Topical Bible: The Devil: Tempted Christ

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Topical Encyclopedia

The account of the Devil tempting Christ is a significant event in the New Testament, illustrating the spiritual battle between good and evil and the sinless nature of Jesus Christ. This event is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew 4:1-11, Mark 1:12-13, and Luke 4:1-13. The Berean Standard Bible provides a clear and faithful rendering of these passages.

Context and Setting

Following His baptism by John the Baptist, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. This period of temptation lasted forty days and nights, during which Jesus fasted, preparing Himself for His public ministry. The wilderness, a place of desolation and solitude, serves as the backdrop for this profound spiritual confrontation.

The Nature of the Temptations

The temptations presented by the Devil to Christ are threefold, each targeting a different aspect of human need and desire:

1. Physical Need: The Devil first tempted Jesus to turn stones into bread, appealing to His physical hunger after fasting. The Devil said, "If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread" (Matthew 4:3). Jesus responded by quoting Scripture, "It is written: 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4), emphasizing spiritual sustenance over physical needs.

2. Pride and Testing God: The second temptation involved the Devil taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem, urging Him to throw Himself down, citing Scripture that angels would protect Him. The Devil quoted, "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'" (Matthew 4:6). Jesus countered with Scripture, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'" (Matthew 4:7), demonstrating His refusal to test God's faithfulness or act out of pride.

3. Power and Idolatry: The final temptation involved the Devil showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, offering them in exchange for worship. The Devil declared, "All this I will give You if You will fall down and worship me" (Matthew 4:9). Jesus firmly rejected this offer, stating, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only'" (Matthew 4:10), affirming His allegiance to God alone and rejecting idolatry.

Theological Significance

The temptations of Christ highlight His role as the second Adam, succeeding where the first Adam failed. Unlike Adam, who succumbed to temptation in the Garden of Eden, Jesus remained sinless and obedient to God. This event underscores the humanity of Christ, who experienced real temptation, yet without sin, as stated in Hebrews 4:15.

Furthermore, the use of Scripture by Jesus in His responses to the Devil emphasizes the authority and power of God's Word in spiritual warfare. Jesus' victory over temptation serves as a model for believers, demonstrating reliance on Scripture and the Holy Spirit in overcoming the adversary.

Conclusion of the Temptation

After the temptations, the Devil departed from Jesus, and angels came to minister to Him (Matthew 4:11). This marks the end of the wilderness testing and the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, empowered by the Spirit and affirmed in His mission to redeem humanity.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 4:3-10
And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Whether Christ Should have Been Tempted in the Desert?
... I answer that, As stated above (A[1], ad 2), Christ of His own free-will exposed
Himself to be tempted by the devil, just as by His own free-will He submitted ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christ should have been 5.htm

Whether it was Becoming that Christ Should be Tempted?
... Objection 3: Further, temptation is from a threefold source"-the flesh, the world,
and the devil. But Christ was not tempted either by the flesh or by the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was becoming that 3.htm

Christ the Support of the Tempted
... the fiery darts of the devil; and, therefore, you can no where find one so proper
to relieve you, as Jesus Christ; he knows what it is to be tempted; he was ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/christ the support of the.htm

Martin is Tempted by the Wiles of the Devil.
... this, he went on to say that he was actually Christ; and he ... point should not be passed
over, with what arts the devil about this very time tempted Martin. ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxiv martin is tempted.htm

Whether Christ's Temptation Should have Taken Place after his Fast ...
... Objection 3: Further, we read that Christ fasted but once. But He was tempted by
the devil, not only once, for it is written (Lk.4:13) "that all the temptation ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christs temptation should have.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, John ii. 2, "And Jesus Also was Bidden ...
... He who made of water wine could also have of stones made bread. The power was the
same; but then the devil tempted Him, therefore Christ did it not. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon lxxiii on the words.htm

Christ the Son of Man.
... It is evident, therefore, that the devil exhausted his resources ... that hath been in
all points tempted like we ... For Christ was perfected for the special parts of ...
/.../v christ the son of man.htm

Knox -- the First Temptation of Christ
... led Christ into the wilderness was not the devil, but the ... The Spirit of God, I say,
led Christ to the place of ... As Luke saith, "He was tempted," but in the end ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons volume i/knox the first temptation.htm

The Temptation of Christ
... all us learn of our Lord to fight the devil with the ... us not be discouraged or think
worse of Christ, his cause ... of it; others have been thus tempted and mistaken ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the temptation of christ.htm

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness.
... He never despairs of the conflict so long as man is on the earth. Christ
was constantly tempted by the returning devil (Luke 22:28). ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xix jesus tempted in the.htm