Aim

To explore the theme of temptation.

Preparation

Before the lesson familiarize yourself with the temptations of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13).

Lesson

Begin lesson by asking children to reflect once again upon the right and wrong actions which they described in the first lesson.

What made them act in the way they did in each of the circumstances?

In the course of the usual apportioning of blame to others, hopefully someone will come up with the concept of 'temptation'.

What is being tempted? And how is it resisted?

In the past, it was believed that every moment of a person's life was a struggle between the urge to do right and the urge to do wrong.

Some people talked about this struggle as if there were two angels, one good and one bad seated on a person's right and left shoulder, whispering contradictory advice. Are the children aware of this image from cartoons?

Present the children with the following situation and ask them to tell you what the good angel and the bad angel would have to say.

Tim's teacher has asked him to tidy up the class library during break. She leaves him alone in the class to do it and goes to the staffroom for a cup of tea. Before he starts work, Tim notices that she has left her hand bag on the table.

Put the children in groups of four to role play the situation. They must decide if Tim resists or gives in to temptation. Also, what happens when the teacher returns? Invite groups to share their work with the rest of the class.

Rummaging through a teacher's bag, without her permission, is of course wrong. But is it also wrong to think about doing it? In other words, is it wrong to be tempted? According to Christians, it is not wrong to be tempted because Jesus was tempted. But it is wrong to give into temptation. Jesus did not do that.

Share with the children the account of the Temptations of Jesus (see Teachers' Notes for the meaning of each). Some Christians believe Satan is a real person. But other Christians believe that inside everybody, there is an urge to do wrong, which must be resisted.

How did Jesus resist the temptations of Satan? He didn't come up with some really clever answer. He simply quoted from the Bible - stating God's opinion of what is right and what is wrong.

In what ways can the children resist temptation? In groups children to devise a list of strategies to avoid doing wrong. Certain groups may use the resource sheet.

Activity

Following discussion, you may wish children to write these lists in their R.E. books / folders.

Teachers' Notes

All the temptations were alike in so much as they concerned the misuse of Jesus' power.

• The first temptation was for Jesus to misuse His power by satisfying His physical needs. He resists on the grounds that obedience to God is more important than food.
• The second temptation was two-fold. Satan tried to make Jesus perform a stunt in order to prove His special relationship with God the Father. Also, such a stunt in such a public place would instantly have earned Jesus many followers. Jesus rebuked Satan by the Biblical edict not to test God.
• The third temptation was for Jesus to use his power for political ends, thereby negating the spiritual nature of His mission. Jesus banished Satan by the use of Scripture.