The tempter begins by challenging Jesus: ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread’ (4:3). ‘Think of your status; remember who you are. Why should someone like you have to suffer the pangs of hunger, when with a word you can remedy the situation?’ The issue is not Jesus’ divine sonship as such. He is not being tempted to doubt his position as the Son of God, but to misuse it. He is being enticed into using his divine power to avoid
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