In the fourth chapter of his Gospel, Matthew relates the wilderness experience of Christ Jesus, in which he was tempted of the devil three times. It is both interesting and instructive to observe that Jesus quickly established in consciousness the divine order, thereby ruling the evil suggestion out of order. Each time the Master confuted the suggestion of evil by quoting a passage of Scripture which established the truth that rendered the evil argument null and void. Thus he proved that the suggestions were powerless to disturb him or to cause him to respond.
The tempter first suggested to Jesus that he satisfy his hunger and prove himself the Son of God by demonstrating material food —by turning stones into bread. To this suggestion Jesus answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The same suggestion comes today to many who are working out a problem of supply. Mortal mind argues that material dollars or material food and shelter are all that is needed, when the real need is to establish a clearer sense of man's dependence upon God, Spirit, for life. All human needs are abundantly supplied as one consciously reflects the thoughts or ideas proceeding from God, the only Mind.
Next the devil would have had Jesus display an even higher manifestation of his power. The suggestion was that he display this power by throwing himself off a pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and fulfill God's promise that He would give His angels charge over him. To this specious suggestion Jesus replied, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."
