Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/481

 presumption. By the  third  temptation  Satan  wished  to  arouse  in  Jesus concupiscence of  the  eyes,  i.  e.  a desire  for  riches,  power  and  pleasure. He had  seduced  the  first  man  by  inciting  him  to  these  three  evil  passions. The words: “Why  hath  God  commanded  you  that  you  should  not  eat  of every  tree  of  Paradise?”  were  an  inducement  to  gluttony,  or  to  the concupiscence of  the  flesh. The words:  “Your  eyes  shall  be  opened” were a temptation  to  pride,  while  the  words:  “You  shall  be  as  Gods” were an  inducement  to  the  concupiscence  of  the  eyes,  and  a desire  for power and  glory. Our first  parents  succumbed  to  these  temptations, because they  gave  ear  to  the  suggestions  of  Satan,  held  intercourse  with him, and  gazed  at  the  forbidden  fruit  (Old  Test.  IV). But Jesus  overcame the  temptation  and  conquered  Satan.

Means of  resisting  temptation.  As  a consequence  of  the  Fall  these three evil  passions,  which  are  the  source  of  our  most  dangerous  temptations, are  rife  in  every  man. Besides these  passions,  our  fellow-creatures are  a source  of  temptation  to  us,  and  the  devil,  also  by  God’s permission, still  tempts  us  to  evil. We are  surrounded  by  temptations, and therefore  Jesus  has  taught  us  by  His  example  how  we  are  to  war against them. Let us  then  examine  closely  in  what  way  it  was  that Jesus obtained  a victory  over  temptation  and  the  Tempter.

1. He  did  not  expose  Himself  wantonly  to  temptation,  for  it  was by the  impulse  of  the  Holy  Spirit  that  He  went  into  the  desert  to  be tempted. This teaches  us  not  to  place  ourselves  in  danger  of  sin without necessity,  but  carefully  to  avoid  the  occasion  of  it. “He that loveth. danger shall  perish  in  it”  (Ecclus.  3,  27).

2. Jesus  prepared  Himself  for  temptation  by  prayer  and  fasting. We too  must  pray  diligently,  and  practise  self-denial,  in  order  that  we may  be  always  ready  to  fight  against  the  enemy  of  our  salvation. Our Saviour says:  “Watch  ye  and  pray  that  ye  enter  not  into  temptation; the spirit,  indeed,  is  willing,  but  the  flesh  is  weak”  (chapter  LXVII). He also  commands  us  to  pray:  “Lead  us  not  into  temptation.”  We shall  become  strong  in  spirit  and  able  to  resist  temptation,  if  we practise  self-denial.

3. During  His  temptation  our  Lord  remembered  the  word  of  God, and finally  sent  the  Tempter  away  authoritatively  and  decisively,  by  the words: “Begone,  Satan!”  Thus  we  too,  whether  the  temptation  come from within  or  from  without,  ought  to  turn  our  thoughts  at  once  to God  and  His  holy  word,  and  say  to  the  tempter:  “Begone!”  Wherefore, “Resist  the  devil,  and  he  will  fly  from  you”  (Janies  4,  7).

Fasting (the  third  commandment  of  the  Church). The forty  days’ fast of  Jesus  had  been  typified  by  that  of  Moses  and  of  Elias  (Old Test.  XXXVII.  LXV). Mortification being  necessary  for  Christians,  the Church has  commanded  a forty  days’  fast  to  be  observed  each  year,  in memory  of  the  fast  of  our  Lord.