LESSON II.—SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 1898.
NOTE.—The temptation in the wilderness, while designed by the tempter as a means of destroying Christ and his work, was the crowning test in Christ's preparation for his work. It was a real temptation—not a sham battle against the hosts of evil. "Jesus knew that he could choose good or evil, and the result depended upon his choice. There was no foreordained certainty of victory."—Peloubet. "How is he an example to us, if his temptation is an unreality? No; they dishonor Christ's work who think thus."—Woolsey. The purpose of these temptations was in direct line with the purpose of Christ's assumption of the flesh of humanity: "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted;" also "that he might be a merciful and faithful high Priest." Heb. 2: 17, 18. 1 "Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he afterward hungered. And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil taketh him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down; for it is written,
He shall give his angels charge concerning thee;
And in their hands they shall bear thee up,
Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.
2 Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him."
Golden Text: "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted." Heb. 2: 18. (1) After coming up out of the water at the baptism, where was Jesus taken? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) For what purpose? Same verse. (3) How long did he fast in the wilderness? Verse 2. (4) What was his condition? Same verse. (5) Who appeared to him to take advantage of his condition? Verse 3. (6) What did the tempter say to Jesus? Same verse. Note 4. (7) How did the Saviour answer him? Verse 4. (8) Failing in this what did Satan next do? Verse 5. Note 3. (9) What did Satan ask Jesus to do to prove that he was the Son of God? Verse 6. Note 4. (10) What did Satan then do in his attempt to induce Christ to perform this act? Same verse. (11) How did Jesus reply to this deceptive reasoning? Verse 7. (12) What was Satan's next move? Verse 8. Note 5. (13) What tempting promise did Satan then make? Verse 9. Note 6. (14) How did Jesus reply to him? Verse 10. (15) What commandment did the Saviour call to Satan's attention? Same verse. (16) Having completely failed in his designs, what did Satan then do? Verse 11. (17) How did the Lord show his approval of the course the Saviour had pursued? Same verse. Note 7. 1. To be tempted of the devil.—Christ had in him13the infirmities of the fallen flesh in which he was born. He was not deprived of appetites, desires, or the powers of pleasure and pain. It was this that made temptation possible; but their possession was not sin. To have yielded to a wrong gratification of them, as Satan tempted him to do, would have been sinful. 2. Command that these stones be made bread.—If Christ had performed this miracle to relieve his hunger, his temptation would not then have been like the temptations of men, for they have no such power. But the real wrong would have been in yielding to Satan's suggestion, in performing a miracle at his command; for Satan needed no proof that Christ was the Son of God. The Lord was able to sustain him, and Christ had the faith to trust him. 3. On a pinnacle of the temple.—The margin reads "a wing" of the temple. "Herod's temple had two wings, the northern and southern, of which the southern was higher and grander, hence probably the wing."—Vincent. "The roof was flat, and surrounded by a balustrade."—Peloubet. 4. If thou be the Son of God.—This is the second "if" that Satan uses in his attempt to thrust a doubt into the Saviour's mind of his divine mission. 5. Showeth him all the kingdoms.—It was Christ's mission to win back to God the whole world. "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." Ps. 2: 8. Satan would show Christ the glory of these kingdoms which would one day be his, and would then show him an easier way of obtaining them, and obtaining them at once, without his suffering, humiliation, and death. It was a temptation. 6. All these things will I give thee.—Satan had won from man all that he was now showing Christ, and it was his until Christ redeemed it. Christ calls Satan the "prince of this world." John 14: 30; 16: 11. 7. Angels came and ministered unto him.—"He who would not turn stones into bread was now fed; he who would not call upon angels to uphold him, in rash confidence, was now sustained by them."—Schaff.