His and Our Temptations, a Reflection on Matthew 4:1-11

In the verses just before this passage, Jesus is baptized by John. Just as he comes out of the water, the Spirit of God descends from the heavens and lands on him. Then a voice announces, "This is my Son."

We might pause a moment and consider what being a son entails, what are the obligations, and, more interesting to some of us, what are the benefits.

Jesus was offered three benefits (or was tempted to show off what he, as Son, could do): the power to convert stones to bread; the ability to escape the pull of gravity; many riches if he would transfer his allegiance away from his Father.

The lectionary has placed this passage at the beginning of Lent. So, we can read about Jesus' temptations and consider how they might be applicable in our own lives. For example, how much effort, mental and physical, even social, do I put into worrying about something that I was consume immediately and only I will consume? How important is impressive the crowd to me? Would I rather do something flashy than something that wouldn't be noticed? When faced with a hard, or even a not-so-hard decision, do I really believe that what God wants is more important than other considerations?

Thomas Long, in his commentary on Matthew, points out that the ancient Hebrews faced similar tests on their long journey through the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land. He suggests looking again at Exodus 16; 17; and 19-32. They complained, they failed, they looked for other sources of help. Well, how different from ours is their story?

Long summarizes the three temptations as they appear to us. For the first, he says,

The church experiences this form of temptation whenever it risks losing sight of the breadth of its calling or when we measure the effectiveness of the church according to how quickly it responds to our personal ideas and needs, our demand to be fed.

For the second,

Trying out the promises of God to "see if they really work" is a sign not of sure faith but of fundamental doubt. It implies that ... we also know how, when, and where God is supposed to fulfill these divine promises. If God doesn't perform in just that prescribed way, either God must be a liar or there is no God....God is treated as our servant.

For the third,

Whenever we bow down to that which is not God--to nation, or race, or family, or social standing--hoping that this will fill our hearts, succumb to this temptation....

Long then summarizes his summaries:
Jesus does not waver from his calling, does not step off the way of suffering lured by the illusion of a shortcut, does not bypass the cross.