Luke 4:1-13
New International Version
Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness 4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Monday January 24
Immediately after Jesus was baptized and heard God declare His love and favor, the Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the place where the devil (literally=slanderer, liar) began to tempt Him to use his position as God's Son for power, glory, and fame. This is critically important. We pray in the Lord's Prayer, "Lead us not into temptation" and Martin Luther rightly teaches, "God tempts no one." Instead, what we are praying for is that "God would not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice." Luther finishes by saying, "Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory." Jesus shows us what it means to live by faith. We cling to the promises of God's Word in the midst of trial, instead of taking control and attempting to dominate others or seek our own glory.
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