1Start
The devil tried two more times, and once he even quoted scripture himself (Matthew 4:6).
2Read Together
The Joseph Smith Translation says the Spirit set Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple and took him to the high mountain. The devil came to him in both places (Matthew 4:5; 4:8).
Matthew 4:5–11 · King James Version
5Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6And 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. 7Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10Then 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. 11Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
3What It Teaches
On the pinnacle, the devil said, “cast thyself down,” and quoted a psalm about angels catching him (Matthew 4:6; Psalm 91:11–12). Jesus answered, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matthew 4:7). A show of power to prove who he was would have been pride.
On the mountain, the devil offered all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship (Matthew 4:8–9). Jesus said, “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10).
The three temptations look like the ones people still face. The body wants what it wants, pride wants to be noticed, and greed wants power and things. Jesus refused each one with the word of God.
Then “the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him” (Matthew 4:11; Mark 1:13). Luke adds that the devil left “for a season” (Luke 4:13). Help comes after we hold firm, and we keep holding firm.
4Talk About It
The devil offered Jesus things that looked good. What is something that looks good today but would pull us away from God, and how can we turn it down?