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Temptation of Jesus - Bible Story

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Temptation of Jesus - Bible Story

The Temptation of Jesus Bible Story

The temptation of Christ is described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. According to scripture, after being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights in the Judaean Desert. During this time, Satan appeared to Jesus and attempted to tempt him towards sin.  Jesus, having refused each temptation, the Devil then departed, and Jesus returned to Galilee to begin his ministry.

Satan's temptations were hedonism, egoism, and materialism. John the Evangelist, in his epistle, categorized these temptations as "lust of eyes" (materialism), "lust of body" (hedonism), and "pride of life" (egoism).

Temptations intend to deceive and corrupt three main human characteristics: to think, wish and feel, which are inside the mind, soul, and heart, as Jesus alludes in the Greatest Commandment. 

These are related to transcendentals or ultimate ideals in three areas of human interests: science (truth), arts (beauty), and religion (goodness). Christians are called to seek divine virtues: faith, hope, and love that link them directly to God, who Himself is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.

The 3 Temptations of Christ

In Matthew and Luke, "the tempter" or "the devil" tempts Jesus to:

1. Create bread out of stones to relieve his own hunger

2. Leap from a pinnacle and rely on angels to break his fall.

3. Kneel before Satan in return for all the kingdoms of the world.

Read the full story of the Temptation of Jesus in the Bible text below and find Articles, Videos, and Audio Sermons relating to this inspiring story. 

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Photo Credit: Public Domain/Christ in the Wilderness - Ivan Kramskoy

Luke 4:1-14

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Luke 4:1-14 Commentaries

Matthew 4:1-11

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Mark 1:11-23

11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,
13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,

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