The Three Temptations and the Loss of God’s Glory

Episode #4: The Three Temptations and the Loss of God’s Glory

A. The Three Core Temptations (Genesis 3:1-8)

• All temptations fall into three categories, as seen in the fall of Adam and Eve and later in Jesus’ temptation:

  1. Lust of the Eyes – “It was good to look at”
     • Temptation appeals to what looks desirable but may not be beneficial.
     • Eve saw that the fruit was pleasing to the eye (Genesis 3:6).
  2. Lust of the Flesh – “It is good for food”
     • The temptation to meet physical needs outside of God’s will.
     • This is a temptation of immediate satisfaction (hunger, pleasure, comfort).
  3. The Pride of Life – “You will be wise... you will be like God”
     • The temptation to exalt oneself above God’s design.
     • Satan tells us we can be self-sufficient instead of relying on God.

• Satan’s Strategy in Temptation

  • He subtly twists God’s words, making them sound reasonable but leading to doubt.
  • He makes us question our ability to hear God clearly.
  • We often embellish what God says, making obedience seem more burdensome than it is.
  • Satan flat-out contradicts God—turning a subtle lie into an outright deception.
  • He promises something better than what we already have, making us discontent.

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B. Adam and Eve Were Clothed in the Glory of God

• Before sin, Adam and Eve were covered in God’s glory—not just physically but spiritually (Genesis 2:25).
• This “glory covering” was their anointing and divine connection to God.

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C. The Loss of the Glory of God

• The moment they sinned, they realized they were naked—not just physically but spiritually exposed (Genesis 3:7).
• They lost their anointing and their intimate connection with God.
• A parallel: Moses’ face glowed after spending time with God (Exodus 34:29-35).
  • His physical radiance represented God’s presence.
  • Sin removes that glow—our connection to divine intimacy.

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D. Satan Used the Same Temptations Against Jesus

• In Matthew 4:1-11, Satan tempted Jesus in the exact same ways:

  1. Lust of the Flesh – “Turn these stones into bread” (Immediate physical satisfaction).
  2. Lust of the Eyes – “Throw Yourself down, angels will catch You” (A dramatic sign to prove divinity).
  3. Pride of Life – “Bow to me, and I will give You all the kingdoms” (Power and self-exaltation).

• Jesus overcame where Adam and Eve failed—by standing on God’s Word, without questioning it.

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E. Satan Had the Authority to Tempt Jesus with the World

• Satan offered Jesus dominion over the world because he had legal authority over it after Adam and Eve sinned.
• It would not have been a temptation if it wasn’t a real offer.
• Jesus reclaimed that authority through the cross (Colossians 2:15).

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F. God Wants Us to Be Free from Satan’s Hold

• Jesus didn’t just defeat Satan—He gave us the ability to walk in victory (Luke 10:19).
• The same tactics that Satan used in Eden and in the wilderness are still his strategies today.
• We overcome by:
  1. Knowing God’s Word (so we don’t fall for deception).
  2. Recognizing Satan’s lies (so we don’t entertain them).
  3. Walking in God’s presence (so we live in His glory and not in sin’s consequences).

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H. The “Curse” in Genesis Is a Foretelling of Consequences, Not Just Punishment

• The consequences of sin in Genesis 3 (pain in childbirth, toil, death) were not arbitrary punishments but natural results of separation from God.
• Just as a branch withers when separated from the vine, sin separates us from God’s life-giving presence (John 15:4-6).
• The “curse” is not the final word—Jesus came to break the power of sin and restore us.