Ep. 176 - Stones, Spectacles, and Kingdoms: The Threefold Temptation of Christ
Mass Readings for February 22, 2026
Lent has arrived, ready or not, and with it comes the dramatic showdown between Jesus and the tempter in the desert. In this episode, we journey through the dusty landscapes of Matthew’s Gospel, unearthing the powerful Old Testament echoes and the deep symbolism behind Jesus’ forty days of fasting. From the threefold temptations to the meaning behind prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we’ll discover how our own struggles—and victories—are woven into the ancient and ongoing story of salvation. Listen in as we uncover why Lent isn’t just about giving things up, but about truly becoming the new Israel, molded in Christ’s own image.
Diving deep into the First Sunday of Lent, this episode of Sunday Dive unpacks:
The surprising threefold description of the tree of knowledge in Genesis and its direct tie to Jesus’ temptations, “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life”—a theme that threads through Adam and Eve, Israel, Solomon, and us in Lent [00:05:03]
The Old Testament echoes behind “40 days and 40 nights,” linking Jesus to Moses, Elijah, and even Abraham as figures who each undertook a transformative trial to draw nearer to God [00:17:15]
Why Jesus’ refusal to turn stones into bread is more than just self-denial—it’s a rebuttal of overconsumption, a mirror of Adam and Eve’s failure, and a Christological key to understanding the Eucharist [00:28:13]
Exactly what made the parapet of the Jerusalem Temple so spectacular for Satan’s second temptation, with details about possible locations and dramatic implications for public spectacle and the human need to prove oneself [00:34:03]
The hidden battle behind Satan’s offer of all the world’s kingdoms, why it’s a true temptation for Jesus, and how it connects to Peter’s rebuke and Christ’s mission to conquer by the cross, not shortcuts [00:40:02]
The direct parallels between the three failures of Israel in the desert—hunger, thirst, and the golden calf—and Jesus’ triumph through quoting Deuteronomy, as well as Solomon’s inability to keep the “threefold law” versus Christ’s perfect obedience [00:42:33]
And how our Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving map directly onto these temptations, pointing to how we too can let Christ reproduce his victorious life in us this Lent [00:46:01]
References
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world." (1 John 2:16)
"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate." (Genesis 3:6)
"Out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food" (Genesis 2:9)
"Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights." (Exodus 24:18)
Moses "was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water." (Exodus 34:28)
Elijah “arose, and ate and drank, and walked in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God." (1 Kings 19:8)
"the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold" (1 Kings 10:14)
"Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he stationed in the chariot cities and with the king in Jerusalem." (1 Kings 10:26)
Solomon “had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives turned away his heart." (1 Kings 11:3)
"Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." (Exodus 16:3)
"They put the Lord to the test." (Exodus 17:7)
"And he received the gold at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made a molten calf; and they said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’" (Exodus 32:4)
"Only he must not multiply horses for himself, or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to multiply horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ And he shall not multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply for himself silver and gold." (Deuteronomy 17:16-17)
"man does not live by bread alone, but that man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD." (Deuteronomy 8:3)
"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." (Deuteronomy 6:16)
"You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve him" (Deuteronomy 6:13)
"Christ is being challenged to establish his credibility by offering evidence for his claims. This demand for proof is a constantly recurring theme in the story of Jesus's life; again and again he is reproached for having failed to prove himself sufficiently, for having hitherto failed to work that great miracle that will remove all ambiguity and every contradiction, so as to make it indisputably clear for everyone who and what he is or is not." (Benedict XVI, 30)
Bibliography
Benedict XVI. Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration. Translated by Adrian J Walker. New York: Doubleday, 2007.
Keener, Craig S. The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2009.
Mitch, Curtis, and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010.
Discussion Questions
The Old Testament emphasizes the significance of the number 40. What do you think the symbolic meaning of 40 is, and why does it appear in stories of both Moses and Jesus?
The episode draws parallels between Jesus as the "New Israel." Why do you think Matthew wanted to highlight Jesus in this way? How does this change your understanding of the temptation narrative?
1 John 2:16 talks about the threefold nature of temptation—lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life. Can you identify examples of these temptations in your own life or in current culture?
Why does Jesus choose to overcome temptation not by displays of power but by quoting Scripture, specifically Deuteronomy? What does this teach us about facing our own struggles?
Reflect on the role of weakness and vulnerability in Jesus’s temptations. Do you agree with Katie that God allows us to experience weakness so that we can rely more closely on Him?
The episode mentions the three Lenten practices: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. How do these practices address the threefold concupiscence described in the temptations of Jesus?
Katie draws interesting connections between Adam and Eve’s temptation and Jesus’s experience in the desert. How does Jesus’s response differ from Adam and Eve’s and what can we learn from this contrast?
There’s discussion of the desire to prove oneself or be seen by others (the “lust of the eyes” or desire for spectacle). How does this relate to today’s obsession with social media and public recognition?
Katie says that any success we have comes from the success of Jesus. How does this perspective shape the way you approach your Lenten commitments or spiritual life?
The episode encourages listeners not to become despondent if they fail in their Lenten promises. How do you handle spiritual setbacks, and what practices help you persevere in your faith journey?