Three Temptations of Christ

The first and last temptation of Christ have always made sense to me.

In the first temptation, Jesus was hungry. The temptation was to fulfill an immediate need, His hunger.

In the last temptation, Jesus would get what was His by right, but get it immediately. He would not have to go to the cross nor wait for the Second Coming. He could have the whole world if He would just bow down to the Devil.

The second temptation is a bit tougher. What is tempting about jumping off a building? The key to the temptation is the location – at the Jewish temple. If Jesus would jump off the temple, it would be in the sight of the very people He most wanted to convince. They would have to believe that He is the Messiah if they saw Him rescued by angels.