Read the Passage: Luke 4:1-22

Jesus’ Temptation (4:1–13)

The temptation of Jesus is recorded in each of the three Synoptic Gospels. In this text, Satan tempts Jesus, in His human nature, regarding His appetites (i.e., flesh), His authority (i.e., power), and His reputation (i.e., fame). Observe that these temptations happened as Jesus was “led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil” (Luke 4:1–2). Note that just as Adam and Eve were tempted by food, so in His first temptation, Jesus was tempted to turn a stone into bread. This temptation dealt with Christ’s bodily appetites, for “He was hungry” (Luke 4:2). To invoke the categories in 1 John 2:16, this temptation involved the “lust of the flesh” (cf. Eph. 2:3). In colloquial terms, bodily temptations often relate to sex, which highlights the fact that temptations concerning the flesh can involve any of the bodily appetites—food, sex, sleep, and the like.

The second temptation of Jesus included Satan taking Christ up on a high mountain, showing Him all the kingdoms of the world, and offering Him earthly authority in exchange for worship. This was obviously a supernatural event, for there is no mountain on earth from which one can see all the kingdoms of the world. To again use the categories later listed in 1 John 2:16, here Satan was tempting Jesus regarding the “lust of the eyes” (cf. Eph. 2:2), which oftentimes involves a desire to control what is seen. Concerning the colloquial trinity of money, sex, and power, this was a temptation toward worldly power. Of course, the irony here is that Jesus is the only one who can rightfully claim, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt. 28:18). In responding to Satan’s offer, as He had done with the first temptation, so here Jesus resisted by quoting Scripture—specifically, Deut. 6:13.

The third temptation of Jesus consisted of Satan challenging Christ to throw Himself off the top of the temple to allow others to see His angelic rescue, thus validating His identity as the Son of God. This temptation was an enticement regarding Jesus’ reputation. This temptation is unique in that here Satan quoted Ps. 91:11–12, showing that the devil knows Scripture too. To utilize John’s categories in 1 John 2:16, this temptation of Christ appealed to “the pride of life” (cf. Eph. 2:3). Of course, self-esteem was the sin that caused Satan to fall (cf. Isa. 14:13–14), so perhaps the devil believed pride to be the strongest of temptations. Yet, as He had done earlier, so here Jesus resisted Satan’s attack by quoting Scripture (cf. Deut. 6:16). Observe that when Christ was tempted He cited Deuteronomy three times. This is interesting, for Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, and this book was originally given to God’s people during their time in the wilderness.

Jesus’ Fame (4:14–15)

After successfully resisting the temptation of the devil, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee” (Luke 4:14). Scripture teaches that when believers resist temptation, Satan will flee from them (cf. Jas. 4:7). Indeed, Paul wrote, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. . . . Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph. 6:11, 17). Luke 4:14–15 reports that as news about Jesus’ ministry inevitably went forth, and as He spoke in their synagogues, He was glorified by all. Observe that the Synoptic Gospels record very little information about Jesus’ ministry between His baptism and His return to Galilee; however, John records that during this time Jesus cleansed the temple, He witnessed to Nicodemus, and He revealed Himself to the Samaritan woman at the well.

Jesus’ Teaching (4:16–22)

Luke starts his account of the beginning of Jesus’ ministry by reporting an event when Christ read from Isa. 60:1–2 in his hometown synagogue in Nazareth. It is interesting that only Luke records this narrative. On this occasion, when He was in the synagogue, Jesus was providentially “handed the book of the prophet Isaiah” (Luke 4:17). After reading the Messianic prophecy, Jesus sat down and proclaimed, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21). While Jesus’ teaching was somewhat ambiguous, those who heard Christ understood that He was claiming to be the Messiah, as they asked one another, “Is this not Joseph’s son?” (Luke 4:22). Jesus’ assertion was backed up not only by “the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22), but also by reports of His miraculous works in Capernaum and elsewhere (cf. Luke 4:14–15, 23).

Application Questions:

1. Given that Jesus was God (cf. Matt. 14:33; John 10:30), and that God cannot be tempted (cf. Jas. 1:13), how can we explain the temptation of Christ?
2. What parallels can you draw between the temptation of Adam and Eve and the temptation of Jesus (cf. Rom. 5:12–21)?
3. Does one have to be capable of giving in to a temptation for the temptation to be legitimate?
4. What does Luke mean in writing that when Jesus resisted the temptations, Satan departed “until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13)?
5. As Jesus read from Isa. 60:1–2 in the synagogue in Nazareth, why did he stop reading in the middle of Isa. 60:2?