Temptation of Jesus

Temptation of Jesus

The Temptation of Jesus

Luke 4:1-13 Revised Standard Version (RSV)

​4 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit 2 for forty days in the wilderness, tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days; and when they ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 And the devil took him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment, 6 and said to him, “To you, I will give all this authority and their glory; for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it shall all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”
9 And he took him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here; 10 for it is written,
‘He will give his angels charge of you, to guard you,’
11 and
‘On their hands, they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

​Relevance of Jesus’ temptations to Christians today

Jesus, though without sin was tempted. His followers must expect to be tested in their faith. Christians learn that it is not sinful to be tempted. Since Jesus was tempted, he understands Christian’s difficulties when they are tempted. Jesus is always ready to help Christians to cope with temptations.
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​Relevance of Jesus’ temptations to Christians today

• Since Jesus was tempted, He fully understands your difficulties when we are tempted and is ready to help us.
• God does not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength.  When we face temptations He provides us with a way out.
• Since Jesus was tempted, His followers should expect to be tested in their loyalty to Him. 1st Corinthians 10:13.
• Through temptations and trials, our faith in God is strengthened.  1st Peter 1:7
• When we are tempted, we should turn to the Bible for guidance; Jesus quoted the scripture.  Christians need to know God’s word.
• We should seek the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit enabled Jesus to conquer the devil.
• It is normal for the followers of Christ to be tempted.
• When faced with difficult times, refer to the scripture, pray, and fast to get strength and guidance from God.
• We should be careful not to engage in different forms of adultery and only worship the one true God.
• We should not allow material possessions to lead us to sin.
• Christians should have total faith in and fully depend on God and not test Him e.g. when making personal requests.
• Christians learn that power and authority cannot lead one to the kingdom of God.  They should not worship anyone else except God.

Why are Christians tempted?

• Through temptations and trials, Christian’s faith in God is strengthened.
• Christians learn to refer to the Bible for guidance when tempted.
• Jesus said that it is written… about scripture. Christians should seek the Holy Spirit to give them strength to fight any form of trials and temptations. Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit went to the wilderness and was tempted by the devil……………”
• In temptation, God does provide a way out. Thus followers of Jesus Christ (Christians) should not be seekers of spectacular signs. 

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS – Luke 4:1-13

1. Jesus was led to the wilderness where He stayed for forty days.
2. He ate nothing and therefore felt hungry.
3. The devil asked Him to command a stone to become bread if He was the son of God.
4. Jesus told him that man can not live by bread alone.
5. The devil took Jesus up and showed Him the Kingdoms of the world and asked Him to worship Him so that he could give Him everything.
6. Jesus told the devil that only God is to be worshipped/ served.
7. The devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and asked him to throw Himself down for God would command angels to command him.
8. Jesus told the devil that one should not tempt God.

What are the lessons learned about Jesus from his temptations in the wilderness?

Lessons Christians learn from the temptations of Jesus.

1. They should be knowledgeable in scriptures/ biblical verses.
2. They should resist the devil.
3. They should have faith in God/ no temptation beyond their limit.
4. They should worship God alone.
5. They should not put God to the test.
6. They should desire to have the Holy Spirit.
7. They should not misuse the power of the Holy Spirit.
8. They should be content with what they have.

Why Was Jesus Tested for Forty Days in the Desert?

The Gospel for the First Sunday of Lent in 2015 commemorates Jesus’ forty days of testing in the desert. Jesus decided to spend forty days of testing in the desert as preparation for His adult ministry (forty days is the traditional number for spiritual testing). The reason He chose to begin His ministry with a time of testing was to

• (a) set an example for us,
• (b) reveal His identity as Son of God to the opposing supernatural forces, and
• (c) reveal the nature of His ministry as Messiah to us.

Here is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church(CCC) explains the event (538): The Gospels speak of a time of solitude for Jesus in the desert immediately after His baptism by John. Driven by the Spirit into the desert, Jesus remained there for forty days without eating; He lived among wild beasts, and angels ministered to Him [cf. Mk 1:12-13]. At the end of this time, Satan tempted Him three times, seeking to compromise His filial attitude toward God. Jesus rebuffed these attacks, which recapitulated the temptations of Adam in Paradise and of Israel in the desert, causing the devil to leave Him “until an opportune time” [Lk 4:13].

The Catechism continues (539): The evangelists indicated the salvific meaning of this mysterious event: Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful, unlike the first Adam who gave in to temptation. Jesus fulfilled Israel’s vocation perfectly: in contrast to those who had once provoked God during their forty years in the desert, Christ revealed Himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will. In this, Jesus is the devil’s conqueror: He “binds the strong man” to take back his plunder (cf. Ps 95:10; Mk 3:27). Jesus’ victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion—the supreme act of obedience of His filial love for the Father.

The CCC(540) says that Jesus’ temptation reveals how the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposed to Him and the way men wish to attribute to Him (cf Mt 16:2 1-23). This is why Christ vanquished the Tempter for us: “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning” (Heb. 4:15). By the solemn forty days of Lent, the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert.
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CCC 566: The temptation in the desert shows Jesus, the humble Messiah, who triumphs over Satan by His total adherence to the plan of salvation willed by the Father. One additional thing that should be known is that the biblical term for “tempting” is the same as the term for “testing.” Jesus was not tempted in the sense that we are—that is, having evil desires—but in the sense of being tested to see if it was possible to tempt Him in the sense of giving Him evil desires. He was not capable of receiving such desires because of His infinite holiness as the Son of God. 

Why Jesus was Tempted in Summary

• Jesus did not come to seek a worldwide political-military reign as many Jews expected Him to do.
• ​Jesus was not seeking to establish a material paradise on earth.
• ​​Jesus, though without sin was tempted. His followers must expect to be tested in their faith. Christians learn that it is not sinful to be tempted.
• The temptation in the desert shows Jesus, the humble Messiah, who triumphs over Satan by His total adherence to the plan of salvation willed by the Father.
• Temptation reveals how the Son of God is Messiah, contrary to the way Satan proposed to Him and the way men wish to attribute to Him.
• So that Christ reveals Himself as God’s Servant, totally obedient to the divine will.

What are the similarities and differences between the temptation of Adam and Eve from Jesus in Matthews?

The stories of the temptation of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and Jesus in the wilderness as narrated in the book of Matthew share some similarities but also have significant differences.

Similarities:

1. Presence of Tempter: In both stories, there is a tempter present who tries to lead the main characters astray. In the case of Adam and Eve, it is the serpent, while in Jesus’ story, it is the devil.
2. Testing of Faith and Obedience: Both scenarios involve a test of faith and obedience to God. Adam and Eve were tempted to eat the forbidden fruit, while Jesus was tempted to prove his divinity.
3. Offer of Power: The tempter in both stories offers power and authority in exchange for disobedience. The serpent promises Adam and Eve that they will be like God, while the devil offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world.

Differences:

1. Outcome: In the story of Adam and Eve, they succumb to the temptation and eat the forbidden fruit, leading to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden. However, Jesus resists all temptations and remains obedient to God.
2. Context: The temptation of Adam and Eve occurs at the beginning of the Bible, in the book of Genesis, while Jesus’ temptation takes place in the New Testament, specifically in the book of Matthew.
3. Purpose: The purpose of the temptations is different in each story. Adam and Eve’s temptation leads to the introduction of sin into the world, while Jesus’ temptation serves to demonstrate his righteousness and resistance to evil.