Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. Luke 4:1-13 NIV
It’s important to realize that Satan can use God’s word when attempting to trip us up. This confirms to me the importance of really getting to know the word, not just casually reading it. We need to know it so well that we will recognize when it’s being used out of context, or when it’s being set before us by the enemy in an attempt to deceive us. The words of David come to my mind, “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”
Take note of the role the Spirit plays in these passages. He remained on Jesus at His baptism, then he led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. We need the Spirit to remain with us too, and to help us discern truth from deception. If we have hidden God’s word in our heart, the Spirit will bring the right passages to mind when we need them to counter the temptations Satan sets before us. Because as Luke reminds us, “When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.” Satan will always look for an opportune time to trip us up!