Jesus was led by the spirit into the desert, to be
tempted by the devil. Matt. iv. i. Christ willed to be tempted :
1. That he might assist us against our own
temptations. St. Gregory says, " That our Redeemer, who had come on earth
to be killed, should will to be tempted was not unworthy of him. It was indeed
but just that he should overcome our temptations by his own, in the same way
that he had come to overcome our death by his death."
2. To warn us that no man, however holy he be,
should think himself safe and free from temptation. Whence again His choosing
to be tempted after His baptism, about which St. Hilary says, " The devil
s wiles are especially directed to trap us at times when we have recently been
made holy, because the devil desires no victory so much as a victory over the
world of grace." Whence too, the scripture warns us, Son, when thou comest
to the service of God, stand in justice and in fear, and prepare thy soul for
temptation (Ecclus. ii. i).
3. To give us an example how we should overcome
the temptations of the devil, St. Augustine says, " Christ gave himself to
the devil to be tempted, that in the matter of our overcoming those same
temptations He might be of service not only by his help but by his example
too."
4. To fill and saturate our minds with confidence
in His mercy. For we have not a high-priest who cannot have compassion on our
infirmities, but one tempted in all things, like as we are, without sin (Heb.
iv. 15)
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