STUDIES ON THE TESTING OF THE SON AND SONS OF GOD

Jesus experienced testings similar to those of the people of Israel, who were also led by God into the wilderness, to be tested as God's 'sons" (Deut. 8:2,5), and he strengthened himself by reflecting upon Deuteronomy 6-8. Through his hunger and their dependence upon the manna bread, trust in the word of God was learned (Deut. 8:2-3; Matt. 4:4 par.). In the contexts of the temptation to leap from the temple and the demand for water, Jesus and the people learned not to violate the relationship of patient trust by forcing God to provide protection (Deut 6:16; Matt. 4:7 par.). Finally, neither the lands which God promises to put under the Son nor those given to the people of God must become a distraction from utter loyalty to God, leading to the worship of false gods associated with them (Deut. 6:10-13; Matt. 4:10 par.).

Nine studies based on Matthew's presentation of the ministry of Jesus as Messiah, tracing the issues raised in the Wilderness Temptation through to the Cross and Resurrection. The first four deal with the matter of Temptation, in relation to both man and God, with the Deuteronomic command to 'love the LORD your God with all your heart, soul and strength' as the basis for the temptation of Jesus [as in Matthew 4:1-11].

Studies 5-8 take up the confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man, His mission, and the fourfold 'programme', as delineated in Matthew 16:13-28. The Son of Man must 'go to Jerusalem, be rejected by the leaders of the people, be crucified, and be raked from the dead on the third day.' And we also observe the fulfilment of the Deuteronomic command by the Messiah, in the act of crucifixion. The final study deals with the motif of Christians as 'sons of God" also being led by the Spirit, to participate in the life, sufferings and death of Christ.