First Sunday in Lent: Gospel, Matthew 4:1-11                       

Matthew 4:1-11

Isn’t the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness amazing? Sorry to begin with a question, but I never want readers to get to the point of thinking, “Yeah. Well, I’ve read that before. Ho hum.” The account drawn for us in our gospel reading this week is well known, well worn and for all the reading of it, perhaps we do not see the primary challenge to our Lord. Remember Jesus telling us that a disciple is not above his Master? Here it is spelled out. In fact, Satan is assaulting the Messiah in ways we can never fathom because we are not sinless. Jesus feels temptation more than we do, not only because He is sinless, but because He drains temptation to the dregs. You and I don’t do that. We waver, wobble, and fall. Again and again.

But what I want to move your attention to this week is realizing that Satan is attempting to turn our Lord into an idolater. God be praised, it won’t work. It never will. Jesus calls us to worship the only true God and only Him. I need to remember this account for that reason alone. When I sin, I mock my God. When I falter, I commit spiritual adultery. When my eyes go anywhere but to Him for aid, I have another god. Jesus “fought” the devil and like everything else the Savior did, He did it for you and me.

Worship God!