MPV Commentary

And so we come to the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. This is where Satan comes at him with his most cunning and subtle attacks, trying to get him to doubt God's plan and His identity as the Son of God.

The first temptation is a straightforward one: "Turn these stones into bread." It's a clever play on Jesus' hunger and fatigue after fasting for 40 days. But Jesus responds by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, saying that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. This shows us that Jesus is committed to following God's plan, even when it means going without physical sustenance.

The second temptation is a clever one, where Satan quotes Psalm 91 and says that if Jesus will worship him, he'll give him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. But this is a blatant lie, as Satan has no authority to give away what belongs to God. Jesus sees through this deception and responds by quoting Deuteronomy 6:13, saying that we are to worship the Lord our God and serve Him only.

The third temptation is perhaps the most subtle of all. Satan takes Jesus up to a high mountain and shows him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. This is not just a natural sight, but a supernatural one, where Satan has been given permission to show Jesus the extent of his power. But this is still a lie, as Satan does not have ultimate authority over these kingdoms. He offers them to Jesus on condition that he will worship him, which is a monstrous and blasphemous claim.

In each of these temptations, Jesus responds by quoting Scripture and standing firm in His commitment to God's plan. This shows us the importance of knowing and applying God's Word in our own lives, especially when we're faced with difficult choices or tempting situations.

The final scene of this temptation is one of great joy and triumph. After Satan has exhausted all his options, he departs from Jesus until a later time (John 14:30). And then, angels come and minister to Jesus, supplying him with food and supernatural support. This is a beautiful picture of God's care and provision for His Son, and it reminds us that we too can experience this kind of care and provision when we stand firm in our commitment to Him.

As we reflect on these temptations, let's remember that Satan will always try to get us to doubt God's plan and His identity. But with Jesus as our example, we can resist these temptations by standing firm in the truth of Scripture and committing ourselves to following God's plan, no matter what it costs.