“tempted by the devil”
What is temptation? Temptation is “the solicitation to sin, whether by persuasion or offering some pleasure. It may arise from the world, the flesh, or the devil.” [1] The very basic temptations derive not from the Devil himself, but our own evil concupiscence and inclination to sin which adhere to us through original sin (Jas 1:14), on account of which it is said that the flesh lusts against the spirit (Gal. 5:17). [2] That being said however, the Devil does indeed tempt all of us at some point in our lives. This is why Satan is called the tempter in today’s Gospel.
How does the devil tempt us to sin? He does it in a two fold manner: First, he looks to incite are desires and pleasure to sin (our concupiscence), and then looks to confuse us and blind us from the truth. He also tempts bad people to persecute us, or to try us by their wicked vanities, as he did by the friends of Job. [3]
Can the devil force us to sin? No. As St. Augustine wrote, “for as a chained dog can bite none but those who go near him, so the devil cannot harm with his temptations those who do not consent to them. Like the dog he can bark at you, but cannot bite you against your will.” For us, we should never consent into conversation with the Devil. We see how it played out for our first parents in the first reading for today. They were blinded and lied to of the fruit from the tree of knowledge. We may feel the heat of Satan’s breath on the back of our necks sometimes, but he can not touch a hair on our head if we don’t allow him. We see in the garden a pattern that Satan takes. He enters in unnoticed (more subtle than any other creature), begins a conversation (Did God say you shall not eat of any tree of the garden?), plants the seed of doubt through a lie (You will not die) and makes something bad look good (when you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God). We cannot let Satan get a stronghold but rather not let him enter into our lives and not let hold a conversation with him. “We must watch, especially in the beginning of temptation, for then the enemy is more easily overcome, if he be not suffered to enter the door of the mind, but is withstood upon the threshold the very moment he knocks…When ills have gathered strength, by long delay, first there comes from the mind a simple thought; then a strong imagination, afterwards delight, and the evil motion and consent and so, little by little the fiend does gain entrance, when he is not resisted in the beginning.” [4]
Why would Satan try to tempt Jesus when Jesus is God? While Satan is very intelligent and powerful being an angelic being, he is not divine, and not all knowing. Satan was very well aware of the coming messiah and new it was drawing near, but he did not know exactly how God was going to do it. Satan tempts Jesus to test whether or not Jesus could be the coming messiah. [5]
Could Jesus have fallen? No, Jesus could not have fallen because he is fully God. Being fully divine it is in His nature that he was incapable of sinning.
Why did Jesus allow himself be tempted then? Jesus allowed the temptations so as to give us an example of humility, and to teach us to overcome the temptations that we are going to have to undergo in the course of our lives. [6] Jesus amerces himself in all things human, including being tempted by the devil, to be the perfect example. “As Our Lord did everything for our instruction so he wished to be led out into the wilderness and they’re to enter into combat with the devil. He did this in order that the baptized should not be troubled if after Baptism they suffer still greater temptations, as though such were not to be expected.” [7] The temptation of Christ is placed on the first Sunday of Lent and is our invitation to go into battle with Our Lord against Satan. During Lent especially, the Church is an “immense army, fighting day and night against their spiritual enemies. We remember how, on Ash Wednesday, the Church calls Lent a Christian warfare. In order that we may have newness of life, which will make us worthy to sing once more our Alleluia, we must conquer our three enemies: the devil, the flesh, and the world. We are fellow combatants with our Jesus, for He, too, submits to the triple temptation, suggested to Him by Satan in person.” [8]
What is the triple temptation in the Life of Christ? What is the triple temptation is our life? In today’s Gospel we witness the victory of Christ over Satan, a victory we can share in. It is a victory over that which is in the world which Saint John writes about. “For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world.” [9]
Sensual lust is conquered in the first temptation as Christ refuses to satisfying self, bring himself pleasure, in turning rock to bread.
Enticement for the eyes is conquered in the third temptation as Christ is shown all that is “of the world” and is offered everything, but says no.
A prideful life is conquered in the second temptation as Christ is tempted to make a spectacle of himself by throwing himself from the temple and being saved by the angels.
Give examples of the temptations of pleasure (sensual lust), worldly goods (enticement for the eyes) and prideful life in our life?
Each day at Prime (prayed between 9am and Noon) the following prayer is prayed from the Officium Divinum. “Now that the sun has risen, let us as suppliants ask of God that in today’s acts he preserve us from all that may hurt us. May He check and restrain our tongue so that it be not an instrument of discord and strife. May He screen and protect our eyes so that they do not drink in vanities. May out inmost soul be pure and the folly of impurity find in us no place; may moderation in food and drink wear down the body’s pride.”
How does this prayer combat our three fold concupiscence? We ask that God “screen and protect our eyes so that they do not drink in vanities.” This is the third temptation of Christ, the enticement of the eyes. We ask to have, “moderation in food and drink.” This is the first temptation, sensual lust. We ask that “our inmost soul be pure.” If our thoughts, words and actions are pure, then they are directed toward God and not self. We can give glory to God in all things and combat the desire of a prideful life in which all thoughts, words and actions are directed toward self.
Jesus allowed himself to be tempted was to fix what Adam and Eve had broken. As we read in today’s first reading, Adam and Eve were in paradise, but were tricked by the serpent. Thus, they were sent out into the desert. Jesus heads back out into that desert to be tempted, but not given in to the temptations. “Jesus is the new Adam who remained faithful just where the first Adam had given in to temptation...Jesus’ victory over the tempter in the desert anticipates victory at the Passion, the supreme act of obedience of his filial love for the Father.” [10] “St. Basil, St. John Chrysostom, St. Jerome, and St. Gregory the Great, make the remark, that the commandment put upon our first parents in the earthly paradise was one of abstinence; and that it was by their not exercising this virtue, that they brought every kind of evil upon themselves and upon their children.” [11] Adam and Eve were able to eat of any fruit but were commanded to abstain from the tree in the middle of the garden. In their unwillingness to deprive themselves of the tree, they deprived themselves of God. Adam and Eve said no to abstinence. Jesus says yes to a voluntary abstinence for forty days and nights.
When did the serpent come after Jesus? Satan came after Jesus when Jesus was most vulnerable. After an intense forty days of fasting and Jesus was “hungry”. At Jesus weakest state physically, this is when Satan comes in contact with Jesus for the first time.
Why was Jesus hungry? Because he went forty days with eating or drinking anything! Try going without food even for forty hours. It could be nearly impossible. Christ, although God, is still fully human. He can still feel the pangs of hunger.
When are we most tempted? When we are hungry, angry, lonely or tired? We can remember this by the acronym H.A.L.T. When we are hungry, angry, lonely or tired we should halt, stop and pray. Why and how are we tempted most when we are hungry, angry, lonely and tired?
Why are we tempted? [12]
1. That you may so learn that you are now stronger.
It is in temptation that we test the grace that we have received. Like a solider who is given new weapons, he only knows the power of the new weapons when he goes into battle.
2. Lest you be exalted by the greatness of His gifts.
Many times we can feel as if the gifts of God are a force field and we can become spiritually prideful.
3. That the devil may receive proof you have wholly renounced him.
Do we really know if we have rejected Satan if we don’t ever have to fight him. Does Satan know the strength of our renunciation if he never faces us in battle.
4. That by this trial you may become yet stronger.
In any battle we become stronger, because we see both our opponents strengthens and weakness as well as our own. Remember temptation is not sin. Sin never makes us stronger.
5. That you may receive an indication of the treasure you have received: for the devil would not so pursue you, to tempt you, did he not see that you had now come to a higher dignity.
The devil does not pursue what he already has, just as a cat does not pursue that mouse that he has already caught. The fact that Satan is chasing us, is proof that we are claimed by Christ and that Satan desires to take us from Christ.
[1] Modern Catholic Dictionary pg. 534
[2] The Church’s Year pg. 130
[3] The Church’s Year pgs. 130-131
[4] Imitation of Christ; Book 1, Chapter 13 (Ninth Day of the Total Consecration )
[5] In Conversation with God vol. 2 5.1
[6] In Conversation with God vol. 2 5.1
[7] St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on St. Matthew, 13, 1
[8] Abbot Gueranger, O.S.B.; The Liturgical Year; Book 5; page 21
[9] 1 John 2:16
[10] CCC 539
[11] Abbot Gueranger, O.S.B.; The Liturgical Year; Book 5; page 3-4
[12] Catena Aurea, Saint John Chrysostom, Hom. 13 in Matthew