The Temptations of Jesus in Matthew - Food

In Matthew 4:1-11, we read about the three temptations of Jesus after 40 days in the desert. Here I will focus on the temptation with food. View a short video on the food temptation here: https://youtu.be/1g4FGNaCz0Q

This is about satisfying physical hunger. Our body needs nourishment to survive. Food is fuel for our body that provides the energy to move.

What happens when we are tempted?

We are often led by our physical desires. Whether they are for food, clothes, material things beyond our budgets. We are provided with visuals that stimulate our minds. These pictures show something that is appealing to our senses:

• With our eyes we see a colorful meal (apparently) prepared perfectly.

• Visuals stimulate our brain quickly, bringing up a time when we had a delicious meal, and if we are lucky, connecting it to sharing it with others.

• It then recalls feelings that are gratifying and we want to repeat it.

The thing about temptation is that it has a purpose and that is to lead us astray. It is an illusion that we fall prey to if we are unprepared to response to it.

Why do we fall into temptation 

I am not one of those who blame Satan for all our sins, even if we accept that sin came in through disobedience. As you see, it was due to disobedience. Eve was tempted by the snake, Adam by Eve. To me this speaks of the human weakness we are all susceptible to. (I am sure this view may upset some, but it is my personal view. See below for more on this.)

Before I am willing to blame Satan, I look for the human reason for our weakness and there are several to consider.

“Temptation often operates by making sin or poor choices appear immediately appealing, even when the person knows it will cause an issue later.”

1. Immediate pleasure. We see something desirable and we want it now. We do not want to wait for later. The longer we dwell on it the more potent the desire becomes. There is a part of the brain that highlights “the hot desire, while the frontal cortex (impulse control) is overwhelmed.”

2. Self-control fatigue. Resisting temptation requires mental energy. It is easier to just give in than to use our mental capabilities to reason with ourselves. Mental fatigue from stress, tiredness, etc. decreases our willpower. We give in easier.

3. Emotional Regulation/Escapism. This is when we indulge ourselves to manage our feelings. Such as loneliness, pain, stress, or even real life.

4. The “What the Hell” effect. This is an interesting one. I wonder how many of us have experienced this thought when tempted. This is, “after breaking one small rule, people have this feeling and abandon their restrictions altogether.

5. Misguided beliefs. We often do not consider the consequences of our actions. It may also be we “overestimate our ability to resist, believing we are stronger than they are.”

What happens when we are led astray?

What I am sharing here is my personal belief. It’s based on logic and my personal experience.

As I said above, our human weakness or flaws offer an opportunity to give in to temptation or sin. We look for ways to avoid pain. It can be physical, mental, emotional or spiritual. So, it is not surprising when we give in.

Many, if not most, of us are taught to “heal” a hurt by an offer something tangible. A candy, toy, hug, or a promise of a future reward. If it’s a candy, toy or hug, it’s an immediate satisfaction. Often, we are offered the choice of an immediate response. As we get older, we get used to the instant gratification. This is a human flaw, weakness, that so many of us are susceptible to everyday.

We need to learn, through practice, to overcome this weakness.

The other part of this is the spiritual nature or being human and a child of God.

It is a result of continuously allowing us to give in to temptation. The repetition weakens our emotional and spiritual states if we do not take care. And that is choice we have.

What can we do to avoid temptation?

It takes practice to learn to resist temptation. As a Catholic the very first step is to turn to God.

1. Pray. Pray for God to give us the strength to resist temptation. We may need to pray consistently if we prone to give in to temptation.

2. Meditate. Taking the time to meditate is critical for our physical, emotional and spiritual health. While meditation does not focus on the temptation you fell into. Focus instead on strengthening your willpower with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will show you ways to overcome your weaknesses.

3. Reflect or journal. Personally, I find this the most beneficial for me. When I journal on my reflections, it often turns into written meditation. The written meditation eventually turns into a supplication, a prayer, to God for guidance. Morning reflection journaling helps me to center myself to look to the day with renew hope and faith.

If you are challenged with writing down your thoughts into the written word, try recording your thoughts. Just speak into the device without stopping to make any type of corrections. You can, if it makes you feel better, limit how long you will talk. Use a timer if necessary.

I use Word for writing. I have the choice to either type or use the dictate feature to have my spoken words transcribed as I speak. Just a thought.

Millie Padilla, Admin

February 27, 2026