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Year A, the Gospel of Matthew
One commentator on the Scriptures suggested that this experience of Jesus being tempted would not have been included in the accounts of his life and ministry unless Jesus revealed this to some of his followers. He is portrayed as vulnerable to the deceits of Satan. Why would Jesus go into the desert for a forty day retreat after his baptism? It is the same reason why people go on retreat: to refocus on who they are, where they are going and how to get there. One’s perspective about life gets blurred by all the noise and hyperactivity of life. Jesus needed time to understand the revelation of his identity given by the voices of his Father at his baptism: “You are my beloved Son, my favor rests on you.”
Matthew 4:1-11
At that time 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 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 on bread alone, but on 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 he 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.
Reflection from the Preface of the Mass:
His fast of forty days makes this a holy season of self-denial. By rejecting the devil’s temptations he has taught us to rid ourselves of the hidden corruption of evil, and so to share his paschal meal in purity of heart, until we come to its fulfillment in the promised land of heaven.
Suggestions for Reflection
- Jesus was tempted as we are. Temptations are not bad in themselves but it is what we do with them that can help us turn to God or away from God. Do we see temptations as ways to turn to God rather than rely our own resources?
- The temptations of Jesus seem different from the ways we are tempted or is there a similarity? Underneath the different temptations of Jesus, there is the invitation of Satan that he deny his identity as the Son of God. Are not our temptations an invitation to deny the kind of person we want to be and, instead, turn to unhealthy ways to satisfy ourselves?
- By resisting the temptations, Jesus chose to depend on his Father to satisfy his deepest hunger, to relate with others in an ordinary way and by not rely on reputation, power and possessions. How do we satisfy our deepest hungers? Do we depend on prestige and power to make ourselves acceptable to others?
- Are we going to use the forty days of Lent as a retreat —making time to be more reflective and prayer?
Year B, the Gospel of Mark
Mark 1:12-15
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
Year C, the Gospel of Luke
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,
to be tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days,
and when they were over he was hungry.
The devil said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him,
“It is written,One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him,
“I shall give to you all this power and glory;
for it has been handed over to me,
and I may give it to whomever I wish.
All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It is written
You shall worship the Lord, your God,
and him alone shall you serve.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem,
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, for it is written:
He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,
and:
With their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It also says,
You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time.
FAQs
By resisting the temptations, Jesus chose to depend on his Father to satisfy his deepest hunger, to relate with others in an ordinary way and by not rely on reputation, power and possessions.
What did Jesus say when he was tempted in the desert? ›
Jesus replied “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Finally, the Devil offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in return for worshipping him. Jesus replied “Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!” The Devil left Jesus and angels came and helped him.
What three things did the devil tempt Jesus with? ›
In the New Testament Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness after his baptism. There he remains and fasts for 40 days and 40 nights. During that time Satan tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, throw himself from a temple, and submit to Satan in exchange for power.
What are the three types of temptation of Jesus? ›
Turning stones into bread, bowing to Satan, and putting God to the test were the three temptations with which the Evil One thought he could win over Jesus. Scripture records that Jesus never gave into the temptations and Satan was defeated.
Why did the spirit lead Jesus into the desert? ›
And the reason the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness was so that Jesus could fast, dedicate His life to God, and be ready for the ministry that He was about to start. It was a bold and faith filled step of obedience and dedication to God.
What Bible verse did Jesus use when tempted? ›
Finally, when the devil put the glory of the world's kingdoms on display and promised them to Jesus if he would simply fall down and worship him, Jesus used the words from Deuteronomy 6:13. “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve'” (Matt 4:8–10).
How many times was Jesus tempted by the devil in the desert? ›
According to three of the gospels, after Jesus had been baptised he went into the desert to fast for forty days and forty nights. During this time, Satan appeared to Jesus and three times tried to tempt him. A scene usually interpreted as the third temptation of Jesus is depicted on fol. 202v.
What was Jesus last temptation in the desert? ›
During his time in the desert, Jesus is tempted by Satan three times: once to turn stones into bread (traditionally an analogue for gluttony), once to take control over all nations in the world (avarice), and once to throw himself off the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem (pride).
How did Jesus resist temptation? ›
Each of the Savior's responses to Satan's temptations included the phrase, “It is written” (Matthew 4:4; 7; 10). Christ's knowledge of the scriptures prepared and strengthened Him to turn aside from temptation. The Savior later taught, “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37).
Why did Jesus spend 40 days in the desert? ›
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: 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 remains there for forty days without eating; he lives among wild beasts, and angels minister to him.
In the Synoptic Gospels, Satan tempts Jesus in the desert and is identified as the cause of illness and temptation. In the Book of Revelation, Satan appears as a Great Red Dragon, who is defeated by Michael the Archangel and cast down from Heaven.
What does Jesus temptation symbolize? ›
They were also general human temptations. The temptations in the wilderness related to his identity as the Son of God, but were also common human temptations to doubt God's goodness, test God's faithfulness and turn to false worship. Satan appealed to Christ's valid human needs for food, reassurance, success.
What was Jesus' first miracle? ›
During a wedding in Cana of Galilee, Jesus, at Mary's request, transforms approximately 120 gallons of water into wine, the quality of which is highly praised by the ruler of the feast. Jesus chose a wedding to perform His first miracle, doubtless to emphasize the sanctity of marriage. (See Gen. 2:18-25; Mt.
Was Jesus tempted in every way? ›
Hebrews 4:14-16 New Century Version (NCV)
He was tempted in every way that we are, but he did not sin. Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it.
What does God teach us about temptation? ›
The Lord Jesus taught His disciples to ask God, “do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13). If you ask God to help you avoid temptation, then you should also be vigilant to stay away from tempting situations.
What is the lesson of Jesus tested in the wilderness? ›
Story Overview: After Jesus was baptised, he had to decide the direction He would take in his ministry. Satan tried to get Him to be the wrong kind of Saviour. Although Satan tempted Him with pride, power, and popularity, this was equally Satan testing Jesus as to what kind of Saviour and royal Son he was going to be.
What is the purpose of temptation? ›
Sin, in itself, cannot separate us from God's love, and God knows that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. God knows that if we sin, the free gift of forgiveness is available to us, therefore the real purpose of temptation is to see our relationship with God destroyed.
What is the significance of 40 days and 40 nights in the Bible? ›
The significance of these 40 days and 40 nights speak to us about our own times of temptation when we are weak and vulnerable. Through the words of satan, the tempter, and Jesus, the Son of God, we learn how to stand up to temptations.
