Matthew 4:1-11 and Luke 4:1-13:
In the temptation of the Jesus we see him going out into the wilderness, driven of the Spirit, to be tempted as a man. He was tempted as a human being; therefore his temptations are our temptations. That is why these passages are so tremendously fascinating, so gripping, and so practical for us. These are exactly the form of temptations we are continually facing, day-by-day. If we discover the secret of how Jesus met it, we shall know how to meet temptation in our own lives.
The fact that the two accounts differ in order is noteworthy, but more important is the fact that the two accounts contain the same elements. They each contain identical temptations involving satisfy the flesh (physical), satisfying the eyes (soul), and pride (spirit).
How does Matthew highlight the importance of Mountains in his Gospel?
Matthew emphasizes the mountains due to his audience. Writing primarily to Jews, the Jews would have listened for a message with the Messiah in mind and were conversant in the geographical setting. Mountains dotted the landscape of biblical regions and have a significant symbolic value - they were first and foremost a part of the physical reality, mountains are where men encounter God. Matthew also shows us increasing temptation...first for the fresh (physical), then recognition (soul) and lastly power (spirit). The Messiah would not grab power in this manner, he would come with power, not have to trade with Satan to get it. This order of temptations and consequent victory solidified Jesus' claim of deity, and the Jews would have understood it better.
How does Luke highlight the importance of the temple in his Gospel?
Luke was writing primarily to the Gentile and Diaspora audience. The gentiles would have had little knowledge of the Messianic prophecies and the Jews would be less familiar to the geographical settings. Luke wrote his Gospel and its sequel, the book of Acts, after the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed. So he wrote at a time when the temple was no longer a functioning institution, but one which nonetheless continued to hold immense conceptual and symbolic value. The temple was, in summary, the central institution of religious, political, and cultural identity for the Jewish people. Luke’s intention is to bring the temptation story to a climax in the temple - God’s presence has been withdrawn from the sanctuary. On the other hand, Jesus passing on power would have meant less to them than him passing on recognition. With the temple as the last temptation, they would see Jesus did not seek what their Greek gods sought: recognition and fame. In Luke's writing resonated the point of the passage with the temple as the third and final temptation. God is not is expressed not in terms of residency and centrality, but in the Holy Spirit manifest in the life and growth of the Church.
Viewing the two different views side by side:
All three elements are in the 2 stories to show that differences don't always result in error. The last temptation in Matthew's account is that Jesus could receive supreme political power, if only he worshiped Satan rather than God. This clearly connects with the emphases throughout Matthew's Gospel on the "Kingdom of Heaven" and on Jesus as the true "King of the Jews." At the same time, the two passages can be used to show an acceptable allowance for variation in chronology in order to meet the author's audience or simply because the order is not important – the message is the importance.
Calvin had this to say:
” It is not of great importance, that Luke’s narrative makes that temptation to be the second, which Matthew places as the third: for it was not the intention of the Evangelists to arrange the history in such a manner, as to preserve on all occasions, the exact order of time, but to draw up an abridged narrative of the events, so as to present, as in a mirror or picture, those things which are most necessary to be known concerning Christ. Let it suffice for us to know that Christ was tempted in three ways. The question, which of these contests was the second, and which was the third, need not give us much trouble or uneasiness.”
In the temptation of the Jesus we see him going out into the wilderness, driven of the Spirit, to be tempted as a man. He was tempted as a human being; therefore his temptations are our temptations. That is why these passages are so tremendously fascinating, so gripping, and so practical for us. These are exactly the form of temptations we are continually facing, day-by-day. If we discover the secret of how Jesus met it, we shall know how to meet temptation in our own lives.
The fact that the two accounts differ in order is noteworthy, but more important is the fact that the two accounts contain the same elements. They each contain identical temptations involving satisfy the flesh (physical), satisfying the eyes (soul), and pride (spirit).
How does Matthew highlight the importance of Mountains in his Gospel?
Matthew emphasizes the mountains due to his audience. Writing primarily to Jews, the Jews would have listened for a message with the Messiah in mind and were conversant in the geographical setting. Mountains dotted the landscape of biblical regions and have a significant symbolic value - they were first and foremost a part of the physical reality, mountains are where men encounter God. Matthew also shows us increasing temptation...first for the fresh (physical), then recognition (soul) and lastly power (spirit). The Messiah would not grab power in this manner, he would come with power, not have to trade with Satan to get it. This order of temptations and consequent victory solidified Jesus' claim of deity, and the Jews would have understood it better.
How does Luke highlight the importance of the temple in his Gospel?
Luke was writing primarily to the Gentile and Diaspora audience. The gentiles would have had little knowledge of the Messianic prophecies and the Jews would be less familiar to the geographical settings. Luke wrote his Gospel and its sequel, the book of Acts, after the temple in Jerusalem had been destroyed. So he wrote at a time when the temple was no longer a functioning institution, but one which nonetheless continued to hold immense conceptual and symbolic value. The temple was, in summary, the central institution of religious, political, and cultural identity for the Jewish people. Luke’s intention is to bring the temptation story to a climax in the temple - God’s presence has been withdrawn from the sanctuary. On the other hand, Jesus passing on power would have meant less to them than him passing on recognition. With the temple as the last temptation, they would see Jesus did not seek what their Greek gods sought: recognition and fame. In Luke's writing resonated the point of the passage with the temple as the third and final temptation. God is not is expressed not in terms of residency and centrality, but in the Holy Spirit manifest in the life and growth of the Church.
Viewing the two different views side by side:
All three elements are in the 2 stories to show that differences don't always result in error. The last temptation in Matthew's account is that Jesus could receive supreme political power, if only he worshiped Satan rather than God. This clearly connects with the emphases throughout Matthew's Gospel on the "Kingdom of Heaven" and on Jesus as the true "King of the Jews." At the same time, the two passages can be used to show an acceptable allowance for variation in chronology in order to meet the author's audience or simply because the order is not important – the message is the importance.
Calvin had this to say:
” It is not of great importance, that Luke’s narrative makes that temptation to be the second, which Matthew places as the third: for it was not the intention of the Evangelists to arrange the history in such a manner, as to preserve on all occasions, the exact order of time, but to draw up an abridged narrative of the events, so as to present, as in a mirror or picture, those things which are most necessary to be known concerning Christ. Let it suffice for us to know that Christ was tempted in three ways. The question, which of these contests was the second, and which was the third, need not give us much trouble or uneasiness.”
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