Satan's Power (or Lack Thereof) | Matthew 4:1-11 with Sarah Stenson

This week, Adam Guthmiller and Mason Van Essen are joined by Sarah Stenson to discuss this week's lectionary Gospel text: the Temptation of Jesus. 

Immediately after His baptism, the Holy Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

Sarah breaks down the ways Satan tempts Jesus—turning stones to bread, throwing himself off of the temple, and ruling all the kingdoms of the world—and what we can learn from Jesus' responses. In this week's conversation, we also zoom out to ask:

We finish our conversation by reiterating that God is sending His messengers out to proclaim a promise that combats the devil, doubt, despair, and unbelief with a single word: Jesus.

SING TO THE LORD

Listen to Luther House of Study's newest podcast: Sing to the Lord!

Martin Luther said, "Next to the word of God, the art of music is the greatest treasure in the world."

To understand the importance of hymnody in the Lutheran church, Lars Olson and I sit down with Zachary Brockhoff each week to discuss the lectionary's hymns, their meaning and history, and how the music preaches the Gospel. We hope you enjoy this new venture!

Follow or subscribe to Sing to the Lord to hear the weekly episodes. Links to the Sing to the Lord podcast feed are in the show notes.

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GOSPEL

Matthew 4:1-11 

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4 But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " 

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " 7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9 and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' " 11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him. (NRSV)

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