It’s tempting. . . but not THAT tempting

Luke 4:1–13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written,

'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and

'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

When addressing this text for the First Sunday in Lent, I oten think about preaching on temptation, but then, I’m tempted not to. I mean, I wonder what the heck to say on temptation and how that might serve the proclamation of the Gospel.

As I’ve said before, I find the temptations of the devil not all that tempting.

Is there some profit in connecting with how these temptations are tempting to Jesus?

Or is the preaching task on the First Sunday of Lent to encourage people to avoid temptation by turning to their favorite Bible verse?

Or, is the task to remind people where to turn for forgiveness when they’ve failed to resist?

Once again, I’m tempted to begin a series on Christian financial management or something. . .

or not

I wonder at this. . . it would be in danger of descending into homiletical meanderings to no purpose - but . . .

I wonder at suggesting that the primary temptation for us all, is not a temptation to concupiscence, but to idolatry. Of course, the primary idol is the self, or a god constructed to serve the self. . .