1 John 2:15-16
Human desires are tempted only by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life. The devil tempted the Lord by these three. He was tempted by the lust of the flesh when, while hungry from fasting, He was told, “If thou be the Son of God, speak to these stones that they become bread.” Listen to His response: “Not by bread alone doth man live, but by every word of God.”
He was also tempted by the lust of the eyes to perform a miracle, when He was told, “Cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone,” Listen to His answer and, when you face similar temptations, say the same thing: “Get the behind me Satan; for it is written, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.”
How else was the Lord tempted? By the “pride of life.” When the devil carried Him up to a high place and said to Him, “All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” What answer did the Lord teach us to five by His answer to the devil? “It is written, Thou shall worship the Lord they God, and Him only shall thou serve.”
Holding these things fast, you won’t have the strong desires of the world. Because you won’t have the strong desires of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life won’t change you. For if you love the world, you cannot love God.
—Augustine of Hippo
Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers
Human desires are tempted only by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life. The devil tempted the Lord by these three. He was tempted by the lust of the flesh when, while hungry from fasting, He was told, “If thou be the Son of God, speak to these stones that they become bread.” Listen to His response: “Not by bread alone doth man live, but by every word of God.”
He was also tempted by the lust of the eyes to perform a miracle, when He was told, “Cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone,” Listen to His answer and, when you face similar temptations, say the same thing: “Get the behind me Satan; for it is written, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.”
How else was the Lord tempted? By the “pride of life.” When the devil carried Him up to a high place and said to Him, “All these will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” What answer did the Lord teach us to five by His answer to the devil? “It is written, Thou shall worship the Lord they God, and Him only shall thou serve.”
Holding these things fast, you won’t have the strong desires of the world. Because you won’t have the strong desires of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life won’t change you. For if you love the world, you cannot love God.
—Augustine of Hippo
Readings taken from Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers
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