It was to be expected that the powers of evil would be very interested in Christ's mission to save the world for God. From three angles He was tempted to be untrue to the work given Him by the Father. The first suggestion was to consider His own personal needs. Like anyone involved in building the Kingdom, there is the danger of looking to one's own advantage. Jesus, already strengthened by the Spirit, is unwilling to work miracles to satisfy His hunger.

The next attack is directed against the aim of His mission, namely, to win people for the Kingdom. Satan offered to retire from the world of vice, selfishness, greed and pride and to surrender his victims to Christ. The price, however, was for Christ to submit Himself as a hostage to evil. Obviously, Christ had His own methods of meeting sinners and leading them to goodness and truth.

A further attempt was made to dislodge Christ from His position as the representative of the Father. Why should He not test the Father's love by asking Him to support a spectacular descent from the Temple roof? Christ remained unmoved. His relationship with the Father was built on daily appeals for strength to carry out His mission.