Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Temptation in the wilderness

4 Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the spirit to be tested by the devil. ² He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and at the end of it was famished. ³ Then the tempter approached him.

“If you really are God’s son,” he said, “tell these stones to become bread!”

⁴ “The Bible says,” replied Jesus, “that it takes more than bread to keep you alive. You actually live on every word that comes out of God’s mouth.”

⁵ Then the devil took him off to the holy city, and stood him on a pinnacle of the Temple.

⁶ “If you really are God’s son,” he said, “throw yourself down. The Bible does say, after all, that ‘God will give his angels a command about you’; and ‘they will carry you in their hands, so that you won’t hurt your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷ “But the Bible also says,” replied Jesus, “that you mustn’t put the Lord your God to the test!”

⁸ Then the devil took him off again, this time to a very high mountain. There he showed him all the magnificent kingdoms of the world.

⁹ “I’ll give the whole lot to you,” he said, “if you will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰ “Get out of it, satan!” replied Jesus. “The Bible says, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone!’ ”

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and angels came and looked after him.