Why Was Jesus Tempted

Why was Jesus Tempted? Meaning and Significance of the Temptation of Christ

Then the Spirit took Jesus into the desert, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. In the midst of his fasting for forty days and forty nights, he became hungry. In response, the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become food.” “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” Jesus said. “Man shall not survive on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” The devil then transported him to the sacred city, where he was forced to stand on the highest pinnacle of the temple.

“It is also said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test,'” Jesus responded.

Then he said, “Will you kneel down and worship me?” “All of this I will give you,” he answered.

Because it says in the Bible, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.” The devil then left him, and angels appeared and took care of him for the rest of his life.

Was Jesus Tempted?

Some individuals doubt that Jesus was genuinely tempted, and instead believe that the biblical tale is only a metaphor. Greg Laurie discusses why he believes Jesus was tempted in the following way, as reproduced in the video above: According to the Bible, Jesus was subjected to temptation. He had been tempted. You may say something like, “Wait a minute, how could God possibly be tempted? Isn’t the Bible clear that God cannot be tempted by evil, and that he himself does not tempt any human being?” Yes, it is correct.

However, the Bible also makes it plain that Jesus was tested by temptation.

It is important to remember that after Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, the spirit of God descended upon him in the form of a dove, and the father declared, “This is my beloved son, in whom I delight,” According to the Bible, this spirit led him into the desert where he was tempted by the devil.

It’s important to remember that Lucifer began his speech by stating, “If you’re the son of God, why don’t you convert this rock into a piece of bread?” As a result of this temptation, Jesus rejected, saying, “It is written that man should not live by bread alone, but by every word that emanates from the mouth of God.” Satan also brought Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple’s edge, where he asked, “Why don’t you jump out of here, for it is written,” and the devil references scripture to support his point.

  • As evidenced by Psalm 91, “His angels will take charge over you to keep you in all your ways,” he explained.
  • But, listen up: he did not have the interior weakness that would have allowed him to succumb to the temptation.
  • As you can see, the temptor requires the assistance of the temptee.
  • And in order for that temptation to be successful, we must desire and crave the item that is being presented to us.
  • So we can object and say, “Well, then he wasn’t truly tempted,” arguing that because he didn’t have the power to fall, the temptation could not have been genuine.
  • He was adamant in his opposition.
  • How many of you have been tempted to sin at some point in your lives?

Okay.

Thank you so much for your assistance.

Now, if only there were one.

Raise your hand if you agree.

That’s fantastic news, and I thank you for sharing it.

No.

It was met with resistance by Jesus.

As a result, Jesus was tested in the same way we are.

Why did he put himself through all of this?

It was essential for Jesus to be exactly like us, his brothers and sisters, in every way.

Because he has personally experienced temptation and pain, he is uniquely qualified to assist us when we are being tempted.

So don’t say anything like, “No one is aware of the difficulties I’m through right now.

And no one has ever had to deal with the kinds of temptations that I’m dealing with right now “but someone has, and that someone is none other than Jesus.

Though no one else can claim to understand exactly what you’re going through, Jesus did, or at least has, and he is now there with you in your moments of temptation as well.

When and Where was Jesus Tempted?

When it comes to coping with the period of temptation, there are three words that stand out. Matthew begins the account with the word “then,” while Mark uses the term “straightway” in this context, which is a distinctive phrase of the Gospel. The book of Luke begins with the word “and.” These phrases “then,” “straightway,” and “and” demonstrate the relationship between the temptation and what came before it, and so identify the moment of its occurrence with remarkable clarity. “After that, Jesus was led up by the Spirit.” When did this happen?

  • ” Here, the emphasis is placed even more heavily on the fact that the temptation occurred directly following the baptism.
  • was driven by the Spirit into the desert for forty days and nights.
  • As a result, the first act of the new phase of service was the testing of the Servant, which culminated in His complete victory over the adversary Satan.
  • TheanointingSpirit had signaled that He was prepared for what was ahead of Him.
  • The entire experience of baptism must have brought great satisfaction to Christ’s heart, and now, in the conscious strength of triumph already accomplished, He journeys into the gloom and loneliness of the desert in order to be tried and, as a result of the testing, to demonstrate His might.
  • According to Matthew, “into the wilderness,” according to Mark, “out into the wilderness,” and according to Luke, “in the desert.” Traditionally, it is believed that the temptation occurred in the desert.
  • Jesus now occupies the position of the second Man, the final Adam.
  • He is referred to as “the second Adam” far too frequently.
  • It refers to Adam as the “last Adam.” The first Adam reigned as the leader of a people.
  • He is the last Adam, and he is the last Adam of a race.
  • There is no adversary there other than the commander of the evil forces, and there is no friend there other than the God in whose hand His breath is, and in whose will all His ways are, and who is also his source of strength.

The wilderness is the location where evil may be dealt with immediately. All ancillary matters are thrown to the side.

Was it Satan Who Tempted Jesus?

As for the agent of temptation, Matthew refers to it as “to be tempted by the devil,” Mark refers to it as “Tempted by Satan,” and Luke refers to it as “Tempted by the devil.” When it comes to Jesus’ wilderness encounter with Satan, the emphasis should be placed on the fact that he came face to face with Lucifer, a fallen angel who had fallen from his lofty position as ruler of the first rank ofheaven and who was now in the position of leader over Satan’s armies during his wilderness sojourn.

  • There have been several attempts to provide other explanations for the desire.
  • The fact that all of this is purely imaginative and has not the smallest biblical foundation must lead to its dismissal as untrue on the spot.
  • This is just as unjustified as the previous one.
  • However, there is no need to waste time on these fruitless attempts to cast doubt on the historical truth of the biblical account.

Meaning and Significance of the Temptation of Jesus

In order to understand the significance of the temptation, we must go to the gospel stories. “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit,” Matthew writes; Mark says “the Spirit drove Him,” and Luke says He “was led up by the Spirit.” Matthew, Mark, and Luke are all correct. The one fact that has been stated in these many ways must be remembered at all costs if the real significance of this temptation is to be grasped. A Divine plan was in the process of being formulated. In other words, Jesus’ meeting with Satan and trial did not “happen,” to borrow an overused metaphor.

  • Temptation is part of the Divine design and purpose in this situation.
  • If the devil had the opportunity to flee on that particular day, I am convinced it would have been done.
  • However, the entire Divine narrative demonstrates that the facts were quite the opposite.
  • This is not the approach used by the devil.
  • He tries to keep his own individuality hidden as much as he can.
  • His position was changed by Jesus, who pulled him from behind everything and placed him in front of everything so that he might do his worst against a pure soul for once, rather than via the subtlety of a second cause.
  • It took forty days for him to be tempted by the adversary, during which time he was still guided by the Holy Spirit throughout the entire process.
  • The only place He resisted was in His flawless Manhood, not in His Deity.
  • In this way, the Man Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert, where he continued to be guided by the Spirit throughout the entire process of temptation.

G. Campbell Morgan’s The Crises of the Christ, Book III, Chapter X, is the source for this adaptation. Photograph courtesy of Pexels/Jeswin Thomas

If Jesus Could Not Sin What Was the Point of Satan Tempting Him?

“Get away from me, Satan!” Jesus said to him. Because it says in the Bible, “Worship the Lord your God and serve him alone.” (Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:10) Following his third temptation in the wilderness, Christ responded in this way to Satan, according to the Bible. Satan must have known that Christ would not sin, yet he attempted to entice Him despite this knowledge. What’s the point? In addition, given that Satan’s attempts were futile, why is this story included in the New Testament?

The Three Temptations

For 40 days and nights, Christ had not eaten a single bite of food. Immediately following his cousin John’s baptism, he withdrew to the desert to be with the Father and to pray for the first time in his life. Satan attempted to demolish the Savior while he was at his most vulnerable. In three points, he challenged Jesus to follow through on his promises: 1. Turn stones into bread by baking them (Matthew 4:3) 2. Jump from the temple’s peak, allowing the angels to rescue Him (Matthew 4:6) 3. Submit to the devil’s will and adore him in exchange for power (Matthew 4:8-9) While Jesus was waiting for the proper temptation, Satan continued to raise the stakes, as if he felt Jesus was merely waiting for the best offer.

The Son was completely and completely obedient to the Father.

Satan’s Purpose

According to one author, Satan attempted to draw Christ away from God’s side, and he “believes he will succeed.” Ultimately, he wants to “somehow murder Jesus” and therefore experience victory over God, presumably as a kind of retribution for having been put into the flaming pits of Hell with his other conspirators as a result of their rebellion. In light of the fact that Jesus was both entirely God and totally man, and so was able to empathize with the reality of human temptation, Satan must have anticipated that He would succumb to His fleshly cravings.

Immanuel was sent “in the shape of sinful flesh,” yet He did not have His heart set on the things of this world.

Because Christ lived by the Spirit, Satan was unable to entice Him in the body.

God’s Purpose

What is the reader supposed to do in the face of Satan’s futility? And how can we live up to Christ’s sinlessness when we know that if we were subjected to this kind of pressure, we would “likely succumb to it”? Instead than making us feel small, the goal is to empower and educate the reader on how he or she may better resist temptation. According to James 4:7, we have the ability to resist the Devil if we follow Christ’s example and submit to the Lord’s will. Christ is our role model: use the Word to combat the wicked one and adore the Almighty.

See also:  What Country Was Jesus Crucified In

This story occurred because God permitted it, and we may learn from it about how to maintain our composure in the face of temptation, just as God authorized Satan to tempt Job, and Job responded by worshiping the Lord.

When the Devil persuaded God’s Son to be obedient somewhere else, he offered him the opportunity to take power from and avoid the upcoming hardships at Satan’s side.

When faced with hunger or exhaustion, believers are more inclined to commit sin.

As Jesus waits for God to tend to His body, he puts his faith in the Father’s eternal plan and submits to the will of the Father. We, as Christ’s heirs, have the ability to do so as well. The snake is defeated.

Straight Path in the Wilderness

Matthew 4:1-11reminds Christians to expect and endure evil without giving in; but also shows us how to resist by using the very words of God. Even Christ quoted Scripture as His defense, rather than coming up with some new wisdom. In his farewell to the Ephesian elders, Paul said “I commit you to God and to the word of hisgrace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). (Acts 20:32). Christ is the Word by which believers receive the inheritance of God; the grace which is our salvation and our stronghold.

Twisted Truth

“Christ was the first to reference scripture in His fight with Satan,” according to the Bible, and he did so repeatedly, always opening with the words “It is written.” Today, Satan distorts Scripture in order to confound and deceive us, which is why we must be well-versed in the Scriptures. We make use of the Word of God, which is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12), and in doing so, we summon the power of Christ for our protection. “The words of our Lord serve as a model for Satan.” Once Satan grasps the significance of Jesus’ defense, he “seeks to undermine our Lord’s faith in the Father.” Possibly, Satan attempted some “subtle twisting of God’s word,” and “the enemy felt certain that he might destroy our Lord even on scriptural grounds!” Christ, of course, has the upper hand in this situation.

  • Not only does the word matter, but so does the speaker.
  • “Every word of God hangs in the balance,” says the Son.
  • There are a lot of words.
  • In the case of those who are “hostile to God,” they are not “submissive to God’s law” (Romans 8:7).
  • God had stated that “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
  • Christ did not prostrate himself before Satan in return for power because Satan has no such power: “Fear the LORD your God, and serve him alone” (Deuteronomy 6:13).

Jesus didn’t need to say anything new since the Father had already said enough via the Torah He provided to Israel when they were wandering in the desert. In Hebrew, the word Deuteronomy literally translates as “Words.”

Self-Defense Classes

When taken out of context, the words of the Lord appear dead and weak. Christ, on the other hand, always understood what the Father was getting at when He said something. He didn’t read the Bible in order to gain something for himself out of it. Rather than testing God, Jesus studied the word in order to put his faith in God. “Pay close attention to appropriate interpretation” and “hide God’s word in your heart so that you might live by it” are some of the advice. This is both our shield and our weapon, so to speak.

iStock/Getty Images Plus/rudall30 iStock/Getty Images Plus/rudall30 Candice Lucey is a freelance writer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her husband and two children.

What was the meaning and purpose of Jesus’ temptations?

QuestionAnswer The three temptations by Satan in the desert were not the only temptations that our Lord faced during his time on Earth, as some believe. We read in Luke 4:2 that He was tempted by the devil for forty days, but He was likely tempted at other times as well (Luke 4:13; Matthew 16:21–23; Luke 22:42), and yet He remained sinless and without compromise throughout the entire experience. Some have stated that the Lord’s fasting time is comparable to that of Moses (Exodus 34:28) and Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), but it is important to remember that what matters is how the Lord responds with temptation in the context of His humanity.

He was able to: 1) destroy the devil’s power and free those who were held in slavery by their fear of death (Hebrews 2:15); 2) serve as a merciful and faithful High Priest in service to God and atone for our sins (Hebrews 2:17); and 3) be the One who is able to sympathize with us in all our (Hebrews 4:15).

  • However, the most essential thing is that we have a High Priest who is able to intercede on our behalf and grant us the forgiveness that we deserve.
  • Our Lord, however, was also ministered to by angels throughout this period of intense trial, which is a wonder in and of itself, considering that the almighty One would condescend to accept such assistance from inferior beings!
  • The assistance of angels, who are ministering spirits sent to those who will inherit salvation, is provided to us as well at times of testing and difficulty (Hebrews 1:14).
  • The first temptation is related to the desire for one’s flesh (Matthew 4:3–4; Mark 1:1–2).
  • But our Lord responds with Scripture, citing Deuteronomy 8:3.
  • However, the Lord responds with another verse of Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:16), declaring that it is improper for Him to abuse His own abilities.
  • Paul said that the devil already has authority over all kingdoms of the earth (Ephesians 2:2), but that he was now ready and willing to surrender all to Christ in exchange for His loyalty.
  • There are numerous temptations that we unfortunately fall into because our flesh is inherently weak, but we have a God who will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to endure; He will offer a way out of whatever situation we find ourselves in (1 Corinthians 10:13).
  • The temptations that Jesus faced in the wilderness help us recognize the numerous temptations that prevent us from properly serving God.
  • There are a plethora of temptations presented to us by the powers of evil, but they all have three things in common: desire for the eyes, lust for the flesh, and a sense of personal accomplishment.
  • The attacking weapon of a Christian soldier in the spiritual war of life is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Knowledge of the Bible on a deep level will put the Sword of the Spirit into our hands and help us to triumph against temptations. Questions regarding Jesus Christ (return to top of page) Is it possible to determine the significance and purpose of Jesus’ temptations?

Subscribe to the

Get our Question of the Week emailed to your inbox every weekday morning! Got Questions Ministries is a trademark of Got Questions Ministries, Inc., registered in the state of California in the year 2002. All intellectual property rights are retained. Policy Regarding Personal Information The information on this page was last updated on January 4, 2022.

Why Was Jesus Tempted by the Devil?

Then the Spirit took Jesus into the desert, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights. — Matthew 4:16 As an illustration, consider that Jesus was brought by the devil into the desert to be tempted by the serpent. What is the reason for the devil? We are the source of the majority of our temptations—anger, desire, gluttony, self-centeredness, gossip, and a host of other emotions. Because they did not emanate from inside Jesus, what was the source of his temptations? It is important to note that the Bible constantly teaches that Jesus is sinless, including being free of original sin.

  • (See Luke 23:41.) The identical phrase appears several times in other epistles as well: He turned him into sin, despite the fact that he was sinless.
  • (See also Hebrews 7:26.) He had done nothing wrong, and there was no malice on his lips.
  • 1 John 3:5 (The Bible) In the face of this biblical reality, we must reexamine our understanding of who Jesus Christ is on a deeper level.
  • Nikos Kazantzakis’ novel (and the film based on it) The Last Temptation of Christ depicted Jesus as being confronted with temptations to desire that originate from inside himself while he hangs on the cross.
  • Concupiscence is a disordered desire that each of us who are born with original sin experiences as temptations from inside ourselves.
  • Elsewhere a doubt, the inner temptations that arise from within ourselves make us more open to the temptations that come from without, such as those of the world and Satan.
  • His temptations, on the other hand, could only come from outside of himself.

Later, Peter enticed him to stop speaking about his impending suffering and death, prompting Jesus to denounce Peter as “Satan” for his actions (Matthew 16:23).

Jesus, on the other hand, does not succumb to any of these temptations.

When asked the question, St.

Despite this, Jesus frequently referred to himself as the “Son of Man.” Scripture clearly reveals that Jesus is both entirely God and totally human at the same time.

He, too, has been a victim of temptation.

What am I supposed to make of this?

Is Jesus someone to whom I may turn for strength and power in the face of temptation?

Do I have a deep-seated belief that Jesus knows and sympathizes with my personal difficulties? How many times a day do I turn to him? The following is an excerpt from the book Praying the Gospels with Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ: Jesus officially begins his ministry. Wau.org/books has a collection of books.

Why did Jesus have to be tempted? – Tony Capoccia

Questioner My inquiry is in reference to Hebrews 2:18 (and, in fact, the entire book of Hebrews 2): ‘For in that He Himself has suffered, having been tempted, He is able to assist those who are tempted,’ the Bible says. As a result of Jesus’ personal experience with temptations and pains that we as humans go through, we can clearly comprehend the notion that He was the ideal sacrifice for man’s sins since He, as a man, went through them. My question, on the other hand, is this. If Jesus is the Son of God.

Why did He feel the need to go through these temptations and pains in order to have sympathy for us?

Answer There are two main reasons for this: 1.

The reason we are referred to be “Christians” is that we are “little Christs,” which means that we are to be imitators of Him, little duplicates of the original.

According to Peter, “You were called to this because Christ suffered for your sins, setting you an example so that you may follow in his footsteps.” Furthermore, God promises Christians that we will never be tempted beyond what we can bear-that we will always be able to resist sin, and as a result, we will never be forced to sin: “You have not been tempted by anything other than what is common to man.” And God is trustworthy; he will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to endure.

Nevertheless, when you are tempted, he will also give a way out, allowing you to remain firm under the pressure.

See also:  What Does The H Stand For In Jesus H Christ

When I am tempted, I look to Christ as an example.

Christ, in his divine nature, is and has always been completely righteous.

In response to John the Baptist’s assertion that Jesus, rather than himself, should be the one who baptizes him, Jesus said, “Let this be so now; it is fitting for us to do this in order to complete all righteousness.” Because Jesus was already completely righteous, this act was not performed for Him, but rather for us.

The payment of our sins was not enough to rescue us and bring us into God’s presence; we also needed to receive the righteousness of Christ in order to be accepted into God’s presence.

All of these things will be given to you if you seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, says the Lord.” “It is revealed in the gospel that righteousness comes from God, righteousness that is based on faith from the beginning to the end, exactly as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” “This righteousness from God is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ.”.”God will credit righteousness- for those of us who believe in the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.”.”How much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.” In order for everyone who believes in Christ to be justified, “Christ is the fulfillment of all the rules of the universe.” I realize I’m getting a little deep here, but this is really crucial.

  1. Please bear with me for a moment longer.
  2. Before the Fall, we would have been innocent but not righteous, preventing us from entering paradise and spending eternity with God in his presence.
  3. To explain further, God the Father treated Christ on the cross as though Christ had lived our sinful lives (imputed our sinful life to Jesus).
  4. As a result, we get Christ’s righteousness, which is attributed to us.
  5. A member of the Trinity will be our spouse, and we will be good Christians in this union.
  6. The only bride that Jesus can marry is one who is as “righteous” as He is, which means that God has to impute Christ’s righteousness to us in order for Him to be able to do so.

Bible Bulletin Board, Box 119, Columbus, New Jersey, 08022, United States Our websites are www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com, respectively. Email:[email protected] Since 1986, there has been an online presence.

Jesus is tempted (Matthew 4:1-11) – The identity of Jesus – CCEA – GCSE Religious Studies Revision – CCEA

Jesus was brought into the desert by the spirit, where he was tempted by the Devil. Jesus was starving after forty days and nights of fasting and fasting. When the Devil urged Jesus to convert stones into bread, he said, “Human beings cannot survive on bread alone; they require every word God says.” The second temptation presented itself when Jesus was tempted to fling himself from the highest pinnacle of the temple and command angels to capture him. To which Jesus said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Last but not least, the Devil gave Jesus all of the kingdoms of the earth in exchange for his devotion of him.

A stained-glass window representing Christ’s temptation is shown in the chapel.

Understanding the text

It is possible to get insight into the challenges that Jesus was grappling with during his forty days in the desert by looking at the three temptations that Matthew narrates.

  1. Jesus’ initial difficulty was whether to utilize his miraculous power for selfish motives or to benefit others. “Tell these stones to become bread”– The first dilemma that Jesus faced was deciding how to use his amazing ability. While fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus denied himself the option to eat anything to fulfill his need for food. ‘Fling yourself down’– Jesus was instructed to throw himself from the highest pinnacle of the temple, demonstrating that he is not concerned with material things but with spiritual sustenance provided by God. When it came to this particular instance, the Devil himself used scripture. The challenge to Jesus was to misuse his authority once more. However, it also required Jesus to demonstrate that he was the Messiah and that God truly cared about him. For Jesus, this was a critical question to answer since he would be confronted with it over and over as people questioned his identity and authority
  2. “Bow down and worship me”– This temptation challenged both Jesus’ loyalty to God and his ambition to wield political power. However, Jesus demonstrated that his vision of a Messiah was not one who possessed governmental authority, but rather one who placed God’s kingdom above all else.

Each temptation is met by a passage from the Old Testamentbook of Deuteronomy, which Jesus uses to answer. That when Jesus is tempted and believes that he is in a tough circumstance, he turns to God’s word for direction is seen in this passage. In response to the temptations, Jesus grew stronger and more equipped for his mission as a consequence of his rejection of three incorrect methods of going about his business:

  • Provider of solely material requirements for others
  • A magician who uses his abilities to perform miracles and achieve fame
  • A politician who gives in to wickedness in order to obtain political power

Chapter 11: Jesus Is Tempted

Jesus walked into the desert in order to be with the Father. The Savior had a conversation with the Father in Heaven. He fasted for 40 days and did not consume any food throughout that time. The devil appeared to Jesus and tempted Him in order to demonstrate that He was the Son of God. First, he instructed Jesus to transform several pebbles into loaves of food. Jesus was hungry, but He was also aware that He should only use His ability to benefit other people, rather than himself. He did not follow the devil’s instructions.

  1. In a second temptation, the devil told Jesus that he should leap off the temple wall.
  2. He said that if Jesus was indeed the Son of God, the angels would not allow Him to be harmed by the Romans.
  3. He was well aware that it would be inappropriate for Him to utilize His sacramental powers in this manner.
  4. He took Jesus across the world, showing him all of the kingdoms and wealth.
  5. Jesus stated that He will only follow the commands of His heavenly Father.
  6. The demon had vanished.
  7. Jesus was eager to get to work on His mission.

Why Did Christ Allow Himself to be Tempted?

The Gospel reading from yesterday was taken from the Gospel of Mark, and it detailed the story (in part) of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. The following are the words from Mark: “The Holy Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, where he stayed for forty days, being tempted by Satan and failing to repent. He was in the midst of a swarm of wild animals, and the angels came to his aid.” It is possible that this account of Jesus’ temptation, like so many other incidents in Jesus’ life, may raise more questions than it will provide answers.

What is Jesus’ reasoning for allowing this?

I’ve found Aquinas’s commentary to be both approachable and informative, despite the fact that there are hundreds of pages that might be written in response.

“It was not unbecoming of our Redeemer to seek to be tempted, who came also to be murdered; in order that by His temptations He may beat our temptations, just as by His death He defeated our death,” Gregory writes in a sermon (xvi in Evang.) Second, so we could be forewarned so that no one, no matter how pious, would believe himself to be secure or immune from temptation.

Also, according to Sirach 2, when thou comest to the service of God, stand in righteousness and terror, and ready thy spirit for temptation.

As a result, Augustine writes in De Trin.

As a result, it is mentioned in Hebrews 4:15 that “we do not have a high priest who is unable to have compassion on our infirmities, but one who has been tempted in all ways as we are, but without sin.”

Why was Jesus led into the desert in order to be tempted?

Why was Jesus sent into the desert, where he would be tempted by the devil? And, to our surprise, we discover that it was the Holy Spirit who guided Jesus to the location. So, if Jesus was sinless and always agreeable to the Father (John 8:29), why was he sent into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil and tested by the elements?

  • “Then the Spirit took Jesus out into the desert, where he was tempted by the devil,” according to Matthew 4:1. “Immediately the Spirit compelled Him to walk out into the desert,” says Mark 1:12–13. 13 “And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan
  • And He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.” “And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan.” As recorded in the Gospel of Luke 4:1–2, “After returning from the Jordan River, Jesus was taken by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days, where he was tormented by the devil.” In addition, he did not eat anything during those days, and when they were over, he grew hungry.”

I am unable to give you the precise reason why Jesus was permitted to be tempted since the Scriptures do not provide us with such information. However, I am able to suggest several alternatives.

Jes us’ temptation was a demonstration of his humanity

We know from the Scriptures that Jesus is God manifested in human form (John 1:1, 14; Colossians 2:9). He possesses two unique personalities, one heavenly and one human. This is referred to as the hypostatic union. Even at the most basic level, Christ’s temptation was an acknowledgement of his human humanity. He walked, talked, matured, and was eventually executed for our sins because he was a human being first and foremost.

Wilderness preparation precedes ministry

This location of trial and preparation, which is often referred to as the wilderness in the Bible, is the desert. Many people have gone through desert experiences before being utilized by God. In order to free the people of God from their slavery in Egypt, Moses journeyed for 40 years in the wilderness (Acts 7:23-30; 1 Cor. 10:5). After being liberated, the tribe of Israel spent 40 years in the desert before entering the Promised Land (the Land of Israel) (Exodus 16:35; Acts 7:36, 42; 13:18).

For 40 days and nights, Jesus was tested in the desert (Matthew 4:1-2).

1:15-18).

An example of dependence upon the word of God

One of the most significant lessons we can learn from the passages of Scripture that deal with Christ’s temptation is that he places his faith on the words of Scripture. Considering that Jesus was (and continues to be) God in the flesh (John 1:14; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5), he had the ability to rebuke the devil with a simple command or even a wave of his hand. As a result, Jesus withstood the temptation and scolded the wicked one, all while quoting from the Bible.

  • In Matthew 4:4, Jesus responds, “But it is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” The Bible says in Matthew 4:7, “Jesus responded to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’ ” “YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.” “Then Jesus shouted to him, ‘Go, Satan!'” (Matthew 4:10, emphasis added). ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY,’ it says in the Bible.”

Jesus’ reliance on God’s word is demonstrated here, and we may learn something from this. We should imitate Christ, just as Paul did, and live according to his teachings (1 Cor. 11:1). If Jesus depended on the Scriptures to help him fight temptation, then we should do the same to help us overcome temptation.

See also:  Who Sings There Was Jesus

How could Jesus be tempted if he is God?

A frequently asked topic is how Jesus could be tempted if he is God manifested in human form. The solution is straightforward. There are two forms of temptation. The first is physical temptation. A person can be presented with a temptation without actually succumbing to it. For example, sports are not something I am interested in watching. But, let’s assume I had a dinner reservation with my wife arranged a week in ahead, and a buddy gives me tickets to a major sporting event taking place on the same night.

I would much prefer spend time with my wife over supper.

Please consider the passage of Scripture below.

“They forgot His deeds in a short time; they did not wait for His advice, 14 but sought desperately in the wilderness and tempted God in the desert.

According to what we can tell from the context, the Jews worshipped their God in the wilderness. God, on the other hand, was not tempted. To put it another way, it was an outward temptation rather than an internal one.

Conclusion

I conclude that Jesus was led into the wilderness by the spirit of God to be tempted in order to demonstrate his humanity, as a preparation for his ministry, and as an example to us of how we should rely on the word of God as our source of strength, truth, and as a means by which we can resist the temptation to sin.

Why are Jesus’ temptations in a different order in Luke?

In the lectionary, we are reflecting on the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness being tested by Satan, which serves as a model for the Lenten season—though it is important to note at the outset that the figure 40 in Scripture is often taken as an approximate or symbolic number meaning ‘a significant period’ (the Exodus wanderings actually lasted 42 years) and that the 40 days of Lent do not include the Sundays, which continue to be celebrated as feast days.

So make a note of where you put all that chocolate away.!

Possibly an argument for altering the calendar, although I doubt that will happen anytime soon.) Felix Just’sCatholic Resources website provides a useful chart of comparison between the three Synoptic narratives of the temptations, which may be found here:

. Mark 1:12-13 Matthew 4:1-11 Luke 4:1-13
Intro 12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts… 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where 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.
T1 x 3 The tempter came and said to him, “ If you are the Son of God,command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written, ‘ One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. ‘ ” (cf. Deut 8:3cd) 3 The devil said to him, “ If you are the Son of God,command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘ One does not live by bread alone. ‘ “(cf. Deut 8:3c)
Tempt2 x 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on thepinnacle of the temple, 6 saying 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.’ ” (cf. Ps 91:11-12) 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘ Do not put the Lord your God to the test. ‘ ” (cf. Deut 6:16) 5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instantall the kingdoms of the world.6 And 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. 7 If you, then, willworship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘ Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. ‘” (cf. Deut 6:13)
Tempt3 x 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed himall the kingdoms of the worldand their splendor; 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you willfall down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘ Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him. ‘” (cf. Deut 6:13) 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on thepinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “ If you are the Son of God,throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ 11 and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ” (cf. Ps 91:11-12) 12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘ Do not put the Lord your God to the test. ‘ ” (cf. Deut 6:16)
End 13d – and the angels waited on him. 11 Then the devil left him,and suddenly angels came and waited on him. 13 When the devil had finished every test,he departed from himuntil an opportune time.

This is useful in both recognizing common themes pulled forth by the three gospel writers and in emphasizing differences in emphases between the three gospel writers. Throughout the story, there is a recurring motif of conflict between Satan’s seeming authority and God’s ultimate dominion over the entire event. Mark describes this in a fairly harsh manner—the Spirit ‘throws’ or ‘drives’ (ballo) Jesus into the desert—whereas Matthew and Luke are a little more measured in their expression of the same idea.

On the subject of fasting, Mark makes no mention of it; Matthew emphasizes the forty ‘days and nights,’ drawing his customary parallel with Moses’ experience (Ex 34.28); and Luke (perhaps writing for those who are unfamiliar with the biblical discipline of fasting?) emphasizes the human reality that he ate nothing and was therefore hungry.

  1. Since there is no mountain high enough from which you can see “all the kingdoms of the world,” some commentators question whether our account is of’real’ events or whether (as depicted in some films) these things happened in Jesus’ mind.
  2. I’m curious how the gospel authors became aware of these (and other) incidents to which Jesus was the only eyewitness.
  3. It is somewhat remarkable that, in response to the devil’s query, Jesus did not invoke the angelic voice from his baptism in reply.
  4. Instead of complaining about a shortage of bread in Exodus 16.3 and subsequently about a lack of variety in the manna provided in Numbers 11.6, Jesus is satisfied with the call to desert discipline.
  5. Whereas the people protested and put God to the test (Ex 17.2–3), Jesus refuses to put God to the test, believing that the word of experience and the word of Scripture are sufficient evidence for him.
  6. However, it is also obvious that Luke has reversed the sequence of the three temptations from Matthew’s account of the events.
  7. In the second and third temptations, Matthew makes use of the linkages ‘then’ (tote) and ‘again’ (palin), but Luke does not utilize these temporal succession markers and instead just states ‘and’ (kai) to link them together.
  8. According to Matthew’s sequence, the nature of the kingdom that Jesus is about to establish reaches a peak in connection to the nature of Jesus’ kingdom, highlighting the importance of the ‘kingdom of God/the heavens’ as a prominent theme in Jesus’ teaching in Matthew.
  9. As for the location of the last confrontation, it takes place on top of a “high mountain,” much as Jesus begins his career on a mountain in the next chapter and passes over his ministry to the disciples on a mountain in Matthew 28.

In the temple, Zechariah receives the first revelation of the gospel; in Luke 19, the final conflict for Jesus takes place in the temple precincts; and after the resurrection, the life and ministry of the apostles continues in the temple (Luke 24.53), with the temple remaining the focal point of the early community of Jesus’ followers in Acts 2.46.

If you look closely at the Wikipedia debate, you’ll see that there is an interesting investigation of the existential aspect of Jesus’ temptations, however the information is not sourced: Three times, Jesus was confronted with temptation.

“Desire of eyes” (materialism), “lust of body” (hedonism), and “pride of life” are some of the temptations that John the Evangelist refers to as “in the world” in his letter (egoism).

These are associated with transcendentals, or ultimate goals, in three fields of human interest: science (truth), the arts (beauty), and religion (truth and beauty) (goodness).

Christians are urged to seek for heavenly virtues like as faith, hope, and love, which will connect them directly to God, who is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness in and of Himself.

  • After fasting for 40 days and being extremely hungry, he had the courage to reject the devil’s proposition to make “bread.” He also exhibited prudence(caution) when rejecting the devil’s proposition to perform a “spectacular throw” as a sign of conceit and might (“egoism”)
  • And temperance(self-control) when rejecting the alluring offer to receive “kingdoms of the world” (“materialism”).

When preparing to speak on this chapter, there are two key considerations to keep in mind. The first is how far to go in terms of delving into issues such as the variations between the gospel accounts and the location of the temptations in, for example, Luke’s account of Jesus’ ministry. Bringing these points to attention runs the risk of turning a sermon, which is intended to communicate God’s word to this congregation in this time and place through this passage, into a Bible study or a “merely” academic exercise, in which the listeners are provided with interesting facts but are not prompted to respond with faith.

When we preach, we are certainly assisting people in reading the text of Scripture correctly, but we are also demonstrating what proper reading entails; we are attempting to teach them how to fish for themselves rather than merely providing them with a couple of fish to eat for the week.

These are the types of things that should be investigated in order to assist individuals in reading the Bible correctly.

However, preaching in this manner runs the risk of missing them.

When we become a part of Jesus, we become a part of this victory, and we partake in it by grace rather than by our own efforts.

That does not mean that, when we confront temptations and trials throughout Lent, we will be able to avoid the struggle of self-control and determination.

If you found this article to be useful, please consider sharing it on social media using the links on the left side of this page.

Like my Facebook page if you like it.

If you found this post to be valuable, would you consider making a monthly donation of £1.20 to help fund the creation of this blog?

I’m @psephizo on Twitter, so follow me there.

A large portion of my work is performed on a freelance basis.

First, seek to understand, and then seek to be understood.

Make the most generous interpretation of other people’s points of view and endeavor to learn from their experiences and viewpoints. Don’t think of discussion as a battle to be won; instead, focus on the issue at hand rather than the individual involved.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.