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Jesus Tempted Thrice

Data

(1a) 3Q: Matt 4:2b-11 = Luke 4:2b-13
(1b) GNaz 3

 

Texts

(1a) 3Q: Matt 4:2b-11 = Luke 4:2b-13

/4:2/ He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. /3/ The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." /4/ But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" /5/ Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, /6/ saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" /7/ Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" /8/ Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; /9/ and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." /10/ Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" /11/ Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

= Luke 4:2b-13
/4:2/ where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. /3/ The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." /4/ Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'" /5/ Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. /6/ And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. /7/ If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." /8/ Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" /9/ Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying 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,' /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.'" /13/ When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

(1b) Gospel of the Nazarenes

/3/ The Jewish Gospel has not into the holy city but to Jerusalem. (Variant to Matthew 4:5 in the Zion Gospel edition.)

 

Notes

See 116. Jesus Tempted for notes on the underlying narrative.

Lectionary

RCL: Lent 1, Years A & B
ECUSA: & RC: Lent 1, Years A & B

advanceWord:

Buddhist Parallels

Marcus Borg [Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings] notes the following traditions about the Buddha that provide something of a parallel to this cluster:

Then Mara the evil one drew near to him, and said: "Let the Exalted One exercise governance, let the Blessed One rule."
"Now what, O evil one, do you have in view, that you speak this way to me?"
"If the Exalted One were to wish the Himalayas, king of the mountains, to be gold, he might determine it to be so, and the mountains would become a mass of gold?'
The Exalted One responded: "Were the mountains all of shimmering gold, it would still not be enough for one man's wants. He that has seen suffering -- how should that man succumb to desires?"
Then Mara the evil one thought: "The Exalted One knows me! The Blessed One knows me!" And sad and sorrowful he vanished then and there. (Samyutta Nikaya 4.2.10)

During the six years that the Bodhisattva practiced austerities, the demon followed behind him step by step, seeking an opportunity to harm him. But he found no opportunity whatsoever and went away discouraged and discontent. (Lalitavistara Sutra 18)

I thought: "Suppose I practice entirely cutting off food?' Then the deities came to me and said: "Good sir, do not practice entirely cutting off food. If you do so, we shall infuse heavenly food into the pores of your skin and you will live on that." (Majjhima Nikaya 36.27)

John Dominic Crossan

Item: 139
Stratum: I (30-60 CE)
Attestation:
Single
Historicity: -

 
 

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