The Temptation of Christ

Before Jesus ever preached a sermon, healed the sick, or walked on water, He was led into the wilderness. But let’s pause here because that word—led—is more powerful than it seems. In the original Greek, the word used in Matthew 4:1 is ἀνάγω (anagō), which means to lead up, to bring up to a higher place. The Holy Spirit didn’t just push Jesus into the wilderness—He brought Him there, raising Him to a place of testing that would refine and prove His obedience. This wasn’t aimless wandering. This was a divine appointment.

For forty days, Jesus fasted. The number forty has deep biblical significance. In Hebrew, the word for forty is אַרְבָּעִים (arba'im), and it often represents a period of testing, trial, or judgment. Israel wandered for forty years in the wilderness (Deuteronomy 8:2), Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty days receiving the Law (Exodus 34:28), and Elijah traveled forty days to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8). Each of these moments was about refining, about stripping away dependence on the flesh and drawing near to God. Jesus was stepping into this same pattern—except where Israel had failed in their forty years, He would overcome in His forty days. I would think He prayed that whole time. The Bible doesn’t say what He did during those 40 days, so we can only consider the possibilities. I believe He only prayed and worshiped His Father.

And then came the tempter. The Greek word used here is πειράζω (peirazō), meaning to test, to try, to examine for weakness. Satan wasn’t just throwing random temptations at Jesus—he was probing, searching for an opening. He does the same with us. He studies, he waits, he watches. He knows when we’re hungry, lonely, weak, desperate. He doesn’t waste his attacks. He strikes when we’re vulnerable.

“If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread” (Matthew 4:3). That word εἰ (ei), translated as if, is a conditional statement in Greek. It can mean if or since, depending on the context. Satan wasn’t necessarily questioning whether Jesus was the Son of God—he was daring Him to prove it. This is a classic move of the enemy: Prove yourself. Prove God’s love. Prove you’re worth something. But Jesus didn’t need to prove anything to Satan. His identity was already secure.

Jesus looked directly at the enemy and said vehemently, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live by bread alone…’” (Matthew 4:4). The Greek phrase for it is written is γέγραπται (gegraptai), a perfect passive verb meaning it stands written and remains so. Jesus wasn’t just quoting Scripture—He was declaring an eternal truth that had already been established and could never be undone.

The second temptation wasn’t just about testing Jesus’ faith—it was about twisting God's Word to manipulate Him. It all happened at the highest point of the temple, which in Greek is called πτερυγιον (pterygion), meaning a little wing, extremity, or pinnacle. This wasn’t just any high place—it was likely the southeastern corner of the temple, which overlooked the Kidron Valley with a drop of over 400 feet. Standing there, Satan made his move.

“If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down.”

The phrase “throw Yourself down” in Greek is βάλε σεαυτὸν κάτω (bale seauton katō). The word βάλε (bale) comes from βάλλω (ballō), meaning to cast, to throw forcefully. It’s an aggressive word, implying a reckless, deliberate act. The word κάτω (katō) means downward, to the lower place, emphasizing the idea of a drastic fall. This wasn’t a suggestion for Jesus to step down gently—Satan was daring Him to hurl Himself into the air.

Then Satan quoted Scripture—but with a deceitful twist. He pulled from Psalm 91:11-12:

“For He shall give His angels charge over You, and, in their hands, they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.”

But what did he leave out? The original Hebrew says:

כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה־לָּךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ

“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” (Psalm 91:11)

The phrase “in all your ways” in Hebrew is בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ (b’khol derakhekha). The word דֶּרֶךְ (derek) means way, path, journey, but in Hebrew, it doesn’t just refer to a road—it symbolizes the way of life, the path of righteousness and obedience. So the full verse is saying, God will protect those who walk in His ways, who stay in obedience to Him.

Satan deliberately omitted this phrase because he wasn’t tempting Jesus to trust God—he was tempting Him to step outside of obedience and force God's hand. This was the same sin Israel committed at Massah (מַסָּה), meaning testing, when they demanded a sign from God, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7).

Jesus knew exactly what was happening. He responded with precision:

“It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

The Greek here is powerful. “It is written” is γέγραπται (gegraptai), a perfect passive verb meaning it has been written and still stands written. Jesus was declaring an eternal, unshakable truth.

The word for tempt is ἐκπειράζω (ekpeirazō), which comes from πειράζω (peirazō), meaning to test, to examine for weakness. But this form, ἐκπειράζω, intensifies the meaning—it means to push to the limit, to provoke, to try beyond what is right.

Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, which in Hebrew says:

לֹא תְנַסּוּ אֶת־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“You shall not test the Lord your God.”

The Hebrew word for test here is נָסָה (nasah), meaning to put to the proof, to challenge, to make a trial of. This wasn’t just about doubting God—it was about arrogantly demanding that He prove Himself on human terms.

Jesus wouldn’t do it. He wouldn’t throw Himself down just to prove a point. He didn’t need to. He knew who He was. He knew His Father’s love wasn’t something to test, like a game of chance. That wasn’t faith—that was arrogance. The enemy twisted words, dangling a shortcut, a spectacle, an easy way to win the crowd. “Jump,” the tempter said. “The angels will catch You.” But Jesus saw through the lie. Faith doesn’t demand signs. Faith trusts.

So He answered with the words of Moses, spoken long ago to a stubborn people in the wilderness: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him at Massah.” (Deuteronomy 6:16) Massah—meaning “testing” in Hebrew—was the place where Israel doubted. They were thirsty. Frustrated. And instead of trusting, they demanded a sign, asking, “Is YHWH among us or not?” (Exodus 17:7) The Hebrew phrase here, "הֲיֵשׁ יְהוָה בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ אִם־אָיִן", carries a deep sense of doubt, almost as if they were saying, "Is God really here, or are we on our own?" Their faith wavered.

But Jesus would not waver. He wouldn’t repeat their mistake. He didn’t need proof—He was the proof. The Son who trusted completely, who would not take the easy way.

The enemy always offers shortcuts. A way around suffering, a way to get the crown without the cross. But Jesus had already chosen His road, and it led to Golgotha. Not to a reckless leap for human applause, but to a rugged hill where love would be poured out, not in a show of power, but in surrender.

And isn’t that still the way of the enemy? To whisper half-truths, to dangle what looks good but rots from the inside? To push us toward moments of spectacle instead of surrender? To tempt us to demand signs, to ask God to prove Himself on our terms, as if He owes us something?

It started in the garden. The serpent slithered close, speaking not with force, but with a question: “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1) The Hebrew phrase, "אַף כִּי אָמַר אֱלֹהִים", can be translated as "Did God actually say…?" or even "Did God really mean that?"—a phrase dripping with doubt, an invitation to question the very words of the Creator. The enemy twisted the words, made them seem unreasonable, planted hesitation in the woman’s mind. And she wavered. She saw. She reached. She took.

But Jesus did not waver. The same enemy, the same strategy—but this time, a different outcome. Where the first Adam fell, the last Adam stood firm. He didn’t argue, didn’t reason with the liar. He answered with Scripture, pure and unshaken.

In Greek, when Jesus replied, "It is written" (Matthew 4:7), He used the phrase "Γέγραπται" (Gegraptai)—a perfect passive verb, meaning "It has been written, and it stands written." Not just a past event, but a present reality. The Word of God is not up for debate. It is settled.

The wilderness still comes. The hunger, the thirst, the waiting. The whispers still try to twist what is written. But the road still stretches long and hard, and the cross still stands at the end of it. Jesus has gone before us. He has won the victory.

So when the enemy comes, when the lies press in, when the world says, “Take the easy way,” we answer as Jesus did. We plant our feet, lift our heads, and declare with unwavering confidence: “It is written.”

I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

Anna M. C. Hazen  2025

The image is AI generated on chatgpt.