southwestern baptist theological seminary school of theology ... - Lorin

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Questions concerning the nature of the temptation arise in the devil’s challenge, “If you
are the Son of God . . . (Eij uiJoV" Eij tou' qeou').” But what does this mean? Is Satan
questioning the sonship of Jesus by casting doubt on his miraculous powers, or is he affirming
Jesus’ sonship (since you are ...) ? If the latter is the case, then the temptation concerns the
nature of Jesus’ sonship, i.e., what kind of a son he is. 18 Surely the fact of Jesus’ sonship is not in
view here, especially in light of the Baptism. Rather, this statement is “a concession intended by
Luke to show Satan’s recognition of the messiahship of Jesus.” 19
What then is the nature of the temptation? Jesus is being tempted to use his own power
as the Son of God for his own ends rather than being obedient to the Father. Therefore, the filial
relationship between the Father and the Son is the real issue. As Marshall states, “It is suggested
that Sonship can be expressed in independent authority rather than in filial obedience. Behind
the temptation lies the desire to turn Jesus aside from the fulfillment of his messianic task by
striking at his relationship to the Father.” 20
A redactional issue involves Luke’s singular “stone” instead of Matthew’s “stones.”
There is no reason immediately apparent for the shift. Bock suggests that “Luke chose to use the
singular to focus the request and to bring it into conformity with the singular artw of the Old
17 Ibid.
18 Robert Holst, “The Temptation of Jesus,” Expository Times 82 (1970-71): 343.
Also Ernst Lohmeyer, Das Evangelium des Matthäus (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht,
1956), 57. He states, “Die Versuchung geht nicht auf die Person Jesu ... sondern auf sein Werk
und seinen Weg.”
19E. Earle Ellis, The Gospel of Luke, New Century Bible (Greenwood, S. C.: The
Attic Press,1966), 94.
20Marshall, 171.