The Temptation (Lk 4)

The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness follows the temptations that Israel faced in their 40 year wandering in the wilderness. They were tempted with food (as Jesus was); they were tempted into testing the Lord (as Jesus was); and they were tempted with idolatry (as Jesus was).

In all three temptations, Israel failed their trials, but Jesus overcame.

In the first temptation Jesus was tempted to turn a rock into bread. Earlier John the Baptist told the common people to share the food they had with those who had none. Is there a connection? Only that bread was the staple of their life (and survival impulses would have the people horde bread and not give it away or not take advantage of an opportunity to use God's power to get it. We could say that in this 21st Century people are tempted to use God's power for money. It is a shame.

We in the 21st Century accumulate things - lots of stuff. They did not have anywhere near the amount of wealth we do and so food was far more coveted for them. Those who study the 1st Century have suggested that people in Jesus day may have had meat once a year because they could not afford it more than that. In all likelihood bread was the most common food for most people.

Then the Devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The Devil told him, "I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them--because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will bow down and worship me (Lk 4:5-7)."

Food, fame, power, and wealth - what more can someone want? The tempter offered Jesus the world (literally). These cravings are central to human nature, stemming from the need to survive. Because these cravings are so endemic to human nature they pose a strong temptation for anybody. None of these are bad in and of themselves, but people do bad things to acpuire and accumulate these, as the American writer Logan Pearsall Smith said: “Those who set out to serve both God and mammon soon discover that there is no God.”