(Luke 3:21-22; 4:1-13; John 13:1-2; 14:26-31; 22:39-46; John 13:15)
After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, heaven was opened and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came upon him in bodily form. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it had been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’ ”
Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and: ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’ ”
When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.
Before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to his Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, Son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So [Jesus began to teach them, saying,] “The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
“You have heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.
“Get up, let us go.”
Then going out he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them, “Pray that you may not undergo the test.” After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be done.” … When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping from grief. He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.”
“I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”
The temptation narrative in Matthew’s Gospel (4:3) identifies the devil first as “the tempter.”
In his first epistle to the Thessolonian church (2:17-3:8), Paul also mentions “the tempter”:
“I sent to learn about your faith,
for fear that somehow the tempter had put you to the test and our toil might come to nothing.”
Brothers, when we were bereft of you for a short time, in person, not in heart, we were all the more eager in our great desire to see you in person. We decided to go to you – I, Paul, not only once but more than once – yet Satan thwarted us. For what is our hope or joy or crown to boast in the presence of our Lord at his coming if not you yourselves? For you are our glory and joy.
That is why, when we could bear it no longer, we decided to remain alone in Athens, and sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one be disturbed in these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For even when we were among you, we used to warn you in advance that we would undergo affliction, just as happened, as you know. For this reason, when I too could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had put you to the test and our toil might come to nothing.
But just now Timothy has returned to us from you, bringing us the good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us and long to see us as we long to see you. Because of this, we have been reassured about you, brothers, in our every distress and affliction, through your faith. For we now live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
To the Corinthian church (1Co 10:10-14), Paul gives this confident word of encouragement:
“God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength.”
Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer. These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of ages has come.
Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall. No trial has come to you but what is human. God is faithful and will not let you be tried beyond your strength; but with the trial he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to bear it.
James (1:12-18) writes of temptation in this way:
“Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved
he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.”
No one experiencing temptation should say, “I am being tempted by God”; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.
Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
See the teaching regarding “Lead us not into temptation” in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (2846-2849).
“We ask him not to allow us to take the way that leads to sin.
We are engaged in the battle ‘between flesh and spirit’;
this petition implores the Spirit of discernment and strength.”
The catechism goes on to teach concerning “deliver us from evil” (2850-2854):
“In this petition, evil is not an abstraction, but refers to a person, Satan, the Evil One,
the angel who opposes God.
The devil (dia-bolos) is the one who “throws himself across” God’s plan
and his work of salvation accomplished in Christ.”
Deliver us, Lord, we beseech you, from every evil and grant us peace in our day,
so that aided by your mercy
we might be ever free from sin and protected from all anxiety,
as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
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