“The serpent asked the woman, ‘Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?'” (Gn 3:1)
“The tempter approached and said to Jesus, ‘If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.’” (Mt 4:3)
There’s a reason these passages are paired in the readings today. The devil who snapped at the Savior at the start of his earthly ministry, right after God announced from heaven that Jesus is his beloved Son, is the same cunning adversary who tempted our first parents at the start of their earthly lives. Both times, he aims to sever the bond between Father and his children by luring them away.
Notice how he does it, because he’ll try the same tactics on you:
1. Get them to doubt God’s word
To Eve: “Did God really say…?” To Jesus: “if you are the Son of God…”
2. Tempt them to take what they’re denied or are fasting from
To Eve: Take the fruit! To Jesus: Make the bread!
3. Make them doubt the consequences
To Eve: You won’t die. To Jesus: Angels will save you.
4. Bribe them
To Eve: You’ll be wise … and like God. To Jesus: I’ll give you all the power and glory on earth.
Satan offers them provision, protection, and power, if they’ll only listen and follow him and take those things for themselves—instead of listening to and following God and letting Him provide them (as he already has!)
What’s the solution?
As we fast our way through Lent, we’re likely to get testy and may start hearing the devil in our ears. Whose voice will you listen to? Will you answer, as Jesus did, that we don’t live by bread alone but by the word of God? Then like Jesus, tell the devil: Get away, Satan! As it’s written, I will worship only God.
The fight sounds exhausting. But read on in Matthew: told to get lost, the devil did. “and, behold, angels came and ministered” to Jesus.
Feed on the word of God! Make it your daily provision, protection, and power.
And if you’ve already failed? You’re not alone. Today’s psalm (51) comes from the heart of David after he sinned with Bathsheba. Pray with it and allow his words to become yours.
You might also like:
- Not by Bread Alone: How to Live by the Word of God
- Whose Word do You Listen To? (Psalm 1 Shows the Way Forward)
Lenten prayer plan: pray with the Penitential Psalms
© 2026 Sarah Christmyer.
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