CC 538 question please

[Tom7]

Hi there. Could you help?

The Gospels speak of a time of solitude for Jesus in the desert immediately after his baptism by John. Driven by the Spirit into the desert, Jesus remains there for forty days without eating; he lives among wild beasts, and angels minister to him. 241 At the end of this time Satan tempts him three times, seeking to compromise his filial attitude toward God. Jesus rebuffs these attacks, which recapitulate the temptations of Adam in Paradise and of Israel in the desert, and the devil leaves him ‘until an opportune time’. 242

How does Jesus’ 3 temptations recapitulate the temptation and sin of Adam?

Many thanks.

Tom

 

[OddBird]

How does Jesus’ 3 temptations recapitulate the temptation and sin of Adam?

A first quick answer is that Jesus, in the desert, finds himself confronted with temptation in much the same way that Adam and Eve were. But he reacts to it very differently from what Adam and Eve did : he refuses to be second-guessing God’s words, or to give in to the devil’s argument, and he remains perfectly obedient to God’s will, in particular as he refuses all power for himself.

The text you quote also point outs Jesus’ temptation recapitulates Israel’s temptation in the desert (Israel doubted God when they became hungry); Jesus does not give in to that temptation either.

These two texts (Gen 3 and Jesus’ temptation) are read together on the first Sunday of Lent.

 

[Stephen_says]

How does Jesus’ 3 temptations recapitulate the temptation and sin of Adam?

St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologia says:

Thus, too, did the devil set about the temptation of the first man. For at first he enticed his mind to consent to the eating of the forbidden fruit, saying (Genesis 3:1): “Why hath God commanded you that you should not eat of every tree of paradise?” Secondly [he tempted him] to vainglory by saying: “Your eyes shall be opened.” Thirdly, he led the temptation to the extreme height of pride, saying: “You shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” This same order did he observe in tempting Christ. For at first he tempted Him to that which men desire, however spiritual they may be—namely, the support of the corporeal nature by food. Secondly, he advanced to that matter in which spiritual men are sometimes found wanting, inasmuch as they do certain things for show, which pertains to vainglory. Thirdly, he led the temptation on to that in which no spiritual men, but only carnal men, have a part—namely, to desire worldly riches and fame, to the extent of holding God in contempt. And so in the first two temptations he said: “If Thou be the Son of God”; but not in the third, which is inapplicable to spiritual men, who are sons of God by adoption, whereas it does apply to the two preceding temptations.