Temptations in the Wilderness
“Hunger” June 16, 2024

“I see that Satan proposed an enticing improvement. He tempted Jesus toward the good parts of being human without the bad: to savor the taste of bread without being subject to the fixed rules of hunger and of agriculture, to confront risk with no real danger, to enjoy fame and power without the prospect of painful rejection – in short, to wear a crown but not a cross. (The temptation that Jesus resisted, many of us, his followers, still long for.)” -Philip Yancey 

Luke 4:1-13 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.

“the devastation”

Satan

“The word tempt or temptation that needs to be addressed. John McClean writes: The New Testament words translated “tempt” and “temptation” mean test or trial, they do not always refer to “enticement to do wrong” (what we could call moral trial). We should not assume that every time the New Testament speaks of temptation it means an inner desire toward sin.”

“at the end of them he was hungry”

Docetism

Genesis 3:4

Deuteronomy 8:3