The Cosmic Conflict

Lesson 9

The Cosmic Conflict

(Matthew 4 & 13, Isaiah 14)

Copr. 2025, Bruce N. Cameron, J.D. All scripture references are to the New International Version (NIV), copr. 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society, unless otherwise noted. Quotations from the NIV are used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Suggested answers are found within parentheses. If you normally receive this lesson by e-mail, but it is lost one week, you can find it by clicking on this link: http://www.GoBible.org. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your mind as you study.

Introduction: Imagine a sports game in which you could not determine who were the teams or the players on the field. Much of the misunderstanding about God comes from this basic ignorance. If there is no God, then evil can rise no higher than humans who do evil. If there is a God, and God’s team alone is on the field, then evil comes from God. God is at least in part evil. But if there are two teams on the field, and one is God and His team, and the other is a rival to God, then we can begin to sort out who is responsible for good, and who is responsible for evil. We can make rational decisions on whose team we support. The Bible cures our ignorance regarding these players. Let’s plunge into our study of the Bible and sort this out!

1. The Field
   
   1. Read Matthew 13:24-27. What is the central question for this parable? (How are weeds in our field?)
      1. What is the basis for wondering about this? I find weeds all the time in things that I grow. (The owner planted only good seed. It had no weeds.)
      2. This is a parable. What life issue does this parable reflect? (How do we have evil in this world? How do we have evil in the church? God created only perfect things.)
   2. Read Matthew 13:28. What critical bit of information is missing for those asking the central question? (They do not know there is more than one player on the field. It is not simply the master of the house that is planting, but another person, an enemy, is planting in the field.)
      1. The workers want to fix the problem right away. Is that the right attitude?
   3. Read Matthew 13:29. Should the problem be fixed right away? (No.)
      1. Why not? (Immediately fixing the problem will cause harm to the good plants.)
      2. Why do you think this is true?
   4. Whether or not you live in the United States, you have likely heard of the fast and furious work of President Trump to root out what he sees as corruption and waste. I’ve recently become a member of two powerful governing boards for my church. My natural inclination is to jump right in and fix things. But some with more experience caution me against that. How would you apply the caution of Matthew 13:29 to reformation work? Let’s confine our discussion to the church, and stay out of politics. (With regard to the church, discouraging the good seed is a problem.)
   5. Read Matthew 13:30. Tell me what you think about the master’s solution? Is it as effective as pulling out the weeds right away?
      1. Does it carry the danger that because of the delay good seed might be corrupted by bad seed?
         
         1. Since the master is concerned about harming the good seed with quick action, is danger to the good seed unavoidable?
      2. What does this parable teach us about evil in the church?
         
         1. Is it teaching us that we should always leave the weeds unmolested?
   6. Read Revelation 2:18-20. What does this suggest about tolerating members who teach in favor of sexual immorality? (Jesus starts out saying that this is a parable of the kingdom of heaven. He may simply be explaining why He does not immediately uproot the evil. However, the cautionary tale is there for all to see and learn.)
      1. What does this parable teach us about the number of players on the world stage?
2. Temptations
   
   1. Read Matthew 4:1. How many players do we see in this story? (We have Jesus and the devil.)
      1. Does this suggest they are opponents? (Yes, if the devil is present to tempt Jesus to sin.)
      2. This text also mentions the Holy Spirit. Whose side is the Holy Spirit on? If you automatically answered, “Jesus,” why would He aid the devil in tempting Jesus? (On the surface this is very curious. My conclusion is that the Holy Spirit believes that the devil is not yet prepared for the conflict. Rushing onto the battlefield will give Jesus an advantage.)
   2. Read Matthew 4:2-3. Does this suggest that rushing to give Jesus an advantage is obviously wrong? Jesus is weak and hungry!
      1. Put yourself in the devil’s place. This is an incredibly important confrontation. Would you carefully prepare? Would you come with your strongest temptation? (The devil bases his temptation on what has just happened to Jesus. If a preacher makes what happened to him the previous day a central part of the sermon, I know it was not carefully planned. That seems to be the case here.)
   3. Read Matthew 4:4. Based on the answer Jesus gives, are these two opposed to each other? (Jesus quotes the Bible (Deuteronomy 8:3) to reject the devil’s proposal.)
   4. Read Matthew 4:5-7. The devil uses a phrase in the first two temptations, “if you are the Son of God.” What does that tell us about the nature of the conflict? (Satan disputes whether Jesus is God.)
      1. How does Jesus respond? (Once again, Jesus cites the Bible (Deuteronomy 6:16) to reject the devil’s temptation. This tells us, once again, that the devil is the opposition.)
   5. Read Matthew 4:8-9. Is there now any doubt that Jesus and the devil are in conflict? (When Satan asked Jesus to worship him, this showed them to be rivals.)
   6. Read Matthew 4:10. Is this the question for all humans: who do you worship? (Yes. This shows that Jesus and Satan (the devil) are competitors. They are in conflict over who is to be worshiped. We worship either God or Satan.)
      1. Read Romans 10:9. What is the key to salvation?
3. How Evil Began
   
   1. We have learned so far that two teams are on the playing field. Jesus’ team supports God and the Bible, and Satan’s team seeks to claim the worship due to God by methods that conflict with the Bible. Read Ezekiel 28:12-15. Could these statements refer to a human being? (The being described here was both in heaven and in Eden. The answer must be, “No.”)
   2. Read Ezekiel 28:17 and Isaiah 14:12-14. Do these texts seem to describe the same being?
      1. Notice the reference to being thrown down from heaven. Read Luke 10:18, Isaiah 14:12, and Revelation 12:8-9. Who was thrown down from heaven to earth? (Satan. If you compare all of these texts, it is clear that the being described in them is Satan.)
   3. Two weeks ago we studied the origin of evil on earth. I said that we would not be looking at how evil arose in the universe. We now turn to that topic. What do Isaiah 14:13-14 and Ezekiel 28:17 tell us about how evil arose out of perfection? (It was pride based on his beauty and splendor. But note that it was more than that. Satan wanted to be “like the Most High.” He wanted to rule.)
   4. Read 1 Timothy 3:6. What did pride of position cause to happen in Satan? (He became conceited.)
   5. Let’s return to Matthew 4:8-9. Is this a temptation for Jesus, or does this reflect the basic character flaw of Satan?
   6. When I was growing up in the church, there were a number of things that could get you tossed out. One of them was smoking. Has anyone been tossed out of your church because of pride, conceit, or a desire to rule?
      1. If not, why not? (First, recall the parable of the weeds that we just studied. Second, these attitudes are almost universal among those who are admired in and outside the church.)
   7. Recall the introduction in which I asked about who is on the playing field and how many teams are present? How would you answer that question now? (We clearly have the teams for Jesus and Satan. But we also have those on Team Jesus who act like they are on the other side.)
   8. Friend, is the cosmic conflict going on in your life? I know that pride, conceit, and a desire for authority are challenges in my life. Why not pray with me right now that the Holy Spirit will channel your talents for good and not for self-glory?
4. Next week: Rules of Engagement.