The Temptation of Christ

“The Temptation of Christ” (1854) by Ary Scheffer, Walker Art Gallery (Accession No. WAG 6584), Liverpool, England, (PD)

The Bible records in detail Christ’s temptation in the desert before He began His ministry.  Since Christ was fully human, as well as fully divine, we can be sure this was not the only time He was tempted (Heb. 4: 15).

We can learn much from the temptation of Christ, not only about Him but ourselves.

Satan, we know, sought to tempt Christ in an effort to undermine the plan of Salvation, formulated before the foundations of the world were laid (Eph. 1: 4; 1 Peter 1: 19-20).  Redemption required a sinless Savior.

But the temptations in the desert can, also, be applied to the ages of man.  Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen explored that in his book A Brief Life of Christ [1].

First Temptation

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry.  Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’  But He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”‘” (Matt. 4: 1-4).

Satan first urged Christ to become an economic savior, to offer the public wealth, prosperity, and the overthrow of the elite.  This would have assured His popularity, as it later did for such pseudo-saviors as Joseph Stalin and Mao Tse-tung who made false economic promises. 

Knowing His destiny, however, Christ declined this suggestion.

This first temptation, also, parallels the first stage of man’s life, i.e. his youth.  Since cognitive reasoning skills take time to develop, temptations involving the flesh or physical gratification are difficult to resist at this stage.  Think of an infant crying for a bottle or a small child longing for a toy.

“It is in our youth that we must learn that our passions are not necessarily wrong, but ‘eating bread’ without God will harm us, meaning that we should reject passions outside of God’s will, even if we must go ‘hungry’.”

–Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen [2A]

Second Temptation

“Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:  “He shall give His angels charge over you,” and, “In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”‘  Jesus said to him, ‘’It is written again, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”‘” (Matt. 4: 5-7).

Satan next urged Christ to become a savior of wonders and spectacle.  Mankind would not understand or accept a crucified God.  So the tempter implied. 

Indeed, the public is drawn to circuses of which the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) and AI are only the latest (Luke 23: 8, John 6: 2).  Some cult leaders have claimed to levitate, walk through walls, or read minds.  The cult leader Sun Myung Moon claimed to be the Messiah, as did many other false messiahs.  The cult leaders Jim Jones and David Koresh both mistakenly believed they were God.

Christ, however, is God.  He, therefore, declined this proposition, rebuking Satan.

This was a temptation of pride and egotism.  And so it is with the second stage of a man’s life [2B]. We wish to make a name for ourselves.  Power and prestige tempt us to the point of narcissism.

“This can be seen in anything from climbing the corporate ladder to trying to impress others in church ministry, or just spending inordinate amounts of time working on ‘six-pack abs’.  If we were somewhat successful at resisting the temptations of the flesh in our youth, Satan may say to us, ‘Very well, if you really trust God do something heroic.  Be amazing!  Make a name for yourself!'”

–Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen [2C]

Note that this is not achievement for the glory of God, but for our own sake.

Third Temptation

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan!  For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve'” (Matt. 4: 8-10).

As the god of this fallen world (2 Cor. 4: 4), Satan offered Christ all the kingdoms of the earth.  But these are ephemeral at best.  Perishable.  No matter how grandiose, they all pass away.

Christ forcibly declined this temptation, referencing His Father, the Lord of heaven and earth (Ps. 146: 6).

In the third stage man’s life, we are drawn to possessions and the security of worldly things.

“We may have avoided the traps of the flesh in youth and the snares of pride in middle age, but it’s hard to let go completely and be ‘led where we do not want to go’ [John 21: 18].  Excessive hording of earthly goods and money as economic security gives the illusion of control.  This preoccupation will distract us from our treasure in heaven and this happens at the worst time possible, the very end of our lives.”

–Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen [2D]

Other forms this temptation may take in our own day include plastic surgery, the modern fountain of youth.  There is even a Longevity Movement [3].  All to avoid facing our mortality.

Christ knew he faced the cross.  He could not be dissuaded.  It was His mission to do the Father’s will, to sacrifice Himself out of love for us.  We are invited to do the same for Him, to keep the faith and finish the race (2 Tim. 4: 7).

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[1]  A Brief Life of Christ by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, alternately published by McGraw-Hill, Word on Fire Classics, Penguin Random House, and Angelico Press, © 2011.

[2A through 2D]  Two Catholic Men and a Blog, “Temptations with Christ and Bishop Sheen”, 7/15/14, https://2catholicmen.blogspot.com/2014/07/temptations-with-christ-and-bishop-sheen.html.

[3]  Time, “The Cost of Trying to Live Forever” by Arianna Huffington, 3/2/25, https://time.com/7262950/cost-of-trying-to-live-forever/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us.

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