The First Sunday in Lent (CL)

Matthew 4:1-11
1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“ ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall 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 glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“ ‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’ ”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 4:1–11). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Jesus Christ is tempted by the Devil. Matthew tells us of three temptations which Jesus faced while he was in the wilderness. Jesus is faced with the temptation of hunger. This could reflect all our bodily needs or desires including food and clothing. The second is security and safety. This could include dangerous animals or war. The Last temptation for me, seems like the greatest temptation.

Some have said that the Last Temptation of Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane. But is it not here. Jesus stands before his greatest enemy, Satan. Jesus is offered the one thing he has come to do. God sent his son into the flesh in order to claim his creation and save it from the power of the Devil. Jesus is offered all the kingdoms of the world in which he will eventually redeem.

But the real temptation is bowing down before Satan. Thou shalt not worship other gods! Jesus, the son of God, is tempted to give up his rule and reign of heaven for the rule and reign of the earth. But God knows that when he dies for the sins of the world he will claim all the kingdoms of the world.

Jesus worships the LORD his Father only. He teaches us to worship God alone. Because it is through Jesus Christ's death and resurrection that we have be delivered from our bondage to Satan and the Devil. He gives us new life.