The commentary that follows is about the specific emphases in Luke’s version on the filling with the Spirit, the different order from Matthew, and the overall meaning of the three temptations. See the other articles categorized under “Temptation” for a fuller view of this important scene in Yeshua’s life.

NOTES: It is often assumed that the Spirit is either present or not present, that the “filling” of the Spirit has only one meaning. But Luke’s use of the Spirit in both the gospel and in Acts shows that the Spirit’s filling comes at different levels and has different meanings in different contexts. It is not that Luke would deny the Pauline emphasis that all of Yeshua’s followers have the Spirit. Rather, Luke is aware of a more subtle and variegated view of the Spirit’s Presence. As is the case with the Glory in the Hebrew Bible, the Spirit manifests in different ways and levels. One evidence for this is that in Acts, the Spirit’s power is imparted specifically by the presence of one of the Twelve or Paul. Luke emphasizes the Spirit in the life of Yeshua more so than the other gospels (an emphasis somewhat similar to John’s mystical perspective on Yeshua). Mark’s “the Spirit immediately drove him into the wilderness” becomes “Yeshua, full of the Holy Spirit . . . was led by the Spirit.” Yeshua will conquer Satan’s temptations with the Spirit’s power and will emerge on the other side with the power of the Spirit in vs. 14. The order of temptations in Luke is desert-bread/world-kingdoms/temple-pinnacle whereas Matthew has desert-bread/temple-pinnacle/world-kingdoms (from a high mountain, says Matthew). The order of Deuteronomy allusions in Luke is 8:3; 6:13; 6:16 (while Matthew’s order is descending: 8:3; 6:16; 6:13). Some argue Matthew’s order is original: the elevation moves up from desert to pinnacle to high mountain and the Deuteronomy verses are in simple descending order. If so, then Luke has moved the world kingdoms temptation earlier and ended with the Temple pinnacle. All three temptations concern false notions about the identity of the Messiah: cheap miracles and the stones-to-bread, messianism as ruling power and the world-kingdoms, and signs to prove messiahship and the temple-pinnacle. Yeshua doesn’t do cheap miracles, teaches a different idea of how power and kingdom work, and doesn’t give signs to prove his identity. The order in Luke probably suggests two things about his emphasis in the scene: (1) Jerusalem is last in Luke’s presentation because Jerusalem and the Temple will be the final test for Yeshua and (2) the Temple-pinnacle is the most potent temptation for Yeshua, to prove his identity by signs (Johnson).

Aside from the many connections to Moses’ and Israel’s story, the temptation account definitely has a message about Yeshua’s identity. Is it what people think? R.T. France in the New International Commentary on the New Testament series is most helpful.

Some have argued that the temptation centers around Yeshua’s messianic mission:
…(1) if Yeshua could make bread he could get followers
…(2) if he survived a fall from the Temple, this sign would get followers
…(3) if he accepted Satan’s offer of transfer of kingship now, Yeshua could reign as Messiah early.

France says no, that is not it.

It is about Yeshua’s relationship to the Father and the tempter trying to drive a wedge between them:
…(1) Will Yeshua exploit his role as the Son of God? Will he put an early end to the time of testing by making bread from stones?
…(2) Will he require the Father to save him from a fall, pridefully asserting his right as the Son?
…(3) Will he skip the hard road to kingdom decreed by the Father and take a transfer of kingship directly from Satan?

As France observes, Yeshua will face similar temptations as the time of the cross draws near and while he is on the cross.

The list of parallels is not only interesting, but a great clue to the meaning of the temptation story itself.

The note that Yeshua was led up into the wilderness is more than a hint of God leading Israel into the wilderness. Forty days and nights without food, while more similar to Moses’ stay on Mt. Sinai (Deut 9:9), also calls to mind the forty years Israel was in the wilderness. See Jer 2:6; Ezek 20:10; and Amos 2:10 for verses about God leading Israel into and through the wilderness.

Israel was tempted (and tested God) with regard to three things:
…(1) Hunger (Exod 16:2-8), the Manna story.
…(2) Putting God to the test due to lack of water (Exod 17:17:1-3; Deut 6:16).
…(3) Idolatry (Exod 32), the Golden Calf story.

Compare Matthew 4:8 and Deuteronomy 34:1-3, where God showed Moses all of the land.

Yeshua quotes three verses from Moses:
…(1) Deuteronomy 8:3, in order to teach you that man does not live on bread alone, but that man may live on anything that the Lord decrees.
…(2) Deuteronomy 6:16,  Do not try the Lord your God, as you did at Massah.
…(3) Deuteronomy 6:13, Revere only the Lord your God and worship Him alone, and swear only by His name.