- The first temptation of Christ, to turn stones to bread, is of the body. Jesus must fight his hunger to obey the Lord’s command.
- The second temptation, to jump off a high building, is of the mind. Jesus refuses to question God’s love and flaunt his power.
- The third temptation, to rule all the kingdoms, is of the heart. Jesus remains loyal to the Lord and refuses to bow down to Satan and rule with him.
The 3 Temptations of Christ: Overview
Jesus faces a temptation of the body, mind, and heart in Matthew. In the Bible, after John baptizes Jesus, Christ fasts in the Judaean Desert for 40 days and nights. When the 40 days are up, Satan (or the devil) visits Jesus and tries to tempt him. Satan bribes Christ with 3 things that would make his current state easier, yet Jesus refuses each one, proving his loyalty and devotion to the Lord. The 3 temptations are as follows: Physical temptation (the body): Satan offers Jesus food, but he refuses as he knows the Lord will provide his daily bread (Matthew 4:3-4). Emotional temptation (the mind): Satan challenges Jesus to jump off a temple if he’s truly the Son of God, but Jesus remains still because the Lord shouldn’t be tested (Matthew 4:5-7). Control temptation (the heart): Satan offers Jesus power over all the kingdoms of the world, but Jesus refuses because he will only worship God (Matthew 4:8-10). These 3 temptations represent the challenges Christians face to remain loyal to the Lord. Sometimes, the body, mind, and heart are tested, but God-fearing people stay faithful no matter what.
Symbolism of the 3 Temptations
The first temptation symbolizes faith over bodily hungers and lusts. When the devil comes to visit Jesus, he’s been fasting for 40 days—Christ is starving! But the Lord instructed him that food would be given at a divine time. Satan urges Jesus to turn stones into bread to stop his hunger—if he’s really the Son of God, he could do it. But Jesus remains hungry because he knows his devotion to God’s word is more important. All in all, this temptation symbolizes how God will provide for you if you trust in Him. “The tempter came to him and said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’” (Matthew 4:3-4).
The second temptation represents humility over pride and spectacle. This temptation is an allegory for the soul and mirrors the relationship between Christian faith and doubt. Satan brings Jesus to Jerusalem and sets him on top of the tallest building. He then urges Jesus to jump if his God is as powerful as he claims—God will save him, proving in front of the masses that Jesus is His son. As before, Christ refuses to do so because God will make the truth known when the time is right. This temptation, therefore, symbolizes humble devotion over public feats of faith. “Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down’...Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Matthew 4:5-7).
The third temptation signifies loyalty to the Lord above all others. As the final temptation, Satan takes Christ to the top of the highest mountain, where they can overlook all the kingdoms. The devil offers Jesus all the power in the world as long as Christ kneels down to him. Like before, Jesus says “no” because the only one who should be worshiped is the Lord, symbolizing that the Lord above is the one and only almighty God. “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Matthew 4:8-10).
Temptation vs. Sin
Temptation isn’t the same as sin in the Christian faith. Temptation is the desire to do something, whereas sin is the act of doing something unfaithful or condemnable. You can be tempted by sinful acts, but you’re not committing a sin unless you act on those tempting thoughts. Think of it like this: Say you see someone attractive walking down the road. Looking at this person and fantasizing about them is a temptation. If you were to act on these fantasies and cheat on your partner, then you’d be sinning. When Satan bribes Jesus, he’s tempting him; however, Christ never sins because he steps away and refuses all the temptations.
In Conclusion
At the end of the day, anyone can be tempted, even Christ. The temptations Jesus faced mirror the temptations Christians face every day. Satan tempted Jesus to disobey and question the Lord’s command, yet he remained strong. Christ’s experience in the desert is a reminder that nobody is immune to Satan’s word; however, anyone (even Jesus) can remain faithful to the Lord. So, what does this tale prove? That the Lord’s desires are above your own. That it’s best to stay humble and true to your faith despite what people think or say. That one should worship and serve only God. With each temptation, Jesus refuses Satan by responding with scripture. This is important because everything you ever need is in the Bible—the Lord’s word can guide you away from temptation.
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