The temptations of Jesus…

When the forty days were ended, Jesus grew very faint and hungry, for he had eaten nothing since he came into this lonely place. And Satan remembered how he had tempted Eve to eat pleasant food, and how this temptation had caused her to listen to his words. He thought he would try the same temptation on Jesus. He said, “If you really are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”

He thought Jesus would surely yield to this temptation and try to prove that he was God’s Son. But Jesus answered, “Man shall not live by bread only, but by every word of God.”

Although he was hungry and faint, Jesus would not use his great power to please himself. He was willing to trust his heavenly Father to care for him in that desert place, and supply his needs as he had supplied food for Elijah. Satan soon saw that he could not cause Jesus to yield to such a temptation, so he tried another way.

Taking Jesus to the topmost part of the temple in Jerusalem, he said, “If you expect people to believe that you are really God’s Son you must show some great sign. Now cast yourself down to the ground, and trust God to protect you and keep your bones from being broken; for in the Scripture he had promised that angels will bear you up and not allow any harm to befall you.”

Even though Satan used Scripture words to urge Jesus to do this foolish deed, yet Jesus would not obey him. For Jesus knew that the Scriptures had forbidden any one to tempt God in such a foolish manner and expect God’s angels to help him. And again Satan saw that his plan had failed.

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