Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Mark 1:13

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

He goes to the mountain so that, because of the desolation of the place, the devil might take courage and be able to approach Him, for he usually attacks when he sees that we are alone. The place of temptation was so wild that beasts abounded there in great numbers. The angels began to minister to Him only after He had defeated the tempter. All of this is set forth more fully in the Gospel of Matthew.

Commentary on Mark ↗

Western Saints

Gregory the Dialogist

The ancient enemy raised himself against the first man, our parent, in three temptations, because he tempted him with gluttony, vainglory, and avarice; but by tempting he overcame him, because he subjected him to himself through consent. But by the same means by which he overthrew the first man, by those same means he was overcome when he tempted the second man, so that he might depart from our hearts, captured at the very entrance by which he had entered and held us. …

Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 16 ↗