(a) Narrate the story of the Temptations of Jesus, according to Matthew (b) In what...

Explanation

After his baptism, Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and nights and at the end of the fasting, he was very hungry. The devil came and told him that if he were the son of God, he should turn the stones into bread. He replied that it was written that 'man shall not live by bread alone devil then took him to the pinnacle of the temple and said to him 'if you are the son of God, throw yourself down, for it written, "He will give his angels charge of you," and Jesus replied him that 'again it is written, 'You shall not tempt Lord your God," After this, the devil took him to a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory and, said to him "All these I will give to you if you will fall down and worship me." Jesus said to him, 'Begone, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God..." Immediately the devil left him and angels came and ministered him.

The significance of the temptations to Jesus in his ministry are: (i) The temptation confirmed the divinity of Christ. (ii) Through the temptations, Jesus accepted suffering as a means of achieving God's purpose which was the redemption of man. (iii) With his victory over Satan, Jesus assured his followers that, with the word of God, they too could overcome the wiles of the devil. (iv) The temptations signaled the preparation of Jesus for his ministry. (v) The way Jesus hand the temptations show that Jesus is not a political or economic messiah.