25th February 2026

This week’s reading from Matthew 4:1-11 is often titled “The Temptation of Jesus”, but biblical scholar R. T. France preferred to call it “The Testing of the Son of God”. In the preceding chapter of the gospel, John had baptized Jesus in the river and as Jesus came out of the water God’s voice from heaven had declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

But what did it mean for Jesus to be the Son of God? The devil set Jesus three “tests” to tease out an answer. Three tests to see if Jesus would seek power and glory for himself…

1. “If you are the Son of God, then turn these stones into loaves of bread.” Jesus could have made food from stones. Remember the boy with the five loaves and two fish; or how he fed the crowd of 5000 people stranded on the Galilean hillside as darkness fell.
2. “If you are the Son of God, then throw yourself off the temple roof.” Jesus could have demonstrated his supernatural power in that way. Remember how he proved his authority over the natural world, how he calmed the storm, walked on the water, healed the sick.
3. “If you are the Son of God, then claim your place as king of all the world.” Jesus could have been crowned King of Kings. But he did not, at least not in the way people expected. “My kingdom is not of this world.”

As we journey through Lent, may we follow the Son of God who chose a path of humility and service, sacrifice and death, and resurrection.

Ian Waddington