Temptation of Christ Facts for Kids

This painting shows Jesus being tempted by the Devil.

The temptation of Christ is a famous story from the Bible. It is found in three of the Gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This story tells us what happened to Jesus right after He was baptized.

Jesus went into a desert area. He stayed there for 40 days and 40 nights without eating anything. While He was there, Satan (also called the Devil) tried to trick Him. Satan tried to make Jesus do things that were wrong or to prove His power in the wrong way. But Jesus always said no.

Major events in Jesus's life in the Gospels
Birth Baptism Temptation Commission of Disciples and Apostles Sermon on the Mount Miracles Entering Jerusalem Cleansing of the Temple Last Supper Promise of the Holy Spirit Arrest and Trial Death and Resurrection Great Commission Ascension Second Coming Prophecy

What Happened in the Desert?
Why is This Story Important?
Images for kids
See also

What Happened in the Desert?

After 40 days without food, Jesus was very hungry. Satan saw this as a chance to tempt Him. He tried three main times to get Jesus to do what he wanted.

The First Temptation: Food

Satan told Jesus to turn some stones into bread. He knew Jesus was hungry and had the power to do it. But Jesus refused. He said that people do not live only by eating food. He meant that spiritual food, like God's words, is more important. Jesus said, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

The Second Temptation: Testing God

Next, Satan took Jesus to the highest part of the Temple in Jerusalem. He told Jesus to jump off. Satan said that if Jesus was truly God's Son, God would send angels to catch Him. This was a way to make Jesus test God. But Jesus replied that the Bible also says, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." This means we should not try to force God to prove Himself.

The Third Temptation: Power and Worship

Finally, Satan showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. He offered to give Jesus all this power and glory. But there was a condition: Jesus had to worship Satan. Jesus quickly said no. He told Satan that people should only worship God. He said, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve."

Why is This Story Important?

The story of Jesus's temptations shows us a few important things. It shows that even Jesus, the Son of God, faced challenges. It teaches us that we should trust God and follow His rules. It also shows that we should not give in to bad temptations, even when things are hard.

The three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) all tell this story. They agree on what happened. But they tell the three temptations in a slightly different order. Some people think the writers chose the order to make a special point.

Images for kids

Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoy, 1872
Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness (Jésus tenté dans le désert), James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum
Jesus Ministered to by Angels (Jésus assisté par les anges), James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum
The Temptation of Christ, by Simon Bening
The Temptation of Christ by the Devil, by Félix Joseph Barrias, 1860
Woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld, 1860