Matthew teaches us about the temptations of Jesus in the form of a story rather than in a discussion. He does not discuss the possibility that Jesus could be tempted, but shows us how the devil tempted Him. Similarly, he does not theoretically consider areas of life in which the devil might have tempted Jesus, but graphically has the devil propose several concrete temptations. There is in the human psyche an instinct to do everything possible to preserve one's own life. The devil touched this instinct in testing Jesus: turning stones into bread to relieve His hunger could not possibly do any harm, could it?

How often in prayer do we, surreptitiously at least if not blatantly, try to wheedle some sign from God! The story of Jesus being brought to the pinnacle of the temple is a graphic version of such a temptation to demand signs instead of relying on God in the ordinary circumstances of life.

Most people are not tempted to seek political power, the power of the kingdoms of the world. Yet, our ordinary relationships, which ought to be loving, degenerate into power struggles, assertions of oneself, whereas the Gospel calls us to empty ourselves in order to love others.