The Bible tells us that Christ Jesus was tempted in all points, though without sin.See Heb. 4:14, 15. Because we are working out our own salvation by following Jesus' example, we can learn how to analyze and overcome temptation.
Matthew's record of the temptation in the wilderness at the beginning of Jesus' ministry tells us that in the third temptation "the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." Matt. 4:8, 9.
Jesus saw through the subtlety of the temptation to its heart: the belief that the kingdom, perfection, could be found in the world, in matter. A material kingdom is not heaven but the counterfeit of heaven, which is the kingdom of Spirit. We see by Jesus' reply that he was not fooled into agreeing that the kingdom, or any portion of it, is to be found in matter. He declared, "Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." Matt. 4:10. He worshiped good, perfection, in Spirit alone.
