Matthew 4:1-4 KJV, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
EG White, SOP Vol 2, p. 89, “Christ in behalf of the race was to conquer appetite, by enduring the most powerful test on that point. He was to tread the path of temptation alone, with none to help or comfort him. Alone he was to wrestle with the powers of darkness, and exercise a self-control stronger than hunger or death. The length of this fast is the strongest evidence of the great sinfulness of debased appetite, and its power over the human family.”
Matthew 4:5-7 KJV, “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
EG White, SOP Vol 2, p. 94, “But Jesus came off victor from the second temptation, by spurning the sin of presumption. While manifesting perfect trust in his Father, he refused to voluntarily place himself in such peril that it would be necessary for the Father to display divine power in order to save his Son from death.. This would have been forcing Providence to come to his rescue, and thus he would fail to give his people a perfect example of faith and trust in God.”
Matthew 4:8-11 KJV, “Again, 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. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
EG White, SOP Vol 2, p. 96, “The eyes of Jesus rested for a moment upon the scene before him; he then turned resolutely from it, refusing to dally with the tempter by
even looking upon the enchanting prospect he had presented to him; but when Satan solicited his homage, Christ’s divine indignation was aroused, and he could no longer tolerate his blasphemous assumption, or even permit him to remain in his presence. He exercised his divine authority, and commanded Satan to desist, saying, ‘Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.'”
Jesus, the Son of God, who became a man, endured the temptations of Satan by completely trusting and obeying His heavenly Father. Yes we can overcome temptations by abiding in Christ. His temptations were severe ours within our sphere. Let’s rely on Jesus. Our faith will be tested.
Sincerely in the Blessed Hope.