Scripture:
Luke 4:1-13 (English Standard Version)
The Temptation of Jesus
Luke 4
1(A) And Jesus,(B) full of the Holy Spirit,(C) returned from the Jordan and was led(D) by the Spirit in the wilderness 2for(E) forty days,(F) being tempted by the devil.(G) And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are(H) the Son of God, command(I) this stone to become bread." 4And Jesus answered him, (J) "It is written,(K) 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'" 5(L) And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6and said to him, "To you(M) I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." 8And Jesus answered him, (N) "It is written, (O) "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and(P) him only shall you serve.'"
9(Q) And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are(R) the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written, (S) "'He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,'
11and (T) "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
12And Jesus answered him, "It is said,(U) 'You shall not(V) put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him(W) until an opportune time.
Cross references:
Luke 4:1 : For Luke 4:1-13, Matt 4:1-11; Mark 1:12, 13
Luke 4:1 : Luke 4:18; Luke 3:22; John 1:33; 3:34; Acts 10:38; Luke 1:15; Acts 6:5
Luke 4:1 : Luke 3:3, 21
Luke 4:1 : Luke 4:14
Luke 4:2 : Deut 9:9, 18; 1 Kgs 19:8
Luke 4:2 : Heb 2:18; 4:15
Luke 4:2 : John 4:6, 7
Luke 4:3 : Matt 14:33
Luke 4:3 : Luke 3:8
Luke 4:4 : Luke 4:8, 10; Eph 6:17
Luke 4:4 : Deut 8:3; John 4:34
Luke 4:5 : Matt 4:8
Luke 4:6 : Rev 13:2
Luke 4:8 : Luke 4:4; Luke 4:12
Luke 4:8 : Deut 6:13
Luke 4:8 : 1 Sam 7:3
Luke 4:9 : Matt 4:5
Luke 4:9 : Luke 4:3
Luke 4:10 : Psalm 91:11, 12
Luke 4:11 : Luke 4:10
Luke 4:12 : Deut 6:16
Luke 4:12 : Isa 7:12
Luke 4:13 : Luke 22:53; John 14:30
Reflection:
Are you ready for the test? Jesus was put to the test at the beginning of his public ministry. The word tempt in English usually means to entice to sin. The scriptural word here means test in the sense of proving and purifying someone to see if there are ready for the task at hand. We test pilots to see that they are fit to fly. Likewise God tests his servants to see if they are fit to be used by him. God tested Abraham to prove his faith. Jesus was no exception to this testing. Satan will try his best to induce us to choose our will over God's will. If he cannot induce us to apostasize or to sin mortally, he will then try to get us to make choices that will lead us away from what God wants for us. Jesus was tempted like us and he overcame not by his own human strength but by the grace and strength which his Father gave to him. He had to renounce his will for the will of his Father. He succeeded because he wanted to please his Father and he trusted that his Father would give him the strength to overcome the obstacles that stood in the way. The Lord gives us his Holy Spirit to be our strength and guide and our consoler in temptation and testing. God the Father is ready to give us all that we need to live in his way of love and righteousness. Do you rely on the Lord for your strength and help?
Prayer For The Day:
Lord, your word is life and joy for me. Fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may have the strength and courage to embrace your will in all things and to renounce whatever is contrary to it.
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