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The Testing of Jesus

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,(A) where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished.(B) The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”(C)

Then the devil[a] led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil[b] said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.(D) If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’ ”(E)

Then the devil[c] led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    to protect you,’(F)

11 and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,
    so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”(G) 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 4.5 Gk he
  2. 4.6 Gk he
  3. 4.9 Gk he

Jesus and the Devil

(Matthew 4.1-11; Mark 1.12,13)

When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert. For 40 days Jesus was tested by the devil, and during that time he went without eating.[a] When it was all over, he was hungry.

The devil said to Jesus, “If you are God's Son, tell this stone to turn into bread.”

(A) Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘No one can live only on food.’ ”

Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place and quickly showed him all the nations on earth. The devil said, “I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Just worship me, and you can have it all.”

(B) Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say:

‘Worship the Lord your God
    and serve only him!’ ”

Finally, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on top of the temple. The devil said, “If you are God's Son, jump off. 10-11 (C) The Scriptures say:

‘God will tell his angels
    to take care of you.
They will catch you
    in their arms,
and you will not even hurt
    your feet on the stones.’ ”

12 (D) Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don't try to test the Lord your God!’ ”

13 After the devil had finished testing Jesus in every way possible, he left him for a while.

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Footnotes

  1. 4.2 went without eating: See the note at 2.37.