Reflections
The temptation of Jesus
March 12, 2011, 10:55pm
MATTHEW 4:1-11
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the
devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards He was
hungry. The tempter approached and said to Him, “If You are the Son of
God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in
reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every
word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”
Then the devil took Him to the holy city, and made Him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”
Then the devil took Him up to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to Him, “All these I shall give to You, if You will prostrate Yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left Him and, behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Then the devil took Him to the holy city, and made Him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning you’ and ‘with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”
Then the devil took Him up to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to Him, “All these I shall give to You, if You will prostrate Yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and Him alone shall you serve.’”
Then the devil left Him and, behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
If You are the Son of God
Temptations are first directed at our egos. The devil inflates
our egos: If you are the Son of God… if you are the boss… if you are the
manager… if you know your rights… if you are really a man… Ahh, the
rest will be easy for the devil.
The tempter, as Matthew calls him, is not the horned, tailed,
black monster. The temper is our gang who dares us. They are the people
who enjoy seeing us destroy ourselves.
The devil tempts us to desire the easy, fast way. Have instant gratification, be famous fast, get rich quick.
Jesus displays a lot of poise and courage in the face of the call to an easy, sure, and wealthy life ahead. No, thanks! Jesus will rather work as man, live like an angel, and pray like God.
Count your blessings.
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