The three categories of temptation.
“because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but from the world.”
1 John 2:16, NET. The lust by the flesh, the lust by the eyes, and the pride of life are the categories of sin by which Adam and the Woman were tempted. So, likewise, the representative of the new humankind was tempted with the same categories of sin by Satan. The new human spirit that God put in Jesus was tempted in the desert.
The first category of temptation – is lust by the flesh. “The tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” Matthew 4:3, NET. Satan knew who Jesus was. However, he also knew that Jesus was hungry and did not eat for forty days. In an attempt to sow doubt in Jesus’ mind, Satan said, If you are the Son of God. Satan thought that Jesus would be inclined to satisfy his personal needs. Satan employed the same approach with the Woman in the Garden. Satan led the Woman to satisfy desire by her eyes, to get good food pleasing to her eye, and desire to gain knowledge. Genesis 3:6.
The second category of temptation – is the pride of life. Satan led Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point. The highest point is a part of the wall the Romans built around the temple area. That part of the wall is still there. “and he said to him, If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Matthew 4:6, NET. Satan again attempted to sow doubt into the mind of Jesus. He also wanted Jesus to engage in a discussion concerning the verse in Psalms 91:11, 12. Satan quoted God’s command in a different order of words but said the same thing. Satan used the same approach with the woman in the garden. However, the Woman wanted to correct Satan by adding to God’s command. Genesis 3:2, 3. Jesus, however, responded, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” Deuteronomy 6:16. Jesus quoted it correctly.
The third temptation is lust by the eyes. Satan knew that Jesus had come to rescue the world from Satan’s hold, so he led him to a very high mountain and showed him all the world’s great kingdoms. Here they are. You want these kingdoms to belong to you, “I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.” Mathew 4:9, NET. Satan became the prince of this world, and he tried his best to keep it. To that end, he offered Jesus an option to gain the world without suffering the cross of Christ. However, Jesus came to this world to save it, not himself. Jesus could not have saved himself and saved the helpless humanity also. However, because he loved humankind, he chose to experience the separation from the Father so that humanity could live forever in him.
The Cross of Christ. Read the next blog.
