Sunday of Lent 1
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by
the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” — Matthew 4:1–4
God’s name is certainly holy in itself, because God is certainly holy in Himself. We may profane the name of God among us by cursing, swearing, using satanic arts, lying, or deceiving by His name, but we cannot desecrate God’s name in itself, no matter how profane our words and deeds may be. For God is perfect, and His perfection cannot be sullied by sin.
Satan learned that lesson long ago in the wilderness. There he arrogantly attempted to tempt the very Son of God to profane His Father’s name by turning stones into loaves of bread to satisfy His hunger, putting the Lord His God to the test by throwing Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, and gaining all the kingdoms of the world and their glory by falling down and worshiping Satan. But Jesus would not be deceived or misled. He answered each temptation with nothing but the true and pure Word of God. In word and deed, Jesus kept God’s name holy, in order that He would go to the cross as the holy, perfect sacrificial offering for the world’s sin.
Indeed, God’s name is certainly holy in itself. Neither the devil, nor the world, nor the sinful flesh can change that. Jesus proved it in His temptation in the wilderness. But by the Word of God, God’s name may be kept holy on earth among men also. When we follow the example of our Lord in teaching and learning God’s Word in truth and purity and in living holy lives according
to what is commanded in the Scriptures, God’s name is kept holy among us. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven!
Protect us from the devil’s temptations, who would lead us to teach or live contrary to Your Word, heavenly Father! Amen.?
