NARRATOR: Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights. At the end he was hungry.
TEMPTER: If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into bread.
JESUS: Scripture says, “Not by bread alone do people live but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
NARRATOR: The devil took Jesus to the holy city and set him on the parapet, the very highest point, of the temple.
TEMPTER: If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. Scripture says, “God will order angels to take care of you; with their hands they will support you, so that you never stumble on a stone.”
JESUS: Scripture also says, “You shall not put the Holy One your God to the test.”
NARRATOR: The devil then took Jesus up a very high mountain and displayed before him all the magnificent kingdoms of the world.
TEMPTER: All these will I bestow on you if you bow down and worship me.
JESUS: Away with you, Satan. Scripture says, “You shall worship the Holy One your God; only God shall you adore.”
NARRATOR: At that the devil left Jesus, and angels came and ministered to him.
Matthew 4.1-11
Sunday Readings: Genesis 2.7-9; 3.1-7 Romans 5.12-19 Matthew 4.1-11