Matthew 4:10, commentary and pictures

Christ's command means worship and service belong to the Lord God alone, with exclusive wholehearted loyalty that refuses homage to Satan for any offer of kingdoms, power or glory. Spoken after forty days without food when the kingdoms of the world were spread before Him in bewitching glory as a bribe for worship, it was a dismissal with divine authority that Satan could not resist, so he withdrew defeated and angels came and ministered to Christ. He met the temptation only with what stands written, making God's Word the weapon and pattern for meeting every assault rather than arguing or parleying. The victory was won as man's representative where Adam failed, in genuine fallen human nature without yielding, so that humanity has moral power through Him to keep God's law and overcome appetite, presumption and love of the world. That same offer still comes in the guise of worldly gain, ambition and idolatrous devotion, and it must be instantly refused by answering with Scripture and choosing duty and integrity over loss or reward.

Wilderness Setting and Suffering

The command belongs to the third wilderness temptation after forty days and forty nights without food, when on an exceeding high mountain the kingdoms of the world were spread before Christ in panoramic bewitching glory of cities, palaces, fields and waters and offered as a bribe for worship. There Satan threw off disguise as a heavenly messenger and claimed to be the Prince of Darkness with the earth and its kingdoms as his dominion, offering all their power and glory without suffering or peril if Christ would acknowledge him as superior and fall down to pay him homage. Jesus turned resolutely from the display and refused even to look at it as not to be seen, and answered only with what is written that worship and service belong to the Lord God alone. In that answer divinity flashed through humanity, giving the demanded proof that He was the Son who knew and exposed the fallen rebel, and the peremptory dismissal exercised divine authority Satan could not resist but was compelled to obey. Spoken in human nature in behalf of the fallen race, it left Satan writhing with baffled hate and rage as a conquered foe, ended the contest with victory as complete as Adam's failure, and stands as a lesson to the whole world that salvation can be chosen and divine help is available to overcome.

Though faint, exhausted, starving, emaciated, weary and pressed as if dying on a battlefield, He did not yield for a moment but asserted authority and superiority over Satan even while weak. No taunt could move Him from allegiance though the very purity of His principles was assailed, revealing mighty power within as divinity flashed through humanity. After the rebuke Satan left Him for a season, defeated in the demand for the homage he had failed to obtain in heaven, and had he succeeded the plan of salvation would have failed into hopeless misery. Then angels who had watched with intense love came and ministered to Him with food, strength and divine consolation to sustain His exhausted humanity in the sufferings He endured. Those who follow the example and resist in Jesus' name and strength may expect the same, that Satan will leave and angels will minister.

Led by the Spirit after baptism when heaven opened and the Spirit rested upon Him and close communion was enjoyed, He went alone to contemplate His mission and brace Himself by fasting and prayer without inviting temptation or presuming on promises. He did not give in to despair when temptation came, for trials can serve a good purpose and God provides help to endure them. The experience shows that great blessings may be followed by severe trials requiring conflict, and that overcoming involves conflict where prayer and fasting draw near to God. At the beginning of public ministry He stood at the head of the fallen race as humanity's representative in perfect harmony with the Father, enduring the threefold test on behalf of those He came to redeem.

With no human voice, He was surrounded by demons pretending to be angels from heaven with seducing attractions, presenting wily, deceiving, artful insinuations against God as to our first parents to undermine confidence, destroy faith and trust, and strain the mind constantly to get one clue to allure into controversy as if reading unspoken thoughts just as with Eve. Weakened by fasting with mental sufferings making the ordeal most severe, He endured the strain forty days and forty nights through all the great leading temptations besetting man, facing the most fearful assaults of the prince of darkness ever made. He gave Satan not one word to lead him on, but met Him point by point with quotation of His own words He had inspired holy men of old to write, and the surely aimed fiery darts found no lodgment. He was apparently alone with the one with whom there was war in heaven, the angel once next to Christ in majesty and glory who from jealousy over oneness with the Infinite God originated sin and fixed his seal against God's government, but He was not alone for angels were round Him as they are commissioned to minister to those under fearful assault. There in the wilderness Christ would not be brought into that desire for His place, and overcame and defeated him.

Dispute was necessary when Satan's authority had become almost supreme, seeking to seduce men to be disloyal like himself and companions in rebellion, to have the whole human family at war with God and the law of His kingdom and to establish an opposing kingdom with opposing laws carrying out the rebellion commenced in heaven. So the battle between the Prince of Light and the leader of darkness, between the Prince of life and the powers of darkness, was fought on this little world over humanity possessed by demons, with Christ sent to demonstrate God before the world. Heaven and watching angels looked on with intense love, sympathy and interest to see which would triumph, and the contest was decisive with humanity's salvation at stake where either Satan or the Redeemer would come off conqueror. Christ joined issue and met temptation never with human words but only with Scripture, after fasting forty days and forty nights without food or drink in conflict so severe He was fainting and apparently dying on the field of battle, when angels from the world of light came and ministered and strengthened Him with food. Satan followed Him at every step, determined to overthrow Him and to weary and exhaust the patience and forbearance of God for the family so as to ruin every one of them.

The single-handed desert wrestling at the start of His ministry lasted in conflict to the cross, with Satan on His track and all hell leagued against Him trying to inspire Him with his own attributes and to turn Him from His purpose from the desert through Calvary. Step by step He advanced in humiliation and self-sacrifice instead, and every attempt to lead Him into sin, discourage Him, or drive Him from the work He came to do was unsuccessful. After the wilderness conquest decided the destiny of the race the tempter left for a season and spent the three years of ministry preparing to return for the last fearful conflict in Gethsemane. Everything was at stake for Satan in that final trial, for if he failed there his hope of mastery was lost and the kingdoms of the earth would finally become Christ's, who would bind the strong man and cast him out. Through the whole storm of wrath the more mercilessly it fell the more firmly the Son clung to the Father's hand and pressed on in the blood-stained path, enduring attacks at great weakness throughout ministry and agony on the cross for humanity.

The temptation closed only a few days before the wedding at Cana, after forty days and forty nights without food when weak and emaciated. To the enemy's suggestion He refused to command stones to become bread to satisfy His own hunger and refused the challenge to cast Himself down from the pinnacle to prove He was the Son of God, answering each suggestion with Scripture and refusing to work a miracle for Himself. By contrast at the feast He did use power for others, turning water to wine like fresh wine from the cluster by simply looking upon it without touching it, to show marriage is not forbidden by God. After forty days He returned to the Jordan without drawing attention to Himself or publicly advancing His special work before beginning public work. Those victories culminated soon before He presented Himself in His true character at Nazareth, where He was known as an unpretending mechanic.

Satan could carry Jesus to the temple pinnacle and high mountain, yet Jesus resisted and overcame His adversary as the mighty conqueror. Such power over people is therefore not a sign of divine authority, and people who leave God's truth and venture onto Satan's ground can be deceived and controlled. Satan began as soon as hunger's pangs commenced, for Christ truly suffered them during forty days and nights without food, adapting an apparent good as a bribe to circumstances and weakness. Complete victory over his devices is possible in Christ, whose example teaches followers to resist and overcome, while the setting connects danger with times of weakness when faith may fail and people can yield as Satan sought victory over the Son as he had gained over people.

The verse belongs to the threefold test endured on behalf of those to be redeemed, marking its end with complete victory matching the completeness of Adam's failure, where Satan's strongest efforts failed and he was driven away for a time. It was a battle fought not for Himself but for humanity, in which Jesus remained faithful and the plan of salvation was carried out. He suffered temptation in great weakness in a body like ours, acquainted with human necessities, and fierce temptations were taken in human nature so He could understand trials and succor the tempted. He humbled Himself and refused for a moment to yield, suffering in every respect what man will suffer and very much more, bearing the heaviest temptations and the sins not of one but of the whole world with humiliation, reproach, suffering and death. He did not fail under pressure but came off more than conqueror over evil, remaining firm against efforts to turn Him from His mission, and as a sure foundation He does not disappoint those who trust Him so guilty hearts find relief and men learn how to conquer since in human strength success is not possible. After enduring this fierce conflict alone before public ministry He appeared physically worn but with holy expression and gentle dignity, showing the mission He had accepted.

Satan's Offer and Demand

Satan displayed all the kingdoms of the world in their greatest glory, attraction, bewitching loveliness and richness as a panorama of cities, palaces, fields and waters, claimed to be their prince, king, possessor and Prince of Darkness with the earth as his dominion, and offered to give Christ all their power and glory without suffering or peril if He would acknowledge Satan as superior and fall down to pay him homage. He threw off disguise as a heavenly messenger in making that offer, yet Jesus turned resolutely from the scene and refused even to look at it, rejected the price for serving evil, and answered from Scripture that worship and service belong to the Lord God alone while commanding him to leave. That victory through faithfulness was complete, unlike Adam's failure, and was won in order to redeem what was lost, restore the world, and enable people to overcome and be restored to their place with God.

His claim to be prince of this world rested on conforming Adam and Eve to his nature and holding dominion through control of men, but Christ came to disprove it, and His loyalty proves Satan has not gained complete control of the race, that the claim is false, that Adam's lost dominion will be recovered, and that all desiring deliverance will be set free. The worldly kingdom offered was burdened by sin and its curse, not the kingdom of righteousness Jesus came to establish, and prophecy foretold that heaven's Prince would establish His kingdom not through earthly triumph, worldly honor or display but to embrace the world's kingdoms, end Satan's power and glory, and bring retribution for introduced sin and misery. That demand for worship opposes worship of the Lord God alone, and his claim to the world opposes God as Creator, Lord and Sovereign whose memorial is the day pronounced blessed and holy, which Satan hates because Christ was preferred before him and was rolling back hellish darkness and the traditions, customs and rigorous burden thrown over the Sabbath to make it of no force instead of a delight.

He demanded on earth the homage he had failed to obtain in heaven, repeating the same claim to power made there, and that blasphemous presumption and assumption insulted the Creator, exposed his true character and malice, and aroused Christ's divine indignation. Had Jesus yielded to avoid suffering in gaining earth's kingdoms, the plan of salvation would have failed, humanity would have faced hopeless misery, and redemption would have been prevented. Instead Jesus asserted authority over Satan as the fallen rebel He knew, and refused to be turned from God's will or the work of human redemption.

He came enshrouded in light as a supposed angel from God's throne, a heaven-sent friend and messenger claiming to sympathize with suffering after the long fast, to relieve starvation, to help bear part of the plan, and to offer an easier path than trial and anticipated sufferings. He urged escape from coming suffering, telling Christ God did not require self-denial and suffering but only designed to prove willingness to endure, that He had only to set foot in the blood-stained path but not travel it, as Abraham was tested to show perfect obedience when the angel stayed his hand from slaying Isaac. He feigned doubt of Christ's divinity because of emaciated appearance and unpleasant surroundings, flattered himself his assumed heavenly character could not be discerned and humbled humanity could be overcome, concealed true character and purposes as benefactor and man's friend, yet the Son stood steadfast to carry out in spirit and letter every particular of redemption against manifold successive ensnarements and refused the offered honor, riches and glory rather than surrender integrity. The same hidden flattering pretense remains his most successful scheme for gathering thousands under control, blinding sinful men so they cannot discern devices and honor him as heavenly while he works eternal ruin.

He claimed to be sanctified as a pure angel from the heavenly courts, continuing the self-exaltation above God by which he corrupted many angels, and Jesus was not deceived by the pretension, showing those living by every word from God's mouth will not be deceived and exposing false sanctification that turns ears from the law as disobedience with carnal hearts not subject to God and with willful imperfect obedience unacceptable. He appeared not as a repulsive fiend but disguised as a beautiful being like an angel from heaven to help overcome Christ. Beneath the world's outward beauty lies misery and sin from turning to Satan, and Jesus saw the displayed earthly dominions as under a tyrant's power with humanity suffering oppression, regarded the display as not to be seen, and chose the beauty of holiness and an uncorrupted heart as more to be desired than any glitter or tinsel. Yielding attention and devotion to things separating mind and heart from God is bowing to Satan and doing what he wants, while many yield when tempted to worship anything and everything but God.

He tempts people the same way by showing the kingdoms in attractive glory and promising them to those who worship him in order to bring them under dominion, and where people are not protected by divine power their senses are perverted and they are drawn toward temporary concerns away from spiritual and eternal things into delusion rather than freedom. The same offer of worldly honor and glory if supremacy is acknowledged comes to each person, and to accept it is to acknowledge that supremacy, while a decision made in a moment under that temptation fixes condition forever and must be stopped and reflected upon before another step. He still presents the same inducement of worldly gain in different guises to ministers through enterprises promising large gain to lead them to seek to be rich, knowing if Christ had accepted the world would never have been ransomed and those beguiled become false to trust and contrary to God's will. He offers power, honors, riches and sinful pleasures on condition integrity is surrendered and conscience dulled to captivate faculties, bids believers look sharply after self-interest, reject liberality as whimsical notions, and seek a great name and greatness his way, which is met by looking to Jesus as author and finisher, becoming strong in His strength, refusing business hindering sacred calling, not striving for earthly honor, and asking what profit is gaining the world and losing the soul.

He comes with quotations of Scripture and enchanting sentiments and thoughts appearing elevating, noble and good, designed to overthrow by specious temptation, perverting the greatness and power endowed to Lucifer, disguising evil as good and himself as humanity's friend rather than enemy to beguile, bewilder, deceive and seduce. He mixes truth with falsehood so truth woven with error is made ineffective, replaces God's Word with misleading statements, and those misquoting Scripture to support error follow his example, so believers must be guarded against being led into unbelief. Yet he can solicit but cannot compel to sin, cannot cast Christ down because God would interpose, and cannot force Him to cast Himself down or in the slightest depart from the Father's will unless He consents, refusing even slight acceptance of distrustful doubt and refusing to imperil life to give evidence. He cannot control the will or force sin without consent, though he can cause distress and agony he cannot defile the soul, and Christ's victories won on behalf of humanity make conquering possible, give strength to seekers, and give courage to fight.

As a usurper he offered worldly dominion for worship, but Jesus met every temptation with Scripture, His will remaining in perfect obedience, and He refused the bribe and would worship and serve God alone. By refusing He kept the world's kingdoms from staying Satan's so they can become the kingdoms of God and of Christ, remained wholly committed to saving people from Satan's power, did not turn from the path to the cross, and counted salvation of souls more than every worldly kingdom and glory. His followers too can repulse Satan at every step and refuse inducements even when obedience brings threats or loss of protection, and in the last great issue Satan repeats the demand with bribes and national laws in hand to force worship under threat of withdrawing rights, especially by voiding the Sabbath of the fourth commandment and exalting a spurious sabbath and laws of the man of sin for universal homage like Nebuchadnezzar's golden image, while the Sabbath identifies God as Creator and the world's final bowing before the beast reflects the effort to receive worship due to God. Those who yield sell themselves for nothing and lose their souls.

The offer tempts people to turn from God and love mammon as an idol, giving devotion to wealth, where prosperity overcomes love for God and truth when selfishness and covetousness are not resisted. When greatest anxiety, care and labor are devoted to worldly interests and riches while eternal considerations are secondary, men give Satan the homage he failed to obtain from Christ, and such selfish love of the world corrupts faith, weakens moral power, carries professed followers farther from God, and keeps them from partaking of the divine nature. Resistance comes by overcoming selfish covetousness, surrendering possessions to God's service, and giving cheerfully to advance truth and help the needy.

Christ's Rebuke and Authority

The dismissal means depart from Me, spoken with divine authority that Satan could not resist, so he was silenced, broken in power, compelled to obey, and withdrew defeated to leave the field conquered. Even while faint and exhausted He spoke with authority and superiority and did not yield for a moment, and Satan retired writhing with baffled hate in humiliation and rage. This marked the end of the wilderness contest and a complete victory as complete as Adam's failure had been, with Christ free of Satan and his angels for a season.

In that answer divine indignation was aroused at the blasphemous demand for worship, divinity flashed through humanity so that divine power shone through suffering human nature, and Satan learned whom he was handling. The peremptory dismissal gave the demanded proof that Christ was the Son, who knew and exposed him as the fallen rebel, and His answer exposed the claim to rule the world and receive its homage as an insult to the Creator. Christ stood at the head of humanity with divinity and humanity combined without violation or stain, showing how supremacy is obtained and what God will be to those who resist temptation.

Jesus turned resolutely from the panoramic display of cities, palaces, fields and waters and refused even to look at it as not to be seen. He refused to gain the world by avoiding suffering and death or by acknowledging Satan's supremacy, but chose the Father's appointed way of humiliation, suffering and death on the cross to ransom humanity, extend the kingdom, destroy hostile powers, and receive the nations as lawful everlasting inheritance from His Father, while Satan will ultimately be destroyed. Satan's offer of worldly power and glory without suffering or peril could not turn Him from God's will or prevent the work of human redemption, for had He yielded the plan of salvation would have failed and humanity would have faced hopeless misery.

He did not argue in His own words or enter into a controversy of words, parley, repeat Satan's claims, retaliate, or use Satan's manner of weapons, but held to the affirmative of what is written in word and conduct. This is best for meeting opponents because repeating opposition strengthens it while affirmative truth can reach understanding and convert, and believers are to meet opposition the same way rather than frame their own answers. His example is the perfect pattern so that victory comes the same way by keeping the truths of God's Word in mind and answering the adversary with what is written, remaining under holy angels' guardianship with strength for every duty.

From superior knowledge He could have exposed Satan's past, present and future or called legions of angels at His command, yet He worked no miracle or sign for unbelief or pride. He depended only on God and His Word, which is more powerful than miracles and stronger than anything else through the Holy Spirit's working, and He used the moment to teach how to gain the soul's salvation. The record of conquering with God and His Word alone stands for help today against a future coming with great power by signs including fire from heaven to prove authority and deceive if possible the elect, whom those firm upon the everlasting Word will meet with the same weapon and conquer.

He remained faithful to the Father through efforts to destroy and overcome Him, could not be led into sin, and though weak and suffering sent Satan away undefeated without turning from His mission so the plan was carried out through the price of redemption. The verse marks Satan's first manifest defeat by the Prince of life on behalf of the race, over which all heaven rejoiced, as part of the warfare fulfilling the enmity between the woman's seed and the serpent's seed in every conflict of good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error, light and darkness. He gained a full and entire victory where Satan with strongest efforts and most powerful temptations prevailed nothing and departed disappointed and enraged for a little season.

That same rebuke in action was given after the feeding of the five thousand from five loaves and two fishes, when the satisfied multitude and the disciples wanted to take Him by force and make Him king on David's throne. The people's demand was only Satan's wilderness suggestion spoken again, with Satan working through Judas and the crowd to press it, creating a real temptation and real conflict in His mind. He promptly and decidedly refused the proffered honor, constrained His disciples to get into the ship, dismissed the multitude, and went alone into the mountain to pray, and that sending away was the same rebuke to Satan in action. The same rebuke applies against Peter when affectionate counsel opposed God's purpose for Jesus to suffer and die, showing human affection turning someone from God's will must be firmly rejected.

The defeat does not end Satan's hope, for he looked forward to the period of Christ's ministry to try his power and artifices again. He holds council with his angels to prevent faith in Christ, planning to blind the understanding of the Jews, God's chosen people anxiously expecting the Messiah, and to fill their hearts with envy, jealousy and hatred so they will not discern the world's Redeemer, will not receive Him, will make His life on earth as bitter as possible, will serve as Satan's agents, and will by their unbelief discourage Jesus in His mission.

Representative Victory for Humanity

The threefold wilderness temptation was endured on behalf of those Christ came to redeem, taking up the test where Adam failed under far more difficult conditions, and His victory as Conqueror was as complete as Adam's failure had been, with the destiny of the race at stake. Won in human nature in behalf of the fallen race by the Captain of salvation, that victory left Satan a conquered foe and placed humanity on vantage ground with God, so that every advantage Christ had is made available to men who by becoming partakers of the divine nature can resist satanic agencies, keep God's law and become victors over darkness. He retraced the ground where Adam disobeyed and passed over where Adam fell, beginning redemption where ruin began with appetite after the long fast, breaking appetite's power and redeeming the disgrace of Adam's fall. His victory where Adam fell shows every son and daughter of Adam may overcome through Jesus Christ by the moral power He brings to unite with human effort, and by overcoming where Satan had prevailed over Adam and others He gives strength to resist without being overcome.

Where the first Adam with advantage was charmed by sophistry, Christ as second Adam after four thousand years of decrease took degenerate humanity's infirmities and would not become the enemy's bondslave, only thus rescuing man from degradation. Adam met the tempter with none of sin's effects upon him, standing in perfect manhood's full vigor of body and mind amid Eden's glories in daily communion with heavenly beings, while Jesus met Satan after decrease in physical strength, mental power and moral worth, and where Adam believed Satan's lie instead of reaching above humanity for divine power, Christ refused to swerve a hair's breadth from allegiance, for had He yielded the world would have passed under Satan's control. The victory was won in genuine fallen human nature at the head of humanity, capable of yielding yet without corruption, evil propensity, foothold or taint, with divinity and humanity combined without violation or stain, truly human and not a display unlike human experience. Christ's humanity alone could never have endured the test, but His divine power combined with humanity gained an infinite victory in man's behalf, and as man's Representative He raised humanity in moral value with God while divinity flashing through humanity proved He could not be called from allegiance.

The temptation was a hundredfold stronger than any ever brought or ever to be brought upon the race, the strongest Satan could bring, involving bearing the sins of the whole world and suffering far more in humiliation, reproach and death than any person will suffer. Because He faced severer temptations than people face and endured, He knows how to deliver the tempted, and those feeling alone or overwhelmed can trust rather than despair. No temptation could allure Him from duty, no threat intimidate Him, no peril awaken fear, and no hardship exhaust endurance, but the more mercilessly wrath beat upon Him from desert to Calvary the more firmly He clung to the Father's hand, bringing His spotless character out in purer light. Victories were won as representative, substitute, surety and second trial, placing the race on vantage ground with moral power to conquer sin, receive the divine nature, keep God's law and be rescued, proving to angels and men that man may overcome and that in every emergency heaven's powers are ready to help.

He met as man's representative rendering the same human obedience required, without using a special power of divinity unavailable to man, for otherwise Satan would have made capital of it, proving what God can do through humanity when divine power works through faith and man becomes partaker of the divine nature. He proved false Satan's claim that no man can keep God's law, enduring stronger temptation solely by reliance on the Word and revealing men can keep it through divine power granted from heaven, with a way of escape so none is tempted above ability and abundant grace for seekers who will obey and not trample holy precepts. Humanity's salvation was at stake in the single-handed contest watched with intense interest by angels, for if Satan had gained victory humanity would remain bound with no moral power and his kingdom established unbroken over the whole race, while Christ's faithfulness contested claimed dominion, kept false claims from being secured and would bring Satan's power to an end with retribution for sin and misery introduced.

The victory benefits no one unless claimed personally, for each faces the same adversary unweakened by failure with Christ and must overcome on his own account as co-worker through strength and grace, since God cannot save against the will, and overcomers will sit with Him on His throne leaving the warned without excuse. Man now has Adam's disobedience to warn him and Christ's overcoming life to copy, and must do his part as victor through the all-powerful name of Jesus to become heir of God and joint-heir with Christ, for the battle over appetite and enslaving indulgence belongs to the individual and no one can fight it for him though others can pray. The victory bridges the gulf sin made, showing how highly He estimates the race by clothing divinity with humanity so humanity might take hold of divinity, with His human arm reaching man and divine arm grasping the Infinite to elevate and ennoble through merits and link man to the Infinite.

The ordeal revealed inexpressible love in giving the Son to humiliation, shame, agony and the cross to bring many to glory and restore the moral image, proving sympathy by infinite sacrifice to reach degradation and elevate to the throne, so to overcome as He overcame is infinite gain and heaven is cheap at any cost compared with gaining the world and losing the soul. The conflict is repeated in every heart where leaving evil for God's service brings assault, for He took fallen weakened infirmities with possibility of yielding and faced the tests that overcame Adam and Eve, enduring the same kind of battle every person must face. As the divine-human Saviour who laid aside robe, crown and glory to live as man among men in most sinful form since sinners could not stand unveiled glory, He broke Satan's power in fulfillment of the plan laid before the fall to manifest God, reconcile the world and purchase it by His life as ransom through power from above in answer to prayer.

He resisted through self-denial and perfect submission to the Father's will in contrast to Satan's disloyal pursuit of his own will, steadfast in every particular of redemption despite the claim God did not require suffering, and remained on resistance because He came to seek and save the lost. Because He faced severer temptations and endured, bearing the pressure of Adam's guilt and descendants' without failing, He knows how to deliver the tempted and sympathizes with weakness over appetite and habit as a tested dependable foundation to bring burdens and find relief, so the overwhelmed can trust rather than despair. He resisted on humanity's behalf facing the test Adam failed under circumstances far more trying, thereby redeeming the fall, exposing the deceiver, affirming loyalty and making it possible through His name, and weak fallen people in His name may overcome and become more than conquerors by taking hold of His strength. He overcame every assault and lived an absolutely stainless life on our behalf, not for Himself but for every son and daughter of Adam through sinless merit, revealing the conflict between the Saviour's work and the destroyer and the opposition of Satan's kingdom to God's.

He left glory to bless and lift fallen man, met the archenemy in this world, firmly resisted the mighty foe's suggestions after humbling Himself and conquered so people may learn how since success is impossible in human strength, truly experiencing temptation as a perfect example through divine power brought to human effort. He resisted as a true human being through obedience by relying on divine power available through faith, making His obedience an example to follow in human nature, and in His strength people may obey though tempted as He was yet without sin. In human nature He disproved Satan's misrepresentations of God's character under far more trying circumstances than Adam in a world seared by rebellion where Satan claimed mercy and truth for himself, redeeming Adam's fall and saving the world so there is hope for all who receive Him as personal Saviour.

Worship God Alone

The verse declares that worship and service belong to the Lord God alone, rejecting Satan's offer of the world's kingdoms, power and glory for homage and commanding him to leave with exclusive, undivided, wholehearted loyalty and a clear line between serving God and not serving Him through full trust in Christ. On the high mountain Satan threw off disguise as a heavenly messenger, claimed to be Prince of Darkness with earth and its kingdoms as his dominion, and offered all their power and glory without suffering or peril if Christ would acknowledge him as superior and pay homage. Jesus turned resolutely from the panoramic scene of cities, palaces, fields and waters and refused even to look at it, but when worship was solicited His divine indignation was aroused at the blasphemous assumption and He exercised divine authority as Son of God to command departure. Satan had demanded proof that Christ was the Son of God and received it in the peremptory dismissal, which he had no power to resist and was compelled to obey, retiring writhing with baffled hate and rage, so the contest ended with victory as complete as Adam's failure had been. Beneath the world's outward beauty lies misery and sin caused by turning from God to Satan, and Jesus resisted in faithfulness to God and His word in order to redeem what was lost, restore the world, receive its kingdoms lawfully from His Father as an everlasting possession while Satan will ultimately be destroyed, and overcome so that people may overcome and be restored to their place with God.

It gives the terms of salvation to be kept ever before God's people as they go to men and women whose souls are to be saved or lost, taught to every class as the living Word rather than empty words, requiring doers of God's word and refusing to let human maxims and customs blind the eyes. Its model brings every faculty and labor under God's control in accordance with light given, remaining loyal rather than giving in to ambition or a dare, following Christ's victory through His merits and honoring the Father, for divinity shone through His humanity as He stood firm and answered temptation with Scripture and His words defeated Satan. Making God first in worship and life is to be demonstrated by those who come to Christ, profess faith, and are baptized as God's children, and the same command was applied to a husband's duty to assert liberty and stand at the head of his family as God requires rather than submit to his wife's every wish. Worship includes recognizing God as source of every good gift with reverence, gratitude and humble offerings taught by families to children, while Christ is to be worshiped as Life-giver and no trust put in human beings or human strength as support.

Idolatry must be put away, for serving self breaks the command by making self an idol and sacrificing everything valuable on its unworthy shrine. Making feelings an object of worship or letting them rule the will breaks the command, but the sinner is to turn to Jesus, trust the Word, and look to Him as atoning refuge who bears sin rather than to misery or feelings. Grasping for money by taking the highest wages possible while harder-working others are forced to accept low wages also breaks the command, because it robs the laborer of his hire through injustice. The command to worship God is joined to the Sabbath command, for the Sabbath is God's gift to all Adam's descendants as memorial that the living God created heaven and earth, and Christ's death did not release humanity to worship idols. In the final conflict Satan uses national laws to demand worship while the Sabbath commandment identifies God as Creator, and the counterfeit sabbath and laws displacing God's law become part of this contest over whom people will worship, yet Christ's victory shows followers too can refuse inducements even when obedience brings threats or loss of worldly protection, for if He had worshiped Satan the kingdoms could not become the kingdom of God and Christ.

No human being has been given power to claim homage or become an object of worship, so finite man is never to be placed where God should be, honored as a god, or bowed down to. This forbids worship given to the pope and to his representative the cardinal, who are only men and act out the character of the man of sin in receiving worship, representing the same claim to power and authority Satan made in heaven when he demanded worship from Christ. Acknowledging another's supremacy or giving religious homage to a human authority repeats the wilderness temptation, as applied to the pope's claim to divine titles and supreme authority as head of the church which usurps Christ's place, and those fearing God resist such claims by this principle. Spiritual subjection to human authority in matters of eternal life is itself worship due solely to the Creator, so no person may demand the spiritual obedience due only to Him, while fidelity to human rulers in ordinary affairs does not violate exclusive allegiance. Allegiance belongs to God alone and giving a human the allegiance due to God is wrong, so to enshrine a person in the heart as an idol gives an erring creature needing mercy and pardoning love what is due to God alone.

Worship and homage belong to God alone, and Satan with evil angels disguised as an angel of light seeks to steal it so deluded people give him what is due only to God, placing himself between worshipers and the Father and drawing them from the right path through deception. Exclusive worship stands behind the second precept forbidding false worship, where idolatry is spiritual adultery dishonoring God, making an image of Him dishonors Him, and idolatry corrupts and debases the mind toward sensuality and other sins. True worship is in spirit and truth by living faith rather than imagination, and serving anything in God's place including selfish pride, money, or anything given undue thought and admiration is idolatry discerned because God searches the heart and distinguishes true service from idolatry. Some early believers remained faithful to worshiping and serving God alone while others compromised by adopting images and idolatrous practices with pagan ceremonies, corrupting faith and worship.

Rejection of the demand because worship belongs to God alone applies to choosing obedience over worldly pressure or promised rewards even when standing apart from the majority, where being different for its own sake is wrong but faithfulness requiring it honors God. God alone is to be worshiped and served with whole heart and soul, turning from earthly things and idols in wholehearted devotion, and hearts filled with the Holy Spirit so worship and serve only Him. Refusing God's plain word for profit or favor bows the knee to Satan just as Satan tempted Christ to do, acknowledging Satan's supremacy and choosing Satan's way and will over God's, and the same It is written enables anyone who worships God to stand on one Bible text and effectually resist Satan on the Lord's side anywhere in the world. Keeping the Sabbath named in the fourth commandment by closing business on Saturday even though busiest and most profitable is a present test of exclusive worship, and hesitating to obey from fear of losing gain and riches is continued disobedience yielding to Satan.

Loving the Lord and serving Him only requires tearing every idol from the soul, with the Word held in faith while drawing near to God to meet every temptation of Satan. Obedience comes from God as strength and is possible through Christ, lived out by walking humbly with God in humility, meekness and self-sacrifice, showing forth praise for forgiving mercy in work for souls. Paying homage to Satan through disloyalty to God's principles of righteousness is sin even when the whole world supports abandoning principles. Every element of human nature and every talent large or small is to be dedicated to God, sanctified and fitted for service with all glory given to Him and nothing laid on Satan's altar, and suggestions and bribes must be instantly rejected as Jesus rejected them. Beholding and studying ambitious worldly plans and projects blinds the mind to Jesus and truth's beauty and makes a person favorable to worldly methods and willing to listen to the enemy and take bribes.

Satan's demand for worship opposes worship of the Lord God alone and his claim to the world opposes God as Creator, Lord and Sovereign whose memorial is the day God pronounced blessed and holy. He hated Christ because Christ was preferred before him and because Christ was rolling back hellish darkness and the traditions and customs thrown over the Sabbath to make it of no force and a rigorous burden instead of a delight, and by dishonoring the Sabbath Satan dishonors the Lord. No promised power or glory justifies worshiping anyone else, and resisting wins victory while accepting trades what is good, holy and pure for deceptive advantages at terrible cost, since Satan offers wealth and success in exchange for following his methods. The verse therefore supplies a decisive answer requiring a clear firm response with no misunderstanding by appealing to Scripture and refusing to serve anyone but God, excluding allegiance to Satan.

Victory by Written Word

Christ answered only with what is written, making God's written Word the weapon, guide and limit to Satan's power, and the command to worship and serve God alone is a lesson to the whole world that salvation can be chosen and divine help to overcome is available to all who resist. He did not argue in His own words, enter into controversy of words, or answer impulsively, but commanded Satan to depart by the Word of God, and in that answer divinity flashed through suffering humanity so Satan learned whom he was handling. He stood at the head of humanity with divinity and humanity combined without violation or stain, showing how supremacy is obtained, remaining loyal rather than giving in to ambition or a dare, and His work was to teach how to gain salvation not to display knowledge that could expose Satan's past, present and future. His resistance is the perfect pattern to be followed through His merits, keeping the truths of God's Word in mind and answering the adversary the same way, with those who trust God and follow His way kept under holy angels' guardianship with strength for every duty.

He overcame by meeting each temptation with Scripture rather than human reasoning, argument or controversy, and that weapon is within everyone's reach to be studied, memorized and relied on with prayer and divine power until Satan withdraws. His replies were quotations of words He had inspired holy men of old to write, given point by point with not one word to lead Satan on into controversy, though surrounded with no human voice by demons pretending to be angels with seducing attractions and artful insinuations against God like those to Eve to undermine confidence, destroy faith and strain the mind to allure. Weakened by fasting with most severe mental sufferings through forty days and forty nights, He endured the most fearful assaults ever made whose fiery darts found no lodgment, gaining victory through power from above in answer to prayer by repeatedly answering It is written. Arguments and human reasoning could not repel Satan, but It is written rested on the solid ground of God's Word, and the law and prophets are true and carry their own proof, so their truths are to be learned and kept in memory for use. His struggle was the same kind of battle every person must face, and safety comes from studying and filling the mind with Scripture so its words can be used to resist, for Christ came to bring divine power to humanity and promised grace enables those who rely on Him to overcome.

He resisted each suggestion with the truth and authority of Scripture, whose wisdom and power defeated suggestions and enabled discernment of deceptions as a shield at each assault that routed lies and kept them from taking hold in the soul. Meeting temptation with God's unfailing Word teaches His representatives to answer attacks with the living Word and not follow deceptive arguments, for those relying on it as defense cannot be overcome, and the same Word and strength that withstood Satan's effort to hinder Christ's given work enable believers to overcome. He met treacherous advances and artful insinuations with Scriptural authority and a direct command to leave, presenting the written Word as the answer to temptation and source of strength, directing people to Scripture rather than His own divine wisdom as sure unfailing authority to be followed implicitly. He relied on Scripture as solid ground and the weapon repulsing Satan while affirming God alone is to be worshiped, showing how to meet temptation by studying, learning, memorizing and following the Word so it fortifies against the tempter, equips to resist, and strengthens others with timely words.

His example is for resisting by fighting by faith, relying firmly on Christ and answering advances with Scripture, and it is for children and parents, for early familiarity with its truths erects a barrier against ungodliness and bars the way against devices so the foe can be met the same way. God's Word was His only weapon against deception, and Bible truth is to be used to resist temptation as parents teach it to children. When called to violate God's law He answered as written, teaching believers will be given wisdom from above to answer the same way with as few words of their own as possible, hearts supplied with God's sharp arrows, passing through perplexing ordeals firm as a rock to principle and obeying God rather than man, bringing victories that lack of faith had called hopeless and impossible. He met temptation only by appealing to what stands written without arguing claims, attacking theories, parleying, using His own words, retaliation or Satan's weapons, but stating pure truth plainly in word and conduct, and believers are to meet opposition the same way rather than frame their own answers.

He gave Satan no words that could lead into further argument, for His answers were quotations of words God had inspired earlier writers to record, and meeting Satan with only words of pure truth and righteousness gives the pattern for teaching, requiring followers to keep His example in sight and pattern after His manner instead of becoming self-sufficient, because those who go forth against Satan with his own weapons enable him to turn those weapons upon them. His example teaches that subtleties can be discerned and resisted by relying on Scripture, and each victory contributes to the final triumph of good over evil. He met Satan with refusal to parley when assailed by fiercest temptation in greatest weakness, for Satan prevails by waiting until strength fails and will weakens and faith ceases to rest in God, then attacking weak points to shake confidence, tempt to distrust and question God's love when encompassed with clouds, perplexed by circumstances, or afflicted by poverty or distress, arraying weakness before the soul to discourage and break its hold, as when Moses wearied by forty years let go faith at the border of the promised land and Elijah after Carmel fled Jezebel. Meeting as Jesus did escapes many a defeat, while parleying gives advantage and makes prey sure, and no one should frame up words but take the Bible to know how to meet temptations.

Arguments and human reasoning could not repel Satan, so truths including law and prophets which carry their own proof are to be learned, kept in memory and used as solid defense, with attention fixed on God's Word rather than human agents or supposed revelations and guides. The tempted soul bears away victory by answering with divine authority barricaded by Scripture with no weak defense, for while the weak who realize weakness look to God Satan has no power, but those trusting self in self-sufficiency fall an easy prey at weakest points where assaults are fiercest. Safety comes from studying and filling the mind with Scripture with promised grace enabling reliance on God to overcome and bring divine power to humanity, leaving less room for idle thoughts and giving an answer when tempted to guide conduct, and the Word must be studied and followed so it guides conduct and enables resistance against every attack. He stood on the written Word rather than entering controversy, repulsing the enemy and winning victory over appetite on behalf of the whole world as an example, teaching defenders of truth to answer misleading arguments and temptation with Scripture rather than be drawn into distracting objections.

Christ's meeting the tempter with Scripture gives the pattern where Satan directs fiercest assaults against weakest points, and the Christian must have no weak points but be barricaded by Scriptural support for doing God's will standing securely in its protection. Those making Christ first in everything, feeling weakness and dependence without leaning to understanding, daily seeking strength and wisdom above and keeping God in all thoughts can be trusted with sacred responsibilities without becoming self-confident, sinking religion in business or neglect of duty, because they will meet temptation the same way answering with It is written and repulsing Satan with a command to depart. Meeting temptation as Jesus did by resisting rather than giving an opening helps prevent defeat, for Satan attacks when weak, distressed or losing confidence, but believers need not yield to distrust or argue, and without parleying many defeats are escaped since parleying gives advantage. He hoped by that strategy that had won many victories to overcome the Son of God, attacking most fiercely when weakest.

Believers must keep the treasure of the abiding Word ever abiding in the soul to meet as He did with sharp perception of wiles, and the way works when feeling personal weakness and depending on Christ not self doing what they can, then unseen heavenly agencies work in their behalf and lift the standard holding satanic agencies to a set limit. Following God can involve combat and trial even after clear experience of blessing and presence, and His example shows believers can stand firm in God's strength, answer with Scripture and overcome, with blessing leading to humility, prayer and dependence. When attacked He relied on the written Word rather than arguing or reasoning as weapon against every attack, teaching worship belongs to God alone and people must depend on His Word rather than human wisdom or help, with reliance on unchanging Scripture without arguing overcoming deceptive reasoning when wholly dependent on God. The testing covered three leading temptations beginning with appetite after baptism when led by the Spirit eating and drinking nothing forty days, met with It is written even though Satan also quotes Scripture and leads into temptation, and in victory He passed over where Adam fell so He knows how to help the tempted on appetite, with His forty-day fast in our behalf to be remembered for help to perfect character.

The wilderness record places Satan's methods for confusing minds and turning them from understanding through reasoning perverting judgment and weakening right and fairness on record so they can be understood, and studying His example of carrying through temptation to victory and what He overcame prepares and strengthens believers to resist and gain victory. He supported teachings by appealing to Scripture with clarity and power revealing unperceived depth, establishing Scripture rather than popes, ministers, synods or human reasoning as the sure unfailing guide to be followed implicitly, where It is written is a staff giving support forward in faith when facing opposition and unbelief. The record of conquering with God and His Word alone, working no miracle and giving no sign with only dependence on God and His Word, stands for help today, for in the future Satan will come with great power by signs including fire from heaven to prove authority and deceive if possible the elect, but those firm on the everlasting Word will meet him with the same weapon of more power than miracles and conquer through the Spirit stronger than miracles obtaining power from the Word. He would not use divine power to satisfy demands rooted in unbelief or pride or to vindicate Himself.

The resisting words were inspired by God's Spirit, teaching use of Bible truth when difficulties arise and Satan offers help, to be guarded, rely on the Word, reject retaliation and remain close rather than step onto Satan's ground. Keeping the written Word ready in the heart enables discerning and resisting wiles, with His victory over appetite exemplifying dependence on Christ rather than personal strength, and knowing and relying on Scripture helps reject Satan and affirm God alone is to be worshiped. He drove Satan back with the living reliable testimony on which the soul may depend, defeating temptations with It is written, and God has given great sacred truths as faith's foundation so those proclaiming the third angel's message resist with the same weapon putting on the whole armor to stand bravely amid detraction and falsehood fighting the good fight. God's messengers are to keep the Bible before them, answer deceptive ideas with what is written and remain watchful against error, and when offered advantages turn back the tempter by relying on the plain written Word as the example against the fallen foe.

Firm reliance on God's Word and allegiance defeats Satan, showing he is not invincible when believers stand in God's strength and use the Word as weapon, and Christ overcame only by taking hold of divine power presenting the Bible until the enemy had no power, which believers do to escape corruption, partake of divine nature and overcome appetite and hereditary weakness. Whoever struggles against appetite is to look to the Saviour in the wilderness who passed over the same ground all must travel, enduring all it is possible to bear where in human strength denying fallen nature is impossible and Satan tempts through appetite and hereditary weakness with false insinuations to ensnare all whose trust is not in God, for His victory is theirs through trust and none need stand at disadvantage intimidated and discouraged. He answered opposition with Scripture rather than His own infinite wisdom, teaching followers to ground belief in the Lord's Word not ministers, councils or human authorities, to rely on God's truth in eternal matters without advocating theories Christ never mentioned, but grand solemn truths in Christ's simplicity convicting and converting souls. He answered by standing on God's Word and refusing to worship any but God, with Scripture as the Spirit's weapon supplied from heaven powerful to overcome sin and what is unlike Christ, which those honoring God and loving His Word follow, proving its power against strongest temptations.

Following all light as the pattern requires laying aside story magazines and studying the Word more fully to meet requirements, with angels around the student strengthening understanding so families, children and students may escape corruption through lust and be ready when every case is decided. Truth is to be stated clearly and firmly without defending it through argument with Satan, refusing controversy and commanding departure by the Word, and those trusting God and following His way remain under holy angels' guardianship with strength for every duty. Victory was won only by the Word, for He had nothing responding to sophistry and never consented even by thought with humanity united to divinity by the indwelling Spirit, and believers united by faith may partake of divine nature unto perfection so sin has no dominion by living by every promise and hiding the Word in the heart to keep from sin, looking not to circumstances or weakness but to the power of the Word with all its strength theirs to be kept from the destroyer's paths. He resisted solicitation to worship by answering with Scripture as an example where yielding to appetite is bowing to Satan, and resisting through obedience and self-denial where yielding is being overcome sets the pattern for appetite and other temptations. He met Satan and false teaching without entering controversy answering only by what is written, where the written Word is the Redeemer's weapon to defeat error and followers are to keep close to the Word and let Jesus testify instead of unprofitable dispute, refusing controversy and standing for truth.

Overcoming Temptation Today

The command to worship and serve God alone remains binding in the last days, when the Spirit will press it ever more strongly against human will, theories and efforts opposing God's will, against setting science against revelation and doing away with law. Earthly beauty, wealth, profit, status, approval, money, gain, land, power, honor and riches cannot be preferred to holiness and obedience, and to devote attention and loyalty to what draws the heart from God, to preserve income or avoid opposition, to imperil the soul for revenue, to become servant of sin, or to cultivate selfishness and covetousness is to yield homage to Satan. Resistance stands on Scripture and chooses righteousness and obedience even when the majority does otherwise and when loyalty brings loss, inconvenience or reproach, including keeping the Sabbath at cost of employment, overcoming through grace.

The verse warns against presumption that needlessly imperils life, for people are the Lord's property and should not deliberately place themselves in peril. As Christ would not cast Himself down from the pinnacle to give evidence to Satan, those who follow their own way into danger cannot claim promises and blessing without complying with conditions, while those trusting God and following His way remain under guardianship of holy angels with strength for every duty. He faced the test in assumed humanity and overcame efforts to exploit weakness and to force Him to deliver Himself from peril.

It defeats the third of the three great leading temptations assailing man — appetite first, presumption second, and love of the world third — from which all manifold temptations grow. Through gratification of taste the nervous system is excited and brain power enfeebled so calm rational thought becomes impossible, the mind is unbalanced and higher faculties perverted to animal lust while eternal interests are disregarded, giving Satan ready access with the other two. The wilderness conflict covered appetite, love of the world with ambition, and presumption with love of honor and display, and Christ met and conquered at every point without yielding in any respect on humanity's behalf.

After the long fast His denial of appetite through divine power joined with humanity as representative shows appetite can be resisted through self-denial and obedience, giving divine help for self-control over appetite, habits and sin, with Adam's disobedience as warning and promise to overcomers. His victory answered Adam's failure, secured salvation, and showed the power and stakes of the conflict between Satan and Christ. Emaciated with real hunger after nearly six weeks, He overcame appetite to rescue fallen humanity from degradation, providing example of self-denial, temperance and self-control and a way to gain victory in His name through divine power over established appetite, passion, narcotics, stimulants and enslaving indulgence such as tobacco.

His humanity alone could never have endured the test, but divine power combined with humanity gained infinite victory in man's behalf, raising humanity in moral value, so if Christ was victor on appetite man has chance to overcome, while if Satan had gained victory man would remain bound with no moral power. No case is beyond recovery, and victory over established taste is gained in Christ's name alone by taking hold of divine power and with determination resisting, for God cannot save against the will and man must work aided by divine power as co-worker to overcome on his own account through strength and grace unto heirship and glory. Endurance through physical suffering and mental anguish shows restraint may bring suffering for a time yet proves overcoming possible.

He denied appetite through long fast breaking its power, showing self-denial and temperance under reason and conscience resist temptation and honor God, while harmful indulgence weakens body and mind, dulls discernment of eternal things, hinders duty and is rebuked, including against gluttony and making children gluttons and winebibbers. His victory over appetite and temptation for humanity reveals the mystery of godliness and the true standard, and those realizing the contrast turn from revelry, for numerous socials, festivals and picnics tempting overindulgence and amusements leading to levity and forgetfulness find no sanction in His example as the only safe pattern. Overcoming appetite under gnawing hunger rebukes dissipation and gluttony, since serving God alone requires controlling appetite because indulgence counteracts truth and weakens moral resistance.

Making appetite god through tobacco, gluttony and hurtful lusts offers defiling offerings unfit as the Spirit's temple, makes worship unacceptable, pollutes prayer and robs the treasury of thousands sacrificed to lust, nine times what is given to advance the gospel, whereas principled eating and drinking to God's glory would multiply publications and missions. Satan aims at appetite to bring physical and moral weakness so people can be overcome, because intemperance impairs faculties, benumbs perceptive powers, subjects higher faculties to animal passions, and when the brain as capital of the body is benumbed eternal things are not discerned and obligations cannot be discharged. Those who would have clear minds to discern devices must keep appetites under reason and conscience with enlightened intellect holding animal propensities subject to moral powers, leaving Satan small power.

The fast had definite object teaching temperance reform including abstinence from tobacco and setting forth God's great gift, His wilderness overcoming gives light on temperance, and His victory is central to temperance teaching giving a second trial and redeeming Adam's failure. His victory made another trial possible and through merits gives moral power to overcome especially appetite and break slavery to habit and perverted indulgence, elevating moral value as the sinner's only hope so those enslaved by liquor or tobacco can overcome through His name and strength. Choosing dishonest gain and worldly success by obeying Satan's counsel in love of the world, lust for power and pride is worshiping Satan instead of God and brings misery and ruin.

Desire for worldly gain holds people back, then uses them to lead others astray, and when ventures succeed they become greedy, lose love for truth, let spirituality die, and let fleeting prospects eclipse immortal inheritance. Business methods promising wealth by following Satan's will require choosing whom to serve, and resisting means remaining loyal to Christ. He rejected worldly kingdoms and wealth through ambition and any grasping spirit for earthly gain, teaching integrity and principle must never be yielded for advantage, for power and riches gained dishonestly bring a curse while people serving Satan for freedom in corrupt practices to add riches choose him over God.

He refused the kingdoms because accepting would mean homage to evil, and though seeking to extend His kingdom over the whole world He remained wholly subject to God and would not gain authority by compromising loyalty, in contrast to people forcing others to follow their plans instead of submitting to God. He remained wholly committed to saving people from Satan's power and did not turn from the path to the cross, with salvation of souls mattering more than every worldly kingdom and glory. The same temptation confronted Him setting out for Jerusalem where He could have avoided death, but yielding to save Himself would have defeated salvation, so He went forward to lay down life for sins.

Satan tempts Christians to love the world by leading them into temptation through profitable investment and speculation soon tempting them to swerve from integrity for gain, which though lawful by the world's standard does not bear God's law and sacrifices influence and character. The same temptation presents worldly gain as reason to relax honesty and generosity or refuse self-denying work except when well paid, sacrificing spiritual and eternal interests for temporal things and letting God's work grow distant instead of keeping self-sacrifice central. Those accepting large wages fail to follow His pattern yielding to covetousness, pride and vanity with spiritual loss, while prayer for grace enables holding to right principles.

Satan's offer of worldly gain must be rejected because worship belongs to God alone, applying to business and wealth where accepting success at cost of spiritual life is serving Satan, calling for choosing duty over bribe even when standing apart or resisting the man of sin's demand to keep Sunday instead of the seventh-day Sabbath by obeying commandments. He was free from ambition and no taunt could move Him from allegiance though purity was assailed, regarding the display as not to be seen, yet Satan still holds out glowing expectations to seduce minds into one ambitious project after another. Worldly possessions, applause, self-glory and even unbelief become idols when first in thoughts and affections, seeking devotion due to God alone.

Exclusive loyalty marks the line between true and disloyal, for He bore the test on humanity's behalf, conquered and opened the way to overcome through merits, and His resistance models meeting Satan by holding to God rather than giving advantage by engaging. Because He suffered to show the way and bring needed help, believers have no cause to complain of hardship, and youth and workers must choose between Jesus and the world, expect conflict, self-denial, privation, toil and sacrifice without shrinking, rely on grace in His name with determined effort unto reward. Even when weakened and exhausted they can overcome through the Conqueror while using discretion to preserve health and strength.

Victory is gained through power from above in answer to prayer, and complete victory is possible in His name by following His example, joining weakness to His strength and resisting in His name to overcome as He overcame on humanity's behalf giving the advantage. His struggle resisting without failing at any point is an example with God giving power to stand victorious, leaving those failing to follow without excuse at judgment, and if He had failed at any point the battle would have been lost. The right response illustrates humbling the heart, rejecting Satan, repenting and making God superior.

His example strengthens weak purposes to remain faithful when worldly prospects tempt abandonment of principle, requiring connection with God for wisdom and grace refining life, since those failing not only fall but carry others down by influence and will be judged for good undone, including institutional responsibility to hold principle rather than gratify inclinations, appetites or wealthy wishes. Fathers are to tell children the forty-day fast to break appetite's power, that through His victory with divine intelligence cooperating they can take up the work to stand in moral integrity free from perverted appetite and passion as laborers together with God in restoring the moral image. No case is beyond recovery and people can overcome and guard appetite in His strength rather than their own, His victory over the world teaches temptation can be resisted, and severe temptation does not mean God has abandoned a person, with steadfastness followed by Satan's departure and angels ministering.

He resisted as an example of obedience and self-denial giving a pattern for overcoming and joining salvation through self-denial and sacrifice, enduring physical suffering and mental anguish and refusing indulgence to prove appetite and passion can be subjected to reason. Overcoming requires strict conformity to physical and moral law with restraint until abused nature recovers while keeping destroying indulgences is being overcome to ruin, for the path of obedience alone leads to heaven. His victory gives moral power to resist Satan and bring appetite and passion under conscience in obedience, and in the battle over appetite He came off victorious and is ready to aid the tempted.

Having failed in the wilderness, Satan turned to strategy through religious leaders to oppose and thwart mission, and the same evil spirit later controlled the demoniac whom Jesus recognized and wrested from his grasp, with authority remaining decisive at Capernaum where demonic control could not withstand so having conquered He did not flee. He had already met and conquered Satan before confronting demons, and that victory stands behind authority over them so they cannot make Him flee or resist command, which He faced calmly, enabling Him to wrest a captive free despite different devices and disguises including piety and learning.

As Satan came as an angel of light so God's people will be tested, calling for moral independence from the world and trust in the Lord, and temptations offered to Christ still confront people where many accept and concede to darkness, but He refused honors for disobedience teaching one act of disobedience is fatal and no worldly honor compensates, with fear of the Lord as wisdom's beginning and great reward in keeping commandments. Though failing to turn the Son from obedience, he was more successful drawing fallen people toward human authorities, and Satan's temptations call for a choice between serving God and giving efforts to Satan, with attractive pleasures not to draw followers into enemy ranks but to choose to serve Christ through obedience as co-workers rather than walk transgression's path.

Jerome followed the Master's refusal of worldly glory when he refused brilliant prospects and reward offered to abandon opposition to Rome, and followers need the same discrimination to reject bribes, refuse to depart even slightly from the Word for any gain and remain steadfast in mission. He failed to gain worship from Christ but seeks it through deception and false wonders including apparent cures and teachings such as phrenology and mesmerism, and by neglecting prayer, meditation and the Bible people become open and may worship him as benefactor, while prayer and meditation keep followers alert and dependent for strength. Those misquoting Scripture to support error follow his example mixing truth with falsehood, and apparent righteousness in deceptive approach as though clothed in righteousness does not make influence trustworthy, for he comes to people the same deceptive way and truth mixed with falsehood becomes ineffective.

Satan in disguise is the same tactic used by professed reformers appearing as angels of light to draw seekers from the right path, and temptations against Christ pattern those against followers even appearing in human form with enticing words, so unless minds and hearts are filled with pure unselfish love they risk deception and falling under power. His deceptive work since the fall beginning in Eden through human beings to weaken and destroy brings deceptive words, confused judgment, weakened faith through divided hearts, afflicting bodies then relieving them through agencies so agents declare miracle and he gets glory, and misconstruing Scriptures, with victory possible through faith but human strength leading to prey. He comes the same way to those conscious of not fully doing God's will, where accepting representations leads away in false paths and a foothold lets him work with all deceptive power, so safety requires making peace without delay and keeping the heart pure from selfishness.

He watches for his chance coming in human form with entrancing words bringing danger of self-deception where the fallen do strange deceptive things while true disciples do none. He comes not in joy but when clouds encompass, circumstances oppose and poverty afflicts, close by to annoy, attack weak points, shake confidence in God who permits conditions and tempt distrust of His love, so instead of waiting submissively in faith they take matters into their own hands manifesting his attributes as traitors choosing his leadership and channeling doubts, while others will not be led into false paths or deny faith. He prevails by waiting until strength fails and faith ceases to rest in God then attacking weak points to shake confidence and discourage amid clouds, perplexity, poverty or distress, as when Moses failed at the promised land's border after forty years and Elijah fled Jezebel after Carmel.

His temptations change requiring continued prayer, light and strength to withstand assaults, and Christians must hold spiritual not carnal weapons and fight the good fight day by day without release through self-denial, watchfulness, humble dependence, constant prayer and discerning continually changing renewed attacks on weak character points, overcoming by grace through God's power and Christ's name. Jesus met temptation with what is written as a safe pattern when passions stir harmful speech, teaching to look to Jesus, keep the tongue to proper words and say nothing when stirred even to provoking questions to keep vantage with God, since provoked words lose ground, put the speaker on enemy ground where wiles overcome and destroy brethren's confidence. He met temptations without worldly power or privilege as a poor man enduring hardship, so none can claim He did not know poverty or temptation and He understands the tempted and poor, calling selfish, impulsive and passionate tempers to study His life and become like Him.

He instantly rejected bribes and suggestions calling for the same instant rejection, since worship requires every element and talent dedicated and fitted for service with all glory to Him, while uniting with the world and studying ambitious plans blinds the mind to Jesus and truth's beauty and makes one willing to listen and take bribes. He rejected temptation and affirmed worship belongs to God alone, and Satan presents the same temptation to bring people under his rule with the world's final bowing before the beast reflecting this effort to receive worship due to God. He refused to be overthrown by worldly attraction meeting it with only what is written, the word of Him mighty in counsel justifiable for humans, and like Him people must refuse worldly success requiring surrender to sin since gaining the whole world is no exchange for heaven and faithfulness even through poverty, hunger or death leads to the crown of eternal life.

He resisted alluring temptation as a pattern when worldly ambitions captivate senses, for then temptation overcomes and His example fades, and when offered worldly advantages Satan likewise uses attractions to draw from God so followers must resist and remain loyal. He refused the kingdoms rather than give homage to evil or abandon purpose to establish righteousness, exposing the choice of worldly success for acknowledging supremacy and sacrificing integrity, conscience and selflessness, where promised riches, pleasures, honor and happiness cannot secure lasting good and accepting counsel gives dominion over the soul costing inheritance as God's children. His wilderness victory conquering in the wilderness shows His power can sustain followers facing opposition, and resisting as the pattern requires giving Satan no place, remaining alert to wiles and upright in conduct to overcome as He overcame.

His resistance stands for self-sacrifice and solemn consecration with devotion and preparation for sacred work, and defending God's honor while standing for right shows those under pressure almost alone may face severe trials yet faith gives strength for resistance and precious victories. He met the severest temptations of an obstinate foe overcoming powerful delusions to keep His path plain, giving the pattern of character to be attained with simplicity proving mission, sweeping religious errors with unanswerable confidence, keeping truth clear from every error and presenting heaven-born principles so plainly there is no excuse for missing heaven. The verse belongs to His first great temptation teaching appetites and passions must be controlled, since appeals to physical nature corrupt and degrade, intemperance weakens mental and moral powers to value eternal things and sensual indulgence erases the soul's likeness to God.

Trials can serve good purpose and God provides help to endure them, and those facing temptation especially while rescuing others from snares can also overcome through grace by relying on Scripture and resisting every advance. Satan disguised as friend offering easier path may quote Scripture to justify indulgence in appetite and worldly pleasure, but devices can be resisted in His name, and believers must be guarded against being led into unbelief when evil is presented as good. The young can overcome too as He overcame in disguised assault, with unceasing watchfulness, humble prayer, sobriety and vigilance needed against devices, and no other human is called to face temptation in holy life under so intense a conflict as His fierce lifelong conflict with evil rejecting worship or service to any but God.

Satan tempted without success even appearing in glorious angel-like form as the first great rebel who deceived thousands with pretentious claims, and he also comes to test people as he came to Christ appearing in brightness like an exalted angel. Satan concealed true character and purposes as benefactor and heavenly being showing kingdoms in a moment as a bribe and appealing to reason, imagination and affection, so temptation can appear attractive, elevated and good. The lesson to the whole world is that salvation can be chosen and divine help is available to overcome and obtain supremacy by resisting, and God's Word thus directs duty that men live by every word from Him.