Temptations. We all have them. We know others have them. But sometimes, it’s not so easy to understand other peoples’ temptations, and perhaps that can be the case with Jesus’ temptations as well. What’s Jesus really being tempted with here? And how are his temptations like ours?
As both Matthew and Luke tell the story, the devil appears to Jesus and tempts him to turn stone into bread. And after all, what’s wrong with that? Jesus is hungry. And doesn’t Jesus later multiply the loaves and fishes to feed a hungry crowd? Ah, but there’s the real temptation! Jesus later used his power to feed others. Here, the devil tempts Jesus to use his power for himself. I can’t turn stones into bread, but every day I face the temptation to use my time and energy and money first and foremost for me instead of others.
Next, the devil tempts Jesus to worship him in exchange for all power and dominion. Again, what’s the real temptation here? In the end, God the Father will deliver all things into Jesus’ hands, and he will be Lord of all. So what’s the temptation? The devil tempts Jesus to have it all now, instead of going through the long suffering journey which will lead to death. The devil tempts Jesus to take a short-cut. Nobody’s offered me all power in the world, but every day, I get tempted to take short cuts instead of doing the work God sets before me.
Finally, the devil takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, quotes a Psalm (note that just because someone can quote the Bible to you doesn’t mean they’re not the devil!) and tells Jesus to throw himself down because God will send the angels to save him. Why would anybody want to do that? Well, at the beginning of his ministry, a flashy show of power would be a great way to get people to follow him. And so the real temptation here is to show off and look good. And while I’m far too afraid of heights to throw myself off of anything high, the temptation to show off and look good is with me all the time!
In fact, Jesus temptations are our temptations as well. And in resisting them, Jesus calls us to be aware of our own temptations and to struggle against all those times when we’re tempted to focus on ourselves, and take short cuts and value image over faithfulness.
As both Matthew and Luke tell the story, the devil appears to Jesus and tempts him to turn stone into bread. And after all, what’s wrong with that? Jesus is hungry. And doesn’t Jesus later multiply the loaves and fishes to feed a hungry crowd? Ah, but there’s the real temptation! Jesus later used his power to feed others. Here, the devil tempts Jesus to use his power for himself. I can’t turn stones into bread, but every day I face the temptation to use my time and energy and money first and foremost for me instead of others.
Next, the devil tempts Jesus to worship him in exchange for all power and dominion. Again, what’s the real temptation here? In the end, God the Father will deliver all things into Jesus’ hands, and he will be Lord of all. So what’s the temptation? The devil tempts Jesus to have it all now, instead of going through the long suffering journey which will lead to death. The devil tempts Jesus to take a short-cut. Nobody’s offered me all power in the world, but every day, I get tempted to take short cuts instead of doing the work God sets before me.
Finally, the devil takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple, quotes a Psalm (note that just because someone can quote the Bible to you doesn’t mean they’re not the devil!) and tells Jesus to throw himself down because God will send the angels to save him. Why would anybody want to do that? Well, at the beginning of his ministry, a flashy show of power would be a great way to get people to follow him. And so the real temptation here is to show off and look good. And while I’m far too afraid of heights to throw myself off of anything high, the temptation to show off and look good is with me all the time!
In fact, Jesus temptations are our temptations as well. And in resisting them, Jesus calls us to be aware of our own temptations and to struggle against all those times when we’re tempted to focus on ourselves, and take short cuts and value image over faithfulness.
Matthew 4
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 3The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4But he answered, "It is written,'One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
5Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,
'He will command his angels concerning you,'
and 'On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
7Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 9and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 10Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
'Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.'"
11Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
Luke 4
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." 4Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"5Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." 8Jesus answered him, "It is written,
'Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.'"
9Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written,
'He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,'
11and
'On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"
12Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.
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