The Gospel according to Saint Matthew, in chapter 4, tells us how Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil. He was there after having fasted for forty days and forty nights.
This passage shows us that temptation is not something foreign to the life of faith. Even the Son of God, filled with the Spirit, experienced moments of testing. The desert represents a place of solitude, silence, and confrontation, where the heart is exposed and intentions are revealed. It is in this context that Jesus faces the enemy, not with physical strength, but with obedience and trust in the Word of God.
The Master was hungry, and that is why the devil told him to turn the stones into bread, but Jesus gave him a blunt answer, making it clear that he was not going to do what the devil wanted him to do.
Hunger here is not only physical, but symbolic. The devil tries to take advantage of a moment of weakness to provoke Jesus into using His power for selfish purposes. However, Jesus teaches us that life is sustained not only by material things, but by complete dependence on God. His response reminds us that obedience to the Father must always come before satisfying immediate desires.
Later the devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and asked him to throw himself down because the Scripture clearly says: “He will give his angels charge over you, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” But Jesus answered that the Scripture also speaks of not tempting God.
In this second temptation, the enemy uses Scripture itself in an attempt to manipulate and distort its true meaning. This teaches us an important lesson: knowing the Word of God superficially is not enough; it must be understood in truth and humility. Jesus shows that faith does not consist of testing God or demanding signs, but of trusting Him fully, even when no visible proof is given.
Finally the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him different kingdoms and their glory and told him that he would give him all of that if he would worship him on his knees. Verse 7 of Matthew 4 shows us Jesus’ response that finally made him go away and leave him alone:
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Matthew 4:10
This last temptation reveals the true intention of the devil: to receive worship and take the place that belongs only to God. The offer of power, glory, and authority may seem attractive, but it comes at a terrible cost. Jesus rejects this proposal firmly, showing that loyalty to God is non-negotiable. There is no shortcut to glory that bypasses obedience to the Father.
Then angels came to serve the Lord. This gives us a clear lesson that although the pleasures and desires of this world may seem very attractive to us, God can help us in any trial we have.
The presence of the angels reminds us that God never abandons those who remain faithful. Although Jesus faced temptation alone, heaven was attentive to His obedience. In the same way, when we resist evil and remain firm in our faith, God strengthens us and provides what we need at the right time.
We must have the courage and bravery to resist the devil and the desires of this world, and the devil will flee from us. He who conquered death will be with us to also obtain that great victory. God bless you.
This passage encourages every believer to stand firm in moments of trial. Temptations will come in many forms: material needs, pride, power, or recognition. However, just as Jesus overcame by relying on the Word of God, we too can overcome when we place our trust in Him. Let us remember that victory does not come from yielding, but from remaining faithful to God in every circumstance.