Jesus Temptation Quotes, Part 1
How Moses’ last words helped Jesus beat the Devil
Jesus’ temptations are reported in Matthew 4:1–11 and Luke 4:1–13.
The devil presents three temptations, and he rejects each one by quoting from scripture. It’s worth noting that every quote he makes in this scene comes from the book of Deuteronomy.
This entire book gives Moses’ final speeches to the Israelites. He is about to die, and after he dies, the Israelites will enter the Promised Land. Jesus’ forty days of temptation in the wilderness were symbolic of Israel’s forty years of wandering.
At the end of his forty days, he draws upon the words from the end of Israel’s forty years. The point is he passes the test that Israel failed. So I thought it would be interesting to examine the verses he quoted and why he would choose those particular verses.
Turn These Stones to Bread
The first temptation is what we would all expect after fasting for forty days. The fast is over, and he needs some food, but there’s no food around. So the devil says, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread” (Matthew 4:3 NRSV).
It sounds harmless. He hasn’t eaten in forty days. I don’t think anyone would fault him if he just…
