The Tempter and the Tempted
By James White
THE object of the one who tempts is not the object which is set before the one who is tempted. For instance, when the Pharisees tempted Christ by asking of Him a sign from heaven, their object, or, rather, the object of Satan through them, was to turn Him aside from the work He came to do, to thwart the plan of salvation through Him. But the object which they presented before Him was worldly fame and glory. They would say, "Do a sign, show that You are great, that the people may believe in You and honor You." With perfect spiritual discernment, Jesus looked beyond the object held out before Him, to the evil result which was sure to follow. Man is tempted to drink by presenting before him present enjoyment; the object of Satan is, however, to ruin him eventually, body and soul. Does temptation come? Look at it not in the light of the present, but in the light of eternity. W.