Theological Meaning of Jesus’ Temptation
Mark’s account on Jesus’ temptation is very brief. Most of the Mark account is found also in the Matthew and Luke versions, with the exception of "with the wild animals." According to the texts, after being baptized, Jesus fasted for forty days and nights in the Judean Desert. During this time, the devil appeared to Jesus and tempted him three times. Jesus having refused each temptation, the devil departed and angels came and brought nourishment to Jesus.
Matt.4:2 set the stage for the great temptation involving Jesus. “He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.” We immediately read, "The tempter approached him and said to him, if you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread" (vs. 3). The devil looks for the best time to tempt you and me. It may be when the Christian is without a job, is having family problems, or the local church is experiencing difficulties that the devil makes his appearance and appeal. But Jesus shows us that regardless of the circumstances surrounding us, we are able to overcome the devil.
The devil quotes verbatim from the Septuagint translation regarding Psalms 91: 11, 12. While the devil correctly quotes the scripture, however, he does not correctly apply the teaching contained in Psalms 91: 11, 12 to the circumstances at hand. Hence, just because scripture is quoted does not necessarily mean the truth is being taught. Jesus both correctly quotes and applies scripture (Matt. 4: 4, 7, 10, see Deut. 8: 3; Deut. 6: 16; and 6: 13, respectively). Jesus presented scripture and allowed the scripture to determine the right course of action
It is evident from the temptation of Jesus that the devil desperately solicits and needs men's worship (Matt 4:9). The scriptures present a battle between God and Satan. While Satan desires man's worship, God