Luke 4: 1-13 (ESV)
And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 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. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
and him only shall you serve.’”
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, for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
And Jesus answered him, “It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
Comment:
On the very brink of beginning His public ministry Jesus has 3 jousts with the devil using thoughts of the day and Old Testament quotes as their javelins. Like knights in combat.
The devil’s javelin – “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” (Jesus was very hungry) v the Jesus javelin, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.’ Mark up ‘1’ to Jesus.
The Satan javelin is his to wield because he is called ‘the god of this world’. He said ‘If you, then, will worship me, the world with all of its worship and glory will all be yours. Surely that is what you want?’ The Jesus javelin, “It is written,“‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Mark up ‘2’ to Jesus.
The devil took him to the heights from which if he fell he would certainly die – except if God intervened. The challenge for a showy display of God’s protection for the glory and fame that it would bring. Versus Jesus ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Mark up ‘3’ to Jesus. And Jesus was ready to begin his public ministry.
Prayer: Please help me to discern temptations whether coming from outside or my own weaknesses.
As I read it! 