Threefold Temptation

The temptations to which man is subject are divided by the Apostle John into three classes: "The lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life." 1 John 2:16. These comprise all that is in the world. Eve was tempted in the same three ways as the Lord Jesus, less clearly perhaps, but not the less certainly. He "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." Heb. 4:15.
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she gave way. Thus the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life had their threefold development in her. In Christ we find one who would not satisfy His natural need of food at the expense of obedience. He would not allow His eye to rest on the world so as to covet it. He would not take Messiah's place lest the pride of life should be manifested in Him.
Not only had Adam failed to glorify God in resisting Satan, but Israel also had given way through disobedience to the law. Therefore, we find Christ here taking the place, not only of a perfect Man, but of a perfect Israelite and resisting Satan by means of perfect subjection to the Law of Moses. Had he conquered Him as God, there would be neither victory nor contest, for one word from the Creator was sufficient to send the creature to perdition. But Christ, "who is over all, God blessed forever," was the perfect Man, made of a woman and made under the law. This is the character in which we find Him displayed here.
Surely this should awaken a deeper feeling of interest in us as we consider Him who is now able to sympathize perfectly with us in our trials. He endured precisely the same, leaving us an example as to how we should behave under similar circumstances.