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Objection 1: It would seem that Christ should not have been tempted
in the desert. Because Christ wished to be tempted in order to give
us an example, as stated above (Article 1). But an example should
be set openly before those who are to follow it. Therefore He should
not have been tempted in the desert.
Objection 2: Further, Chrysostom says (Hom. xii in Matth.):
"Then most especially does the devil assail by tempting us, when he
sees us alone. Thus did he tempt the woman in the beginning when he
found her apart from her husband." Hence it seems that, by going
into the desert to be tempted, He exposed Himself to temptation.
Since, therefore, His temptation is an example to us, it seems that
others too should take such steps as will lead them into temptation.
And yet this seems a dangerous thing to do, since rather should we
avoid the occasion of being tempted.
Objection 3: Further, Mt. 4:5, Christ's second temptation
is set down, in which "the devil took" Christ up "into the Holy
City, and set Him upon the pinnacle of the Temple": which is
certainly not in the desert. Therefore He was not tempted in the
desert only.
On the contrary, It is written (Mk. 1:13) that Jesus "was
in the desert forty days and forty nights, and was tempted by
Satan."
I answer that, As stated above (Article 1, ad 2), Christ of
His own free-will exposed Himself to be tempted by the devil, just
as by His own free-will He submitted to be killed by His members;
else the devil would not have dared to approach Him. Now the devil
prefers to assail a man who is alone, for, as it is written
(Eccles. 4:12), "if a man prevail against one, two shall
withstand him." And so it was that Christ went out into the desert,
as to a field of battle, to be tempted there by the devil. Hence
Ambrose says on Lk. 4:1, that "Christ was led into the desert
for the purpose of provoking the devil. For had he," i.e. the
devil, "not fought, He," i.e. Christ, "would not have
conquered." He adds other reasons, saying that "Christ in doing
this set forth the mystery of Adam's delivery from exile," who had
been expelled from paradise into the desert, and "set an example to
us, by showing that the devil envies those who strive for better
things."
Reply to Objection 1: Christ is set as an example to all through
faith, according to Heb. 12:2: "Looking on Jesus, the author
and finisher of faith." Now faith, as it is written (Rm.
10:17), "cometh by hearing," but not by seeing: nay, it is
even said (Jn. 20:29): "Blessed are they that have not seen
and have believed." And therefore, in order that Christ's
temptation might be an example to us, it behooved that men should not
see it, and it was enough that they should hear it related.
Reply to Objection 2: The occasions of temptation are twofold. one
is on the part of man---for instance, when a man causes himself to
be near to sin by not avoiding the occasion of sinning. And such
occasions of temptation should be avoided, as it is written of Lot
(Gn. 19:17): "Neither stay thou in all the country about"
Sodom.
Another occasion of temptation is on the part of the devil, who always
"envies those who strive for better things," as Ambrose says (In
Luc. iv, 1). And such occasions of temptation are not to be
avoided. Hence Chrysostom says (Hom. v in Matth. [Opus
Imperfectum]): "Not only Christ was led into the desert by the
Spirit, but all God's children that have the Holy Ghost. For it
is not enough for them to sit idle; the Holy Ghost urges them to
endeavor to do something great: which is for them to be in the desert
from the devil's standpoint, for no unrighteousness, in which the
devil delights, is there. Again, every good work, compared to the
flesh and the world, is the desert; because it is not according to the
will of the flesh and of the world." Now, there is no danger in
giving the devil such an occasion of temptation; since the help of the
Holy Ghost, who is the Author of the perfect deed, is more powerful
than the assault of the envious devil.
Reply to Objection 3: Some say that all the temptations took place
in the desert. Of these some say that Christ was led into the Holy
City, not really, but in an imaginary vision; while others say that
the Holy City itself, i.e. Jerusalem, is called "a desert,"
because it was deserted by God. But there is no need for this
explanation. For Mark says that He was tempted in the desert by the
devil, but not that He was tempted in the desert only.
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