hello! The Nougat did not say no one ever dared to tempt Y’shua again. It did not say that Jesus, the Pharisees, Sadduces, and the Herodians all became friends. It did not even say that the detractors repented. Nope, not at all. Nothing of the sort.
What our Nougat does say is that nobody came with questions to Him thereafter. That is, not with questions to test or embarrass Y’shua. When placed alongside Jesus’ temptations – in particular, what happened after the final temptation – we see something similar. The devil left Him
… until another time.
That’s what we have to guard against – it’s the reason we remain focused on the Word. For the devil isn’t beyond using us against ourselves. If we don’t take the time for spiritual renewal in those in between times, we can get caught up in faulty post-mortems. Before undertaking such, we must renew our souls (see Psalm 23:3; Romans 12:2) daily.
In those moments we look back on the triumph over the test, thank God for bringing us through, seek God’s forgiveness if we succumbed to any of the temptations, and pray for grace to overcome yet again. For another season will come. It may be slightly different, but equally as, or more pressing than the previous.
Take heart. God’s Spirit is with us and will help us overcome.
Point to Ponder
Have we noticed the reprieve after a season of testing? Thank God for it and spend time in the Word to regroup.
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May all we seek be found in Christ
