Temptation of Christ

The temptation of Christ is a biblical narrative detailed in the gospels of Matthew,^[1] Mark,^[2] and Luke.^[3] After being baptized by John the Baptist, Jesus was tempted by the devil after 40 days and nights of fasting in the Judaean Desert. At the time, Satan came to Jesus and tried to tempt him. Jesus having refused each temptation, Satan then departed and Jesus returned to Galilee to begin his ministry. During this entire time of spiritual battle, Jesus was fasting.

The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews also refers to Jesus having been tempted "in every way that we are, except without sin".^[4]

Mark's account is very brief, merely noting the event. Matthew and Luke describe the temptations by recounting the details of the conversations between Jesus and Satan. Since the elements that are in Matthew and Luke but not in Mark are mostly pairs of quotations rather than detailed narration, many scholars believe these extra details originate in the theoretical Q Document.^[5] The temptation of Christ is not explicitly mentioned in the Gospel of John but in this gospel Jesus does refer to the Devil, "the prince of this world", having no power over him.^[6]

In church calendars of many Christian denominations, Jesus' forty day period of fasting in the Judaean Desert is remembered during the season of Lent, during which many Christians fast, pray and give alms to the poor.^[7]

^ Matthew 4:1–11, NRSV
^ Mark 1:12–13, NRSV
^ Luke 4:1–13, NRSV
^ Hebrews 2:18, 4:15, Common English Bible.
^ See David Flusser, “Die Versuchung Jesu und ihr jüdischer Hintergrund”, Judaica: Beiträge zum Verstehen des Judentums 45 (1989): 110–128 (for an English translation of this article, click here).
^ John 14:30
^ Brown, Therese; Delgatto, Laurie (2004). Catechetical Sessions on Liturgy and the Sacraments. Saint Mary's Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-88489-829-0. Lent is a solemn, reflective season of the liturgical year that is the preparation for the mysteries of Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, and lasts forty days, until Easter (the forty days do not include the Sundays during Lent). The forty days of Lent recall the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert before beginning his public ministry. During Lent Christians are called to renew themselves through fasting, prayer and almsgiving (giving money and service to those in need).

[1] Matthew 4:1–11, NRSV

[2] Mark 1:12–13, NRSV

[3] Luke 4:1–13, NRSV

[4] Hebrews 2:18, 4:15, Common English Bible.

[5] See David Flusser, “Die Versuchung Jesu und ihr jüdischer Hintergrund”, Judaica: Beiträge zum Verstehen des Judentums 45 (1989): 110–128 (for an English translation of this article, click here).

[6] John 14:30

[BrownDelgatto2004-7] Brown, Therese; Delgatto, Laurie (2004). Catechetical Sessions on Liturgy and the Sacraments. Saint Mary's Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-0-88489-829-0. Lent is a solemn, reflective season of the liturgical year that is the preparation for the mysteries of Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday, and lasts forty days, until Easter (the forty days do not include the Sundays during Lent). The forty days of Lent recall the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert before beginning his public ministry. During Lent Christians are called to renew themselves through fasting, prayer and almsgiving (giving money and service to those in need).

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