Lent as a Time of Testing | Matthew 4:1-4 | N.T. Wright Online
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- Опубликовано: 26 фев 2023
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LENT AS A TIME OF TESTING | MATTHEW 4:1-4
With Jesus as our model, we should expect temptations much as he did.
Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness is an apt passage to begin a Lenten journey. Prof. Wright reminds us that, as the embodiment of the people of Israel, Jesus symbolically enacts their journey, succeeding where they, and where we all, fail. Jesus serves as a model for our own testing, which will surely come if we, like Jesus, trust the affirmations and plans of God our Father.
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My life is so much the better for having been tested. Draws one closer to Jesus. He gets us!
Bishop, you have the mind of Christ these are words of life and Spirit
I loved the correlation between the Israelites 40 year wandering/ testing in the desert & failing & Jesus' 40 day temptation in the wilderness & victory. So good! ❤️✝️
Thank you Bishop Tom.
The reminder that the intensity of testing for all our lives increases.
And we thank God in times like thst Jesus is closest.
▪︎Hallelujsh !! 🎶🎻🎊
Our greatest temptation as humans, it seems, is not to trust in God's love and provision. It's what happened in the garden. It's what happens when I let anxiety over health and circumstances have free reign, and I grumble and fret instead of resting in His goodness.
I have a hard time conceiving of God's role in these tests. Perhaps the best way that I can think of it for now is that without causing suffering himself, he uses these moments as opportunities for good.
A good reminder to rest. And, to rest in his goodness (when it can be tempting to trust in others things or to fret over our own inadequacies) for the Good.
Amen
“It’s because we are the children of God that we must stay on the cross” 💜
I feel this keenly. I also feel that the same sort of challenges confront me. I think the Lord is trying to teach me a lesson, and until Iearn it, I will be repeatedly confronted with the same.
May you sense his gracious patience and loving encouragement as you are learning.
Thank you for this teaching. "Jesus is bringing about the new Exodus" - yes. And I agree - it does seem that the testings get harder as you get older. Yet if the devil tempts us to undermine our faith then God tests us in order to strengthen it. And,hopefully, this testing of our faith will give it a resilience that may have been lacking in our youth. Every time we come through this testing we are made a little stronger. And it is comforting to hear that if we are being tested then we are probably in the right place.
Amen, the devil tempts and God tests.
Yes, Amen👍🙏
Thank you for your helpful teaching and encouragement re the Lenten Journey !
Glory to God. Thank you for this opportunity to dig deeper in Your Word through this vessel of Tom. I love how the New Testament hinges upon the existence of the Old Testament. Jesus literally fulfilling all of it. One complete story, one narrative pointing towards Jesus the Christ.
Amen!
Thank you, Bishop Tom. For me, today's thoughts reflect back to last week when you spoke about trusting God. It always comes back to this: our trust in God, trusting that He will never test us beyond what we can bear. This I have experienced in my life, and be those tests ever so hard: He is always there, His helping hand is always there.
We are grateful for your reflections and the reminder of God's presence to trust through the temptations and trials.
Thank you, prof. Wright.
Tremendously encouraged by the message!
Thank you Tom.
So moving, thank you for your work Bishop Wright!
Thanks, Bishop Wright. It's always been very insightful your way of reading the Bible, it has helped me to see the whole picture of God's Good Work, and how He has accomplished it through the faithfulness of Jesus. Thanks a lot.
Appreciate your encouraging words.
So good. Thank you.
Tests are not my friend. I am fearful that I may not succeed.To much is given, much is required.
We hear you on this!
There can be a beautiful element of humility in our fears, which can lead to acknowledging we aren't self-sufficient for the testing (or even the day's task!)
Excellent!
Wonderful! I especially liked the testing challenge that was in the desert being met again with the stakes raised at the cross. Great stuff as always.
Brings to mind the testing time that the CofE is and has been going through. Sad.
I appreciate the focus on the scriptures and how God leads us. Thank you
Thank you for this video. I am going through a time of testing, so it was really encouraging!
Glad it was helpful!
God is working on my heart to embrace suffering and my weaknesses. These are opportunities
to trust God. My mind is being transformed to accept that in this age, goodness of my life isn’t determined by what I deem good (which are pain free things). Instead, the goodness for me is my trust in him. Instead of running away from the suffering, can I embrace them as a moment to draw close to God. This is what I’m thinking.
Good words.
Looking forward to the whole series! This is clear and insightful teaching that is true to the scriptures.
So good. I’ve long thought of Jesus as the true Israelite and Matt. 1-4 as his following the path of Israel (eg. Hos. 11:1 out of Egypt have I called my son). And thank you especially for the last part of how this testing builds in life. No doubt, from my own experience, and from Ps 88, 22, and Jesus on the cross, we will suffer moments of doubt and feeling abandoned. Sometimes it’s that thread of faith, just enough sustenance that we gain to stay the course, even if imperfectly on our part. It is a great challenge as you note. Thank you again for these.
Good words and a helpful reminder that the psalms of lament, which acknowledge and express the reality of our suffering, can also be a guide for times when darkness seems our closest friend.
I happen to find these at the right time when I really need them. Thank you for creating these❤
Glad you like them!
The comparison of the 40 days in the wilderness for Jesus to the Israelites 40 years in the wilderness is enlightening .... .
Thank You for sharing these perspectives !! They provide a depth of meaning to the book of Matthew .... To the Gospels that are often missed .....
We're glad you enjoyed it!
A good word, both a reminder of what it means to be in the faith and also an encouragement for what faces us in this moment. Thank you.
I have definitely found it to be true that things seem to get harder as I get older. My husband pointed out that generally you get more competent as you grow and mature, so if we weren’t continuing to be challenged with more and more difficult things, we would stop growing and begin to calcify! It doesn’t make it any easier in the moment, but it does help to think that it probably means we’re on the right path…
Indeed, the reward of going the right way is often another challenge! It brings to mind the book title by Eugene Peterson, 'A Long Obedience in the Same Direction'.
Temptation was a part of my life and I let it happen for a year thought ima feeling lonely but as I came close to God almighty i realise this is not working out for me and leaned on to God and it has worked wonderfully,thank you for the scripture seem like it speaks with me
We are encouraged to hear of the victory you've experienced. Leaning on the Lord can be embodied in many ways, especially during this season of Lent.
I love your videos. I’m enjoying your Lenten videos so much! This came at a perfect time today!
We are encouraged. Glad.to hear it!
Very timely message as I seem to be going through a period of depression . I recently finished a deep dive into I Corinthians with Dr. Gordon Fee finishing his commentary and became depressed by the reality of hardship in Paul’s life with just the church there, not even speaking of everything else he faced.Actually started weeping for Paul like he were going through it in real time. I got too close to the real stuff and doubted my resilience.
It sounds like you're a very empathetic person, and able to feel or sense what others experience. It makes sense to respond with weeping and even a time of depression as this is likely what Paul was going through (even though he might not have understood his despair or hopelessness as 'depression'). Prof. Wright has written about Paul's life and this experience in 'Paul: A Biography', and we also have an online course with the same title.
Sometimes we may doubt our own resilience in the midst of unsettling or complex emotions, but 'bouncing-back' can often be one step forward two steps back.
Glad you're here.
This is a difficult truth. I come to Adonai because of pain: the pain of declinatory culture, the pain of relentless addiction, the pain of indifferent demand. He is my rock, fortress, and hiding place. In a sea of troubles, He is the only hope that makes even a modicum of sense. Age has indeed put an accent on the truth of escalating challenge. Nor is Scripture shy about it, but I can’t help but wonder at times: “Why follow at all if such is the truth? To what present end this existence of advancing pain?“ By-And-By is all well and good, but it’s rather thin comfort in an ever angrier ocean of existence.
I will not leave the Way…ever, but sometimes I feel all I have are Kefa’s words to justify holding on: "Lord, to whom shall we go?” Though loving, I serve such a strange God.
Appreciate your thought-provoking reflections. As you said, the existence of advancing pain, as well as the way in which new creation is often birthed through suffering, is strange--at times heartbreaking and maddening.
Those who make and hold space for our questions and our personal pain or suffering can bring comfort when there are no words (or easy answers).
Just learned about NT wright. These video styles are incredible! I’m a new Christian and these are gems
We're glad you're here and enjoying the videos! Let us know if you have a topic or question you'd like to learn more about for future devotionals.
@@NTWrightOnline I’d love some videos to better understand the Trinity!
Thanks for the suggestion!
@@NTWrightOnline absolutely. I wish I could speak with NT. He seems an absolute force of biblical exegesis. Question.. I saw that he’s an Anglican bishop. Is he in alignment with the new LGBT approval the Church of England bishop’s are moving forward with? Thanks!
@@NTWrightOnline I’m newer to Christianity so apologize but I really want to understand… did Jesus have to die cursed (on the tree) because he HAD to sin in order for us sinners to once again have access to God? I understand the sacrifice part of the crucifixion, but was it the act of the sin itself that reunited us?
I always enjoy listening to your reading of the scriptures. You always present something I hadn’t thought of or seen in the scriptures. I’m 72 years old and raised as a Christian. It’s so invigorating to see new light into the scriptures.
Invigorating at any age indeed!
I hadn't thought much about how, if we follow Jesus, we must be prepared to be tested and tested repeatedly. But this makes sense when I reflect on the many challenges the human Jesus faced during his ministry.
Yes, sometimes it is through great suffering (and out the other side) that we become more genuinely human.
Great video Tom. Thankyou for this perspective. How should one handle falling? For example, for lent, I chose to cut snacking out. Something I struggle with, and felt it would allow me time to reflect on God and the period of lent. But after a particularly stressful week, I caved. I know it’s a trivial thing to give up snacks for lent, but to cave in left me feeling pretty useless.
Does one just jump back on the horse and keep trying? Using prayer to try try to focus the mind?
Many thanks
You are not alone in feeling discouraged. This being the 3rd week of Lent is when it can be especially difficult (not quite halfway through!) I also haven't practiced my fast as I'd intended and asked similar questions. What works for me might not work for you when it comes to encouragement, but one thing we're trying this year is an online community gathering tomorrow night at 8pm Eastern. We will discuss together and pray and see what happens! If you haven't signed up and want the link, send an email to ntwrightonline@gmail.com .
Jennifer-- N.T. Wright Online
I have never heard that before. This is quite interesting. I would have given you a thumbs up, but i did not want to be the six hundred and sixty sixth thumbs up.
We're glad you found it interesting!
Great as always and so helpful in your own personal journey with Christ. It is also as always very nicely produced, but what about your gloves?
Glad to hear you enjoyed the teaching. The compression gloves are to help with pain from arthritis.
@@NTWrightOnline Oh I see. Praying for you....
Please forgive my asking an obvious question, but what exactly is testing/temptation? How do I recognize it when it comes? I guess I'm asking whether or not there is a least common denominator shared by all such experiences, and if so what is it shaped like?
In my experience, temptation comes first...by nuance...one must think to understand what is working against oneself and believe that it is possible. Then comes the testing...is one truly committed to avoiding the temptation. If you are committed, ask God for the grace to pass the test. Also, ask your Guardian Angel for help. Let us not forget to ask the Blessed Virgin and St Joseph (Terror of Demons) for help. Last but not least, anoint yourself with Holy water. Evil flees from Holy.
@@timothyrogers6213 thank you. But that still doesn't answer my question. What exactly do we mean when we use the word temptation?
@@michaelkistner6286 In my experience, it’s been something that seems easier than what I think God is asking of me. Anything that’s a way for me to get what I want through my own means, rather than relying on God to provide it.
@@michaelkistner6286 An Attraction, either from outside oneself or from within, to act contrary to right reason and the commandments of God. Jesus himself during His life on earth was tempted, put to the test, to manifest both the opposition between Himself and the devil and the triumph of His saving work over Satan.
@@timothyrogers6213 Thank you for a precise, well thought out definition. I'm a bit puzzled by the phrase "right reason". It's inclusion feels a bit like duct tape being used to hold something together, but that's most likely the influence of the current skepticism toward reason acting on me. I appreciate your generosity in responding to my question.