Jesus Tested in the Wilderness

Acknowledging God

Follow in My Ways

The Lord Will Provide

Matthew 4:1-11 The Message

The Test

4 1-3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: “Since you are God’s Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread.”
4 Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: “It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God’s mouth.”
5-6 For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, “Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.”
7 Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.”
8-9 For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.”
10 Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness.”
11 The Test was over. The Devil left. And in his place, angels! Angels came and took care of Jesus’ needs.

For Reflection

Let me not be lead into temptation. Deliver me from the evil of this world. Christ possessed all the power of God and was tempted to be corrupted by it.  Christ refused the seduction of self-aggrandizement. Christ stayed faithful to God's promise to reconcile humankind through the power of love. Christ defeats the idolatry of selfishness and embraces selflessness for the salvation of all people. Christ shows us how to exercise our freedom to choose righteousness.

Pray

Pray for the courage to forsake your self-centeredness for God-centeredness.

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