THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS Matt. 4: 1-11

CONTENT

• Meaning of Temptation.
• The Temptation of Jesus Christ.
• The Significance of the Temptation of Jesus Christ.
• Temptation in Nigeria Today and How to Overcome Them

MEANING OF TEMPTATION

To tempt someone is to make that person do something that he or she is not supposed to do because it is evil.  To do something that is contrary to the will of God.  Temptation in itself is not a bad thing.  It is only when we fail to overcome it that it becomes a bad thing.

EVALUATION

What is temptation?

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS CHRIST

After his baptism, Jesus was led by the power of the Spirit into the desert, where he was tempted by the devil.  The temptation started after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights and He was hungry. 

Temptation to turn stone to bread:

In the first temptation the tempter said: “if you are the son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread”.  This was to make Jesus appear as an economic messiah, Jesus rejected this temptation by quoting the scriptures saying: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”.

Temptation to jump down:

In the second temptation, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and 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 will give his angels charge of you and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone”.

This was to make Jesus become a wonder working Messiah by performing great miracles to amaze the people.  Jesus made the right choice by rejecting this temptation.  He did this by quoting the scriptures and said: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God”.

Temptation to worship Satan:

In the final temptation, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them and said to him: “All these I will give you, if you shall fall down and worship me”.

Jesus was here being tempted to become a political messiah by worshiping the devil.  Again, Jesus quoted from the scriptures to reject this temptation saying;

“Be gone Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve. Jesus preferred to come as the Messiah who will suffer to save people from their sins than to appear as an economic or miracle or political messiah.  He triumphed over temptation because he made the right choice

 Moral instructions and application to practical daily living today:

To overcome temptations to sin you should:

(i)         Avoid situations that could lead to temptation.

(ii)        Fill your mind with good and holy thoughts all the time.

(iii)       Have strong self-control or self-discipline.

(iv)       Be satisfied with what you have and your lot in life.

(v)        Shurn any thought of achieving success through unholy means.

(vi)       Have the courage to say no all the time to whatever is unholy.

(vii)      Pray to God always to lead you not to fall into temptation.

EVALUATION

1. State the three temptations of Jesus Christ in the wilderness.
   1. Mention two significance of Jesus’ temptation.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Each of the temptation was directed to cause Jesus to be false to his messiahship. The first temptation was to make false his perfect humanity. Despite his hunger, Jesus did not submit to the temptation. He knows he has the power but avoided unnecessary show of power. The second was to make him win men’s heart not by love as required by the messiah but by startling signs. This is quite true because man always wants to see signs before they believe. Man doubts a lot but only believes if he is given a sign of evidence. The third was to make him not to win his kingdom through suffering as required of the messiah. If Jesus had loved political power, he would have bowed down and worshiped the devil but he did not do so.

EVALUATION

Discuss the significance of the temptation of Jesus.

TEMPTATION IN NIGERIA TODAY AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM

Temptations in Nigeria are numerous these days. Some of them are:

1. The desire to be rich overnight without work.
2. The desire to pass an examination without studying.
3. The greed for wealth at all cost
4. The greed for political power at all cost.
5. Setting unrealistic ambitions.
6. Uncontrolled sexual desire.

The followings are ways of overcoming these temptations mentioned;

1. Patience and hard work.
2. Taking one’s study seriously.
3. Setting realistic goals for one.
4. Avoiding the desire to rule at all cost.
5. Avoiding unrealistic ambitions.
6. Taming one’s sexual desire.

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTIONS

1. How can we overcome temptation?
2. State the three temptations of Jesus Christ according to Luke accounts.
3. State the four stages Ape-man passed through according to Charles Darwin?
4. Give two ways in which man is totally unique to other animals.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Read Fundamentals of Religious Studies, Basic Eight, by A.E. Osubele, pgs 20    

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1.   _____ is the suggestion to do evil.

      (a) trial (b) temptation (c) persecution (d) low self esteem

2.   The first temptation of Jesus was to ________.

      (a) Turn stone to bread (b) jump down (c) worship Satan (d) show off his power

3.   Thou shall not tempt the Lord your God was said by ____.

      (a) Jesus Christ           (b) John the Baptist        (c) Satan (d) Caiaphas

4.   According to Matthew’s account the third temptation of Jesus Christ was to _____

      (a) turn stone to bread      (b)  jump down         (c) worship Satan (d) walk on water

5.   The first temptation of Jesus Christ was to make him _______ Messiah.

      (a) economic       (b) political         (c) peaceful (d) geographical

THEORY

1. State the three temptations of Jesus Christ according to Matthew and Luke’s account.
2. Compare the similarities and differences.