First page Back Continue Last page Overview Text

Notes:


Those are the sins that temptations could lead to.

Does your understanding of Jesus allow for him having all these temptations, just as you and I do?

The temptations in the passage are however, slightly different, and this is because of the circumstances in which they occur. In the preceding chapter of Matthew (3:13-17) Jesus has received his baptism from John, at the start of his ministry. Following his baptism he receives a message of affirmation from God “This is my Son, t whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Immediately following on from this he is lead by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. Here he fasts for 40 days. Then the tempter – Satan – came.

In The Message the passage talks about the 'test' not the temptation, and a temptation is a test. Here Jesus is to be tested in three very specific areas. A failure of any one of these test, or temptations would invalidate his ministry. He must pass these tests if he is to go forward to the teaching phase, and onwards to the cross.

The time in the wilderness was no doubt spent in prayer and contemplation of the things to come. This was a time of getting close to his Father, and ensuring that he had a solid relationship and a clear understanding of his mission.