The Temptation of JesusMt 4:1-111Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. 3The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” 4He 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.’ ” 5Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, 6and 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.’ ” 7Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’ ”
8Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, 9and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” 10At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship/ and him alone shall you serve.’ ” 11Then 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.