Luke's Account

​​Luke 4:1-15 (NASB) 1  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness 2  for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He became hungry. 3  And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." 4  And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.'" 5  And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6  And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7  "Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours." 8  Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'" 9  And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10  for it is written, 'HE WILL COMMAND HIS ANGELS CONCERNING YOU TO GUARD YOU,' 11  and, 'ON their HANDS THEY WILL BEAR YOU UP, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT STRIKE YOUR FOOT AGAINST A STONE.'" 12  And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is said, 'YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.'" 13  When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. 14  And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15  And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all. 

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In terms of the synoptic Gospel accounts of Christ's Temptation, both Luke and Matthew give us a more complete version of the facts surrounding said event.  Let me point to some of the striking revelations from Luke's account.

v.2. "for forty day, being tempted by the devil..."  According to Luke, Jesus was being tempted and worked over by Satan for the entire time He was fasting in the wilderness.  Luke gives us the specific details of the temptations towards the end of Christ's sojourn, however it makes one wonder about the nature of the temptations that occurred over the stretch of Christ's time in the wilderness.

After forty days of fasting, Jesus was hungry.  The most natural temptation at that point would have been food.  Mind you, there is nothing particularly evil about eating food.  However, the temptation dealt with "how" Jesus would use His power as God in the flesh.  Jesus could have easily served Himself by turning stones into bread.  As you read through the Gospel accounts of Christ's ministry, Jesus never used His divine powers to serve Himself.

v.13. "When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him (Jesus) until an opportune time."  Satan left this occasion of temptation waiting for a better opportunity.  No doubt, Satan left the door open for Jesus to seize the kingdoms of this earth and avoid the cross.  When Jesus told His disciples of His coming demise, Peter (obviously motivated by Satan) told Jesus that He did not need to suffer the things to come.  Jesus responded, "Get thee behind me Satan."

Questions to Consider:

1. What are some of the more difficult temptations that you face in your own life?
2. What source(s) of spiritual strength to you turn to in the midst of temptation?
   
3. Satan tempted Jesus where He was most vulnerable, this is why "we" should not take the Enemy lightly.  What can you do to fortify yourself against the Enemy's attacks?