Do you have the same opinion of the Bible as Jesus?
Looking at the first temptation of Christ in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2-4), you see how Jesus viewed the Bible. In Matthew 4, Satan attacks Jesus three times, and all three times, Jesus answers with Scripture. Jesus believed in the authority of Scripture. Jesus said it is written, not it was written. It was written suggests that it was for another day and another time. It was that way, but it might not be that way anymore. It is written means it stands. It was written in the past, but it stands written today. When confronted by Satan, Jesus went to the Bible. He did not say “I think …,” or “I feel …,” or “in our family, we …”. No, it is written, the Word of God is authoritative.
Jesus also believed in the sufficiency of Scripture. Forty days earlier, the Father spoke audibly from Heaven and the Spirit descended in the shape of a dove. These were amazing signs and revelations! However, when Jesus was in the wilderness and was tempted by Satan, how did Jesus respond? He did not wait for audible instructions, or a visible sign, so how would Jesus know the Father’s will? He went to the Word of God. Jesus went to Scripture and that was enough. When tempted to use His divine prerogative and step out of the Father’s will, Jesus said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Jesus would live, trusting in the Father’s care and this passage was enough for Him to not waver. Jesus lived by the Word of God; it was sufficient.
Jesus also knew the Bible. In all three temptations, He drew from the book of Deuteronomy. In the first temptation, he quoted Deuteronomy 8:3. Jesus didn’t have a Bible with him to look up passages, but Jesus had Scripture memorized. Other than these verses, do you have any passages from Deuteronomy memorized? Could you give me a summary of what the book is about? I ask because I want you to think about how well Jesus knew the Bible, and hopefully spur you to go and read and learn the Bible yourself. Maybe we don’t know it as well as we think we do.
Jesus knew more than just Bible stories. Jesus knew the passages and the context, and the meaning, and the proper application. Jesus was able to draw from verses he knew and apply the correct application to the situation. Do you have the same view of the Bible as Jesus? Is the Bible the authority in your life? Do you say “it is written” when faced with a temptation or a decision? Do you believe the Bible is sufficient, or do you look for signs and trust your gut feelings? If Jesus is Lord, have the same view of the Bible as He does.
