AGAIN IT IS WRITTEN by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 1, 1899

"AGAIN IT IS WRITTEN."

By Editor

THE devil can quote Scripture. He frequently does it. In his own sly, crafty, devilish, seductive way he quotes it, ever appealing to the selfish heart of man. He always quotes the Scriptures to pervert their meaning. He perverts their meaning that he may destroy souls.

We have an illustration of this in our Lord's temptation, set forth as a Sabbath-school lesson in this number. First the devil came to Jesus with a doubting remark as to His divine mission, "If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." He may have apparently asked it as proof of Jesus' divinity. At any rate, Jesus met the tempter as tho he were an honest inquirer. "It is written," said He, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." The spiritual is more than the temporal. The Word of God is more than mere temporal food, for it includes all.

Again the devil assaults Him. Taking Him to the pinnacle of the temple, he again asks proof of His divinity. He again appeals to the worldly, presumptuous ambition. Cast yourself down; gain glory by such an act, and show that you believe the Word of God; "for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee; and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any time thou dash Thy foot against a stone." Matt. 4:6. The devil sought to make Christ believe that in seeking His own glory, in demonstrating His own mission, God's promises were effectual. So has the wily one deceived many a soul in the past.

But Jesus knew that that scripture was misapplied. He knew it because He knew other scriptures; because they were all laid up in His heart; that He might not sin against God. Ps. 119:11. Therefore He could meet the wily temptation and subtle suggestion of the adversary. "It is written" that God will uphold you in all things, suggested the enemy. "Again it is written," said Jesus, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

God would instruct us that we may know His whole will, that may we do every duty. The injunction is that we may know "what the will of the Lord is." An inspired prayer is that ye may "be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding." But that this may be, "the Word of Christ" must "dwell" in us "richly." Then, if the enemy comes with his shining counterfeits, we may know that the metal is base. The pure gold of the Word is a sufficient revelation that the counterfeit is base. Satan may pervert that Word so that it may seem to favor appetite, presumptuous ambition, or worldly glory, but the Spirit will call to remembrance the truth, and we will say, "Again it is written." To thus know the Word is to win victories.