The Fine Print
By Rev. Heidi L. Barham | February 22, 2026
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Read Matthew 4:1 – 11 (NIV)
Have you ever watched one of those commercials on TV for a car dealership touting the great specials they are running... and the fantastic pricing that is available for a brand-new vehicle?
And have you ever noticed that while the “low, low, price of only x-number of dollars” is in big bold print on the screen... there is some little itty bitty writing down on the bottom of the screen? In fact, it’s so tiny that if you really want to read it... you need to pause the program and get out a magnifying glass.
That is an example of what they call “THE FINE PRINT.”
Now imagine that you go into the dealership to take advantage of one of those great deals and start the process of signing a contract to purchase, or perhaps lease, that new vehicle. Most likely you would be given an entire sheaf of papers to sign along with that contract...
But because you are so excited about driving that new vehicle... you may not pay close attention to the words at the bottom of that contract... because again, it’s that itty bitty writing that is almost impossible to read without some sort of magnification.
And it’s all just a bunch of mumbo jumbo that no one reads anyway, right?
That is yet another example of what is called “THE FINE PRINT.”
So, what’s the big deal about THE FINE PRINT anyway? Well, according to one attorney’s website that I read:
Read Matthew 4:1 – 11 (NIV)
Have you ever watched one of those commercials on TV for a car dealership touting the great specials they are running... and the fantastic pricing that is available for a brand-new vehicle?
And have you ever noticed that while the “low, low, price of only x-number of dollars” is in big bold print on the screen... there is some little itty bitty writing down on the bottom of the screen? In fact, it’s so tiny that if you really want to read it... you need to pause the program and get out a magnifying glass.
That is an example of what they call “THE FINE PRINT.”
Now imagine that you go into the dealership to take advantage of one of those great deals and start the process of signing a contract to purchase, or perhaps lease, that new vehicle. Most likely you would be given an entire sheaf of papers to sign along with that contract...
But because you are so excited about driving that new vehicle... you may not pay close attention to the words at the bottom of that contract... because again, it’s that itty bitty writing that is almost impossible to read without some sort of magnification.
And it’s all just a bunch of mumbo jumbo that no one reads anyway, right?
That is yet another example of what is called “THE FINE PRINT.”
So, what’s the big deal about THE FINE PRINT anyway? Well, according to one attorney’s website that I read:
Fine print is text presented in a smaller font size than the main body of a document, often appearing at the bottom or in less conspicuous areas. It typically contains important details, conditions, or disclaimers that are legally part of the agreement. While physically less prominent, this text provides information necessary for a complete understanding of the entire contract or disclosure. It can also be found in footnotes or supplemental documents. (What Is Fine Print and Is It Legally Binding? - LegalClarity)
If we are being honest... we have probably all signed contracts without reading them all the way to the end. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the words contained in THE FINE PRINT are just as legally binding as the other words in the contract... so, it really does pay to always read THE FINE PRINT.
The fact of the matter is that there are some less than scrupulous people out there who will try to conceal or hide certain information within THE FINE PRINT of a contract or other document... with the express intent of taking advantage of unsuspecting individuals. They count on the fact that most people will only read the larger, bolder, font and ignore that teeny tiny writing.
And sadly, when people find themselves involved in litigation as a result of not having read THE FINE PRINT... pleading ignorance of the terms and conditions will generally not be considered as a valid defense. So, let this sermon be a reminder to all of us... that as a matter of practice, we should always read THE FINE PRINT.
Now as we turn our attention to the text for this morning... it would seem that Satan mistakenly thought that Jesus was one of those people who only read the big bold print... because three times Satan tried to tempt Jesus with what sounded like really good deals... and all three times, Jesus countered him by saying, “It is written…” and then pointed out what was in THE FINE PRINT.
In other words, “Satan, you may think you can trick me into falling into your trap, but I’ve read ALL the words and know ALL the terms and provisions of the contract... so you can’t fool me.”
Now, in all fairness, the words in the Scriptures really are not designed to conceal or hide anything from anyone like those deceptive contracts are created to do.
However, like THE FINE PRINT in most general contracts... there are some parts of the Bible that people would rather skip over because... for one reason or another... they mistakenly believe they are not all that important…
But just like THE FINE PRINT at the end of a contract provides information regarding how that particular agreement can be enforced... there are certain segments of the Scriptures that are designed to show us how we are supposed to live out the terms and provisions that are contained within the Bible.
Let’s take our text this morning for example.
Verses 3 and 4 contain the first exchange between Jesus and Satan. Reading from the Message Paraphrase, we find these words:
The fact of the matter is that there are some less than scrupulous people out there who will try to conceal or hide certain information within THE FINE PRINT of a contract or other document... with the express intent of taking advantage of unsuspecting individuals. They count on the fact that most people will only read the larger, bolder, font and ignore that teeny tiny writing.
And sadly, when people find themselves involved in litigation as a result of not having read THE FINE PRINT... pleading ignorance of the terms and conditions will generally not be considered as a valid defense. So, let this sermon be a reminder to all of us... that as a matter of practice, we should always read THE FINE PRINT.
Now as we turn our attention to the text for this morning... it would seem that Satan mistakenly thought that Jesus was one of those people who only read the big bold print... because three times Satan tried to tempt Jesus with what sounded like really good deals... and all three times, Jesus countered him by saying, “It is written…” and then pointed out what was in THE FINE PRINT.
In other words, “Satan, you may think you can trick me into falling into your trap, but I’ve read ALL the words and know ALL the terms and provisions of the contract... so you can’t fool me.”
Now, in all fairness, the words in the Scriptures really are not designed to conceal or hide anything from anyone like those deceptive contracts are created to do.
However, like THE FINE PRINT in most general contracts... there are some parts of the Bible that people would rather skip over because... for one reason or another... they mistakenly believe they are not all that important…
But just like THE FINE PRINT at the end of a contract provides information regarding how that particular agreement can be enforced... there are certain segments of the Scriptures that are designed to show us how we are supposed to live out the terms and provisions that are contained within the Bible.
Let’s take our text this morning for example.
Verses 3 and 4 contain the first exchange between Jesus and Satan. Reading from the Message Paraphrase, we find these words:
“Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.” Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
Keep in mind, this dialogue between Jesus and Satan took place AFTER Jesus had been fasting for 40 days and 40 nights out in the desert. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was hungry. And that might have made the average person more vulnerable to the unsavory sales pitch of the devil.
But because Jesus is who Jesus is... He was able to look past the blinking signs offering the blue-plate special featuring stone-ground wheat bread... and instead, He focused on the words found in Deuteronomy 8:3... where the fine print reads:
But because Jesus is who Jesus is... He was able to look past the blinking signs offering the blue-plate special featuring stone-ground wheat bread... and instead, He focused on the words found in Deuteronomy 8:3... where the fine print reads:
And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.
Now to be clear, eating food is generally not a bad thing... however, in this particular instance it was the timing that was all wrong.
Jesus came to earth to fully live the human experience... He wanted to live as we live... to endure what we endure. And in that effort, He was led by the Spirit to the wilderness to fast for 40 days... and not to exercise His supernatural powers... rather, He was to offer Himself as the perfect example of what it means to fully surrender to the will of God.
Jesus did not live by the motto of “Do as I say, not as I do.” Rather, Jesus came to be the model that we should all aspire to follow.
Even now, as we find ourselves in this first week of the Lenten season... there are those who have made it their intention to “give up” something... to fast from something during this time.
And although it has not even been a whole week yet... let alone 40 long days and nights... I would venture a guess that some of us are already struggling to keep the commitments we made just a few days ago on Ash Wednesday.
Well, hopefully, it helps to know that you are not alone... Jesus embarked on just such a challenge. “That may be true, Pastor, but He is Jesus after all…”
Yes, He is... but He chose to live as WE live... which is why the Scriptures are intentional in pointing out that He was hungry. And the Scriptures also tell us that He did not give in to the temptation.
So, strike one for Satan.
But not one to be easily deterred, Satan tried a different sales pitch. Looking back at the Message Paraphrase, verses 5 through 7 read:
Jesus came to earth to fully live the human experience... He wanted to live as we live... to endure what we endure. And in that effort, He was led by the Spirit to the wilderness to fast for 40 days... and not to exercise His supernatural powers... rather, He was to offer Himself as the perfect example of what it means to fully surrender to the will of God.
Jesus did not live by the motto of “Do as I say, not as I do.” Rather, Jesus came to be the model that we should all aspire to follow.
Even now, as we find ourselves in this first week of the Lenten season... there are those who have made it their intention to “give up” something... to fast from something during this time.
And although it has not even been a whole week yet... let alone 40 long days and nights... I would venture a guess that some of us are already struggling to keep the commitments we made just a few days ago on Ash Wednesday.
Well, hopefully, it helps to know that you are not alone... Jesus embarked on just such a challenge. “That may be true, Pastor, but He is Jesus after all…”
Yes, He is... but He chose to live as WE live... which is why the Scriptures are intentional in pointing out that He was hungry. And the Scriptures also tell us that He did not give in to the temptation.
So, strike one for Satan.
But not one to be easily deterred, Satan tried a different sales pitch. Looking back at the Message Paraphrase, verses 5 through 7 read:
He sat him on top of the Temple and said, “Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.” Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.”
There is something critical for us to note in this particular exchange. The devil was literally quoting Scripture to Jesus as a way of trying to convince Him to do something.
What is so important about that? Because, as we go through life, there will be people who will take scripture out of context to try to get us to do this, that or the other thing. It may sound fantastic, but it is true.
Simply reading the Bible does not make someone a Christian... any more than reading a medical textbook makes someone a doctor. Not everyone who quotes the Bible is doing it for the right reason... and just because someone know the words does not mean they are living them out and obeying the will of God.
Satan is the perfect example of that... he knows God’s word, but he is certainly not obeying it.
And once again, Jesus goes right back to the Scriptures and points out what is found in THE FINE PRINT in Deuteronomy 6:16 which reads, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
When Moses spoke those words of instruction to the children of Israel, it was to encourage them to keep the commandments that God had given them to follow... and to remind them that they were not to follow any other gods... including the gods of the people that were living around them.
In other words, Moses was warning them against provoking God by doing what was contrary to His will. Now, it is important to understand the circumstances surrounding the command not to put God to the test.
This will help us to avoid any confusion if someone comes back and says, but what about that passage in Malachi (3:10) where it says:
What is so important about that? Because, as we go through life, there will be people who will take scripture out of context to try to get us to do this, that or the other thing. It may sound fantastic, but it is true.
Simply reading the Bible does not make someone a Christian... any more than reading a medical textbook makes someone a doctor. Not everyone who quotes the Bible is doing it for the right reason... and just because someone know the words does not mean they are living them out and obeying the will of God.
Satan is the perfect example of that... he knows God’s word, but he is certainly not obeying it.
And once again, Jesus goes right back to the Scriptures and points out what is found in THE FINE PRINT in Deuteronomy 6:16 which reads, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”
When Moses spoke those words of instruction to the children of Israel, it was to encourage them to keep the commandments that God had given them to follow... and to remind them that they were not to follow any other gods... including the gods of the people that were living around them.
In other words, Moses was warning them against provoking God by doing what was contrary to His will. Now, it is important to understand the circumstances surrounding the command not to put God to the test.
This will help us to avoid any confusion if someone comes back and says, but what about that passage in Malachi (3:10) where it says:
Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house; and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing.
That word translated “test” in some versions of the Bible is actually two different words in the original Hebrew text. In Deuteronomy, the word used is nacah (naw-saw) which is generally translated in English as “tempt.”
However, in Malachi, the word used is bachan (baw-kahn) which is generally translated as “prove.”
This is a perfect illustration of why we always need to read THE FINE PRINT and study God’s word for ourselves so that we will know the full meaning of the Scriptures and not be misled by others.
So, strike two for Satan.
Then for his last “at bat” so to speak, the devil gave it is his best shot. Reading verses 9 and 10, we find:
However, in Malachi, the word used is bachan (baw-kahn) which is generally translated as “prove.”
This is a perfect illustration of why we always need to read THE FINE PRINT and study God’s word for ourselves so that we will know the full meaning of the Scriptures and not be misled by others.
So, strike two for Satan.
Then for his last “at bat” so to speak, the devil gave it is his best shot. Reading verses 9 and 10, we find:
He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.’ Jesus’ refusal was curt: ‘Beat it, Satan!’ He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.’
The devil was definitely off base with this one. Satan didn’t have any more authority to give away the kingdoms of the world than I have to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge. But it is safe to say that honesty has never been one of Satan’s strong suits.
But he did his best to talk a good game. And there are people in this world who will try to do the same... to try and sell us all the glitz and glamour that the world has to offer... trying to get us to succumb to the lure of the false idols of materialism and greed... and all at a price that would literally mean selling our souls to the devil.
But the Word of God is quite clear in Deuteronomy 6 (13-14), “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;”
So, strike three Satan, you’re out of here!
As it says in the last verse of our text, “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.”
Just as the devil tried to tempt Jesus by appealing to His physical needs and desires with bread... by offering Him possessions and power over the kingdoms of the earth... and by trying to play into a sense of pride... we may find ourselves faced with similar temptations.
But just like Jesus, we can resist the urges to yield to temptation by making a point to read THE FINE PRINT... because that is where we will find words of reassurance like those in 1 Corinthians 10 (13):
But he did his best to talk a good game. And there are people in this world who will try to do the same... to try and sell us all the glitz and glamour that the world has to offer... trying to get us to succumb to the lure of the false idols of materialism and greed... and all at a price that would literally mean selling our souls to the devil.
But the Word of God is quite clear in Deuteronomy 6 (13-14), “Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you;”
So, strike three Satan, you’re out of here!
As it says in the last verse of our text, “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.”
Just as the devil tried to tempt Jesus by appealing to His physical needs and desires with bread... by offering Him possessions and power over the kingdoms of the earth... and by trying to play into a sense of pride... we may find ourselves faced with similar temptations.
But just like Jesus, we can resist the urges to yield to temptation by making a point to read THE FINE PRINT... because that is where we will find words of reassurance like those in 1 Corinthians 10 (13):
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
And in those moments when we don’t think we will be able to resist the temptation... we have the added assurance found in Philippians 4:13 that “[we] can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.”
It does mean that we have to acknowledge just how much we need the Lord... believing that when we call on Him... He will hear and answer our prayers. And the good news is that we have His promise to be right there with us... “always, even to the end of the age.”
Don’t believe me? It says so right in Matthew 28 (20) ...just a little bit more of THE FINE PRINT.
And I don’t know about you, but there is not a moment or a single minute when I don’t need the Lord. And can I say, I am so very grateful that He has promised to always be right here... whenever I need Him.
Hymn of Discipleship: I Need Thee Every Hour #578.
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It does mean that we have to acknowledge just how much we need the Lord... believing that when we call on Him... He will hear and answer our prayers. And the good news is that we have His promise to be right there with us... “always, even to the end of the age.”
Don’t believe me? It says so right in Matthew 28 (20) ...just a little bit more of THE FINE PRINT.
And I don’t know about you, but there is not a moment or a single minute when I don’t need the Lord. And can I say, I am so very grateful that He has promised to always be right here... whenever I need Him.
Hymn of Discipleship: I Need Thee Every Hour #578.
