Temptations - An Orthodox Christian Perspective

The Gospel passage about our Lord Jesus' temptations in the wilderness, Matt 4:1-11, is so significant for our spiritual upliftment. As we know, this occasion happened right after the Theophany, at our Lord's baptism, and then the Holy Spirit led Him into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Now, this is a familiar passage, we must remember that our Lord was fasting 40 days and 40 nights after which He became hungry, and it was then that the tempter came to tempt Him.

Temptations come when we're vulnerable - The Lord Jesus was tempted when He was hungry. St. Peter reminds us that our adversary the devil is like a roaring lion, seeking to devour (1 Peter 5:8). He will seek to tempt us when we are vulnerable. That means, it is when we are frustrated, angry or deprived of certain things we long for, that we will be tempted. And that is the most dangerous time. So let us be sober, as St. Peter reminds us always, watching and praying without ceasing, as our Lord Jesus said, that we will not fall.

Temptations will always beset us. Always. Like in the past, this year will come with its share of temptations. Financial difficulties, discouragements from friends, in careers, from bosses, from friends, relatives etc. - we will be tested in the fundamental areas of our faith. But in spite of them, let us resist the temptation to sin, to be angry, to retaliate, and put our confidence and trust in God.

Become stronger from temptations: So we must be careful. Because the temptations will come to us, and it will not be without God's knowledge. The temptations are only allowed by God to make us stronger. And the more we give in, the more the temptations will continue to come. But the more we resist them, we will become stronger.

Learn to control the desires of the flesh - The way Christ was tempted in the wilderness is very significant. You know, Israel was also in the wilderness for 40 years and were tested. They were allowed by God to go hungry and then He fed them with manna from heaven so that they would learn to be dependent on Him. Christ was tempted in the same way. So, in the same way, let us consider our difficulties as trials that will help us go closer to God. Even Jesus went hungry, but He did not sin or fall to temptation. Instead He continued to be loyal to God. He did not allow His hunger to control Him. Rather, He controlled His flesh. That is another reason why we orthodox Christians are encouraged to partake in the lents and fasts of the Church, so that we will be able to control the desires of our flesh and submit them to God’s will.

Through the Word and fasting - The main way Christ refuted the temptations of the devil was through His knowledge of God's Word. So it goes without saying that Christians need to know the word of God and the holy traditions. Man cannot live by bread alone. He needs the Word of God to be alive too. To be sustained in that eternal life that is given to us by God, prayer and the reading of God’s Word is important.

Now, we must be careful that we don't become proud and arrogant in that we know a lot of the Bible. Because the same passage tells us that the devil is an expert in the Bible too. But Jesus was able to refute the devil because He knew both the Scriptures and He knew His Father well. So in the same way, Christians must not only depend on the written Word but also on the living Word, which is Christ. And the way to do that is to be in contact with His Body, which is the Church that is led by the Holy Spirit. So when we follow the Word of God and the traditions of the Church and the spiritual practices such as prayer and fasting, we will be able to overcome the temptations that come our way. Because it is the Holy Spirit acting in and through us that will give us the strength to overcome the trials and temptations.

Priority to the Kingdom of God - In all the three temptations mentioned here - rejecting physical food, temporal glory and earthly power - we see that these center on the temporal and earthly things. But Christ showed us that we must always aim higher and so always give priority to the Kingdom of God.

So let us always remember that our lives are about so much more than just the physical world around us. There is a spiritual world and an eternal life that we are looking forward to, and that which we are preparing for. We know not fully that which we are going to be part of. For now we only have a glimpse of the same. But the trials and temptations that come our way are preparing us for that glorious reality. Let us resolve to be steadfast in our faith, and seek first the Kingdom of God in all things and so become worthy of that divine inheritance awaiting all those who put their hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.