February 2, 2020, Matthew 4:1-11 – ISSL Reflection

I.
Over the last several weeks we have focused on events surrounding the Temple. This week we move to the Gospel of Matthew and while the Temple is again mentioned the focus is on Jesus’ wilderness experience and some challenges he faces before he begins his announcement of the advent of the Kingdom of God.

Take time to slowly read over these few verses. Let them sink deep into your mind and heart. How do you see Jesus at the end of this time of fasting and solitude being confronted with these challenges to his mission?

II.
Matthew 4:1-11 (New Revised Standard Version)

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”

Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

III.
We usually refer to this scene as the “Temptation of Jesus.” The tempter/devil presents Jesus with three challenges each of which in one way or another questions Jesus’ relationship to God the Father, and the manner in which Jesus will go about his work for the Kingdom.

To each challenge Jesus’ response is rooted in the Hebrew Scripture.

As you look at these challenges and Jesus’ responses, think about how you would express what each challenge has in common and what each of Jesus’ responses have in common.

What would you name as the “theme” in each set of challenge and response and even as the overarching core of the “temptations.”

Give that some thought, and we’ll get back together later,

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


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