presumption. By the third temptation Satan wished to arouse in Jesus concupiscence of the eyes, i. e. a desire for riches, power and pleasure. He had seduced the first man by inciting him to these three evil passions. The words: “Why hath God commanded you that you should not eat of every tree of Paradise?” were an inducement to gluttony, or to the concupiscence of the flesh. The words: “Your eyes shall be opened” were a temptation to pride, while the words: “You shall be as Gods” were an inducement to the concupiscence of the eyes, and a desire for power and glory. Our first parents succumbed to these temptations, because they gave ear to the suggestions of Satan, held intercourse with him, and gazed at the forbidden fruit (Old Test. IV). But Jesus overcame the temptation and conquered Satan.
Means of resisting temptation. As a consequence of the Fall these three evil passions, which are the source of our most dangerous temptations, are rife in every man. Besides these passions, our fellow-creatures are a source of temptation to us, and the devil, also by God’s permission, still tempts us to evil. We are surrounded by temptations, and therefore Jesus has taught us by His example how we are to war against them. Let us then examine closely in what way it was that Jesus obtained a victory over temptation and the Tempter.
1. He did not expose Himself wantonly to temptation, for it was by the impulse of the Holy Spirit that He went into the desert to be tempted. This teaches us not to place ourselves in danger of sin without necessity, but carefully to avoid the occasion of it. “He that loveth. danger shall perish in it” (Ecclus. 3, 27).
2. Jesus prepared Himself for temptation by prayer and fasting. We too must pray diligently, and practise self-denial, in order that we may be always ready to fight against the enemy of our salvation. Our Saviour says: “Watch ye and pray that ye enter not into temptation; the spirit, indeed, is willing, but the flesh is weak” (chapter LXVII). He also commands us to pray: “Lead us not into temptation.” We shall become strong in spirit and able to resist temptation, if we practise self-denial.
3. During His temptation our Lord remembered the word of God, and finally sent the Tempter away authoritatively and decisively, by the words: “Begone, Satan!” Thus we too, whether the temptation come from within or from without, ought to turn our thoughts at once to God and His holy word, and say to the tempter: “Begone!” Wherefore, “Resist the devil, and he will fly from you” (Janies 4, 7).
Fasting (the third commandment of the Church). The forty days’ fast of Jesus had been typified by that of Moses and of Elias (Old Test. XXXVII. LXV). Mortification being necessary for Christians, the Church has commanded a forty days’ fast to be observed each year, in memory of the fast of our Lord.
