The first temptation
The essence of this temptation is that Satan wanted Jesus to do something on His own power. It is the essential temptation that all of us face daily. We are tempted not so much to go our own way...that is an obvious temptation. But the subtle part is when we are tempted to move along God's path in our own power. Jesus was clearly following God's will prior to the temptation because the verses tell us that Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Spirit. So, Jesus was where God wanted Him to be...doing what God wanted Him to do. The temptation was for Jesus to be where God wanted Him to be, doing what God wanted Him to do, but in His own power. That is the most common temptation I face each day without realizing it.
