Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. — Matthew 4:1
For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” — Genesis 3:5
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever. — 1 John 2:14–17
We learn from 1 John 2:14–17 that there are three main categories of temptation: the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Genesis reveals Adam and Eve in the garden yielding to these three, and Jesus in the wilderness is tempted with the same, yet overcomes all. From Adam and Eve’s yielding, sin entered into the world, creating the necessity for mankind’s deliverance. Jesus’ resistance brought our redemption.
To be the Deliverer, Jesus had to be tested and approved in the same areas in which Adam and Eve were tempted and failed. This test proved that a man, filled with the Spirit, could resist the power of the enemy and overcome. Jesus was led into the wilderness full of the Spirit to be tested and came out in the power of the Spirit.
“In the world you will have tribulation, but take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Jesus’ example sets the foundation for us to overcome every temptation and pass every test that comes our way. It’s not by might, nor by our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. To have Jesus’ results, we must do it Jesus’ way.
Let us continue this week considering the temptation the writer called the pride of life.
From Strong’s Concordance, we find this Greek word ~ alazon, defined as braggadocio, i.e. (by implication) self-confidence—boasting, pride.
The Interlinear work translates this Greek word into the phrase “vaunting of life.” The NAS renders it “boastful pride of life.”
Possessions, success, influence, and even beauty can feed into this pride of life. The issue is not having these things, but the temptation to trust in them for identity, security, significance, or superiority, rather than acknowledging all as a gift from God.
In every situation, we are faced with our own appetites, desires (or will). In that moment of desire, the opportunity holds both a temptation and a test. Which prevails—righteousness or sin—is determined by the value and belief we hold in that moment.
We come to a fuller understanding about pride when we consider the following Scriptures ~
Lucifer desires and declares: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will be like the Most High.” — Isaiah 14:13–14
Nebuchadnezzar looked over Babylon and declared: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” — Daniel 4:30
King Uzziah became extraordinarily successful: “His name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.” — “But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction.” — 2 Chronicles 26:15–16
The Apostle Paul poses this question ~
“For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” — 1 Corinthians 4:7 BSB
“If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” — Galatians 6:3
And finally, we have Peter’s warning, which sets before us a positioning of heart, mind, and body:
“Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God OPPOSES the proud but gives grace to the humble.” — 1 Peter 5:5
God opposing isn’t a mild “opposing.” Opposing is defined as a military word. It is active resistance. It paints a picture of God arraying Himself in a military-like fashion and standing before the proud in opposition.
From HELPS Word-studies, we see the strength expressed in this word oppose ~
Antitássomai ~ #498 is a very old military term. It was used for placing a soldier in a specific platoon (with a specific function)—i.e., in a definite order to attack or resist. Used in antiquity of organized resistance, like an army assuming a specific battle-array position to resist in “full alignment”; to disagree (oppose) intensely.
498 antitássomai (from 473 /antí, “opposite to, against” and 5021 /tássō, “arrange, order”)—properly, “squared off” (opposite to); opposed to in principle and in practice.
“To resist” means to “reject the entire make-up of something,” i.e., its whole arrangement—from its very “set up” (organization) to the final way it is “ordered.”
The only character that can possibly help us live free from the pride of life is humility.
Humble hearts and minds recognize that only God deserves the glory for our work and our lives.