Various Temptations

How different was His place from that of Adam. A garden of delights, surrounded by animals that were under his dominion, marked the scene of Adam's testing. Christ was in the wilderness surrounded by the wild beasts (Mark 1:13). Forty long days and nights the trial lasted, perhaps inasmuch as He took the place of Israel in memory of the forty years that Israel had tempted God in the desert (Deut. 8:2).
Elijah had gone in the strength of the meat that God provided forty days and forty nights to Horeb- the mount of God (1 Kings 19:8). Moses, too, had gone into the same mount for the same time (Ex. 34:28). But in Elijah's case there was no opposing enemy; in Moses’ case, he went to be with God. Moses was separated from his natural condition to be with God. Christ was separated from His to be with the enemy. Everything was against Him, and yet by the word of Jehovah's lips He kept Himself from the paths of the destroyer (Psa. 17:4). He had indeed put on the whole armor of God, and defended Himself with the sword of the Spirit which is His Word.
Satan first tests Him as Man: "If Thou be the Son of God command," etc. One word would have been sufficient, but the perfect Man, and obedient Jew would not transgress the law of His God who said that man should not live by bread alone.