Today’s Gospel presents the story of Jesus’ victory over sin and temptation in Gospel according to Matthew. The first reading presents the fall of our first parents in the Book of Genesis.
The victory of Jesus is our victory. In Him, we find strength to overcome. The fall of Adam and Eve teaches us how temptation works, the victory of Jesus teaches us how to conquer it.
Likewise, Adam and Eve were created in God’s image and enjoyed His presence, yet they were targeted. Spiritual elevation often attracts spiritual opposition.
Loneliness and Idleness: Temptation often comes in moments of isolation or spiritual carelessness. Adam drifted from God’s instruction. In the Second Book of Samuel, David fell into sin during a time of idleness. When we distance ourselves from God’s presence, we create room for temptation.
Negative Company. Eve entered into conversation with the serpent, a company God never assigned to her. Wrong company can distort our thinking, normalize sin, lead us away from God.
Negative Discussion. Temptation often begins with dialogue. The serpent engaged Eve in subtle conversation. The devil does not force sin immediately, he discusses it first.
Deception Through Half-Truth “You shall not surely die.” The devil rarely presents total lies. He mixes truth with deception. He hides consequences and exaggerates pleasure. Today, sin is often rebranded: Prostitution becomes “hookup”, Immorality becomes “modern lifestyle” Pride becomes “self-expression” and Half-truths make sin look harmless.
Seduction: Sin appeals to the eyes, the flesh and pride. Eve saw that the fruit was pleasing. Temptation often looks attractive before it becomes destructive. As warned in First Epistle of John, Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life, remains the devil’s tools.
Consent to Sin: Temptation is not sin until we agree to it. The decisive moment is consent.
Degeneration: Sin spreads. Eve ate and gave to Adam. Sin is contagious.
Guilt and Shame: After sin comes shame. Instead of running to God, Adam and Eve hid. But this season calls us not to hide, but to seek mercy.
Jesus’ Approach: Counter, Attack, Victory. Unlike Adam, Jesus resisted. When tempted to turn stones into bread, Jesus responded with Scripture: “Man shall not live by bread alone.” When tempted with pride, He refused to test God. When tempted with power and glory, He rejected worship of the devil.
Jesus teaches us: Do not dialogue with temptation. Confront it with the Word. Stand firm. Even when the devil quoted Scripture, Jesus answered correctly. The devil knows the Bible, but he misuses it.
The lessons from the temptation teaches us that: No One Is Above Temptation. If Jesus was tempted, no one is exempt.
Temptation Often Comes at Great Heights
Both Adam (in paradise) and Jesus (after fasting and divine affirmation) were tempted. The Book of Sirach teaches that, when you decide to serve the Lord, prepare for trials. No Place Is Free From Temptation, Garden, Wilderness, High mountain. Location does not remove temptation.
Temptation Is Gradual: It does not happen suddenly. It follows a sequence: suggestion, delight, consent, sin, shame. Be watchful.
The Devil Is Persistent. He left Jesus “for a time.” Temptation may return in different forms. The weapons against the Devil – Prayer, Fasting, The Word of God, Confession, Perseverance.
Victory is possible. If Jesus overcame after forty days of fasting, we too can overcome by grace.
The fall of Adam brought shame. The victory of Jesus brings restoration.
Today, Jesus wants us not hide like Adam, but to run to God. I pray for you: When the devil comes looking for you, may he not find weakness, but find you soaked in prayer, strengthened by fasting, armed with the Word, and covered by grace.
In Jesus, the victory is already won.
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Felix Ekpe, and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.