Jesus was tempted by the devil

A look at what the Bible says about the temptation of Jesus. The theme The devil - Bible facts has a selection of verses showing what the Bible says about the devil.

The first temptation and Jesus' reply was:

Luke 4 verses 1 - 4

1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 
4 Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ” 
 

Jesus was hungry at this point, so his natural desire was to have some food. So he was tempted to use the Holy Spirit power he had just received in order to satisfy his hunger.

The second temptation and Jesus' reply was:

Luke 4 verses 5 - 8

5 The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. 7 If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” 
8 Jesus answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’ ” 
 

Jesus knew that he was the promised special person who would have to suffer greatly before becoming ruler of the world. His natural inclination was to want to by-pass the suffering and become king then, rather than wait for God's plan to happen.

The third temptation and Jesus' reply was:

Luke 4 verses 9 - 12

9 He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, 
‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’ 
11 and, 
‘On their hands they will bear you up, 
lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” 
12 Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” 
 

Jesus was tempted to use the Holy Spirit power to impress people and become their leader at that time.

He overcame all of these temptations to satisfy his natural desires by remembering the Scriptures.

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