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Lenten Season · First Sunday of Lent · Year C

Luke 4:1-13

The Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness

March 5, 2028

The Temptations of Christ, Sandro Botticelli
The Temptations of Christ, Sandro Botticelli, 1481–82Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
On the Sistine wall. All three temptations happen along the top of the panel while most of the picture is given to a Jewish sacrifice in front of a building that is actually a Roman hospital.It is the forty days, and Botticelli painted all three refusals in one frame.Sandro BotticelliA Florentine painter of extraordinary line, who fell under Savonarola's influence late and reportedly burned some of his own work.Sistine Chapel, Vatican CityThe pope's chapel, where conclaves are held, decorated by Perugino, Botticelli and Ghirlandaio before Michelangelo was ever asked.Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 4:1-13Lk 4:1-13
Second ReadingRom. 10:8-13Rom 10:8-13
First ReadingDeut. 26:4-10Dt 26:4-10
Responsorial PsalmPs. 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 (cf 15b)Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 (cf 15b)

Overview & Insights

"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." (Luke 4:1-2)

Fresh from his baptism, Jesus is driven into the wilderness where the devil tests him three times, over bread, power, and presumption on God. Jesus answers each test from Deuteronomy, and Luke's opening word for Lent is that the Spirit-filled Son of God can be tested without being defeated.

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Take it further: Luke 4:1-13

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Luke 4:1-13Working Preacher: Commentary on Lk 4:1-13 Working Preacher

The Luther Seminary commentary written for this exact RCL/Catholic Lent 1 gospel.

CEP: Luke 4:1-13 CommentaryCEP: Lk 4:1-13 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

The Reformed Center for Excellence in Preaching's take on the same passage.

Enduring Word: Luke 4 CommentaryEnduring Word: Lk 4 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse walk through all three temptations.

BibleHub: Luke 4 CommentariesBibleHub: Lk 4 Commentaries BibleHub

Several classic commentators stacked at verse 1.

Precept Austin: Luke 4 CommentaryPrecept Austin: Lk 4 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed outline of preparation, temptation, and triumph.

Episcopal Church: Trust and See, Lent 1 (C) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

Sermons That Work's Anglican sermon on trusting God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub Interlinear: Luke 4:1BibleHub Interlinear: Lk 4:1 BibleHub

The Greek of peirazomenos (being tempted) in context.

BibleProject: Gospel of Luke Overview (Part 1)BibleProject: Gospel of Lk Overview (Part 1) BibleProject

Animated overview of Luke 1-9, framing the start of Jesus' public ministry.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Luke 4Catena: Lk 4 Catena

Patristic readings on Christ's fast and his use of Deuteronomy against the devil.

Sermons & Reflections

Journey with Jesus: Three Temptations Journey with Jesus

An essay applying Jesus' three temptations to relevance, spectacle, and power today.

Worship & Prayers

The Lectionary Page: Lent 1, Year C The Lectionary Page

BCP readings and the collect for the First Sunday in Lent.

Podcast

Sermon Brainwave: First Sunday in Lent Working Preacher

Working Preacher's roundtable discussion of this Sunday's full set of readings.

Art & Music

Vanderbilt: First Sunday in Lent, Year C Vanderbilt

Curated public-domain artwork for this Sunday's readings.

Study Hub

Textweek: Luke 4:1-13 Study HubTextweek: Lk 4:1-13 Study Hub Textweek

A hub of links to further commentary, sermons, and worship resources.

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