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The temptation of Jesus according to Matthew


THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
After his baptism, Jesus was led into the wilderness, by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted by the devil. He had fasted for forty days and forty nights and was therefore hungry.

In the first temptation, the devil told Jesus that if he was really the son of God, he should turn stones into bread. Jesus replied that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

In the second temptation, the devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and told him ‘If you are the son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written that “He will give his angels charge of you so that you do not dash your feet against any stone.”’ Again Jesus replied that one should not tempt the Lord.

In the third temptation, the devil took Jesus to a high mountain and showed him the kingdoms of the world and their glory. The devil then told Jesus that he would give him all if only he bowed down to worship him. Again Jesus told the devil that “You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you worship.”

Immediately, the devil left Jesus and angels came to minister to him.

Note that in the account by Luke, the second temptation comes third and the third one rather was mentioned as the second temptation. So when the examination question is specific about Matthew’s account, arrange the temptations as they are here. When they ask you to write Luke’s account the second temptation was the one that the devil took him to a high mountain. 

THE TEMPTATION WAS SIGNIFICANT FOR MANY REASONS.
1. It confirmed the divinity of Jesus.
2. Jesus accepted suffering as a means of fulfilling God’s purpose of redeeming the world.
3. The story assures Christians that they can also defeat the devil with the word of God.
4. The experience prepared Jesus for his ministry.
5.  The temptation shows that Jesus was not a political or economic Messiah.

SAMPLE QUESTION(S)
1. a. Narrate the story of the temptation of Jesus according to Matthew.
    b. In what two ways were the temptations significant for Jesus in his ministry?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS
Test One
1. In the first temptation of Jesus, the devil intended him to become
A.  an economic Messiah
B. a wonder-worker
C. a conquering Messiah
D. a political Messiah

2. The temptations of Jesus Christ in the wilderness were
A. internal conflicts going on in his mind
B. a preparation for his further ministry
C. a very serious warning to human pride
D. a demonstration of his power

3. By asking Jesus to turn stone into bread, Satan wanted Jesus to
A. be a conquering Messiah
B. be a magician
C. prove his power
D. use divine power to satisfy human needs

4. According to Luke, the third temptation of Jesus by the devil was that he should
A. throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple
B. command the stone to become bread
C. command stone to become bread
D. throw himself down from the peak of the mountain

5. The first temptation of Jesus was to make him
A. known to the world
B. doubt his true identity
C. feed himself
D. bow to Satan

6. “If you are the son of God, command this stone to become bread”. Bread here refers to
A. food
B. wealth
C. word of God
D. luxuries

7. How many days did Jesus fast before he was tempted by the devil?
A. Thirty days
B. Forty days
C. Fifty days
D. Sixty days

8. According to Luke, the second temptation by the devil was that Jesus should
A. jump down from the high mountain
B. bow and worship him
C. order the stone to become bread
D. throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple

9. Satan assured Jesus that god would give his angels charge of him if he should
A. command the stone to become loaves of bread
B. strike his foot against a stone
C. fall down and worship him
D. throw himself down from the temple

10. In the story of the temptation of Jesus, only Mark reported that Jesus was
A. hungry and tired
B. angry with the devil
C. with the wild beast
D. victorious over the devil

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