Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Jesus refused to throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple to force a miraculous rescue, teaching that genuine trust does not test God by demanding protection. To tempt God is presumption, leaving the path of obedience to enter needless danger unbidden and force providence to intervene, while true faith humbly depends on Him in trial and obeys His conditions. Satan quoted the promise of angelic keeping but omitted its limits, for angels guard only along the ways God appoints, not on paths of Satan's choosing. At every point Christ met the tempter only with what God has said, never with human reasoning or controversy, holding to positive truth as the sure defense believers must use. Led by the Spirit, He faced temptation as humanity's representative and second Adam where Adam fell, to disprove Satan's claim, recover lost dominion, and win strength for fallen people to overcome in His name.
Words and Wilderness Setting
The saying is an answer back from Scripture, refusing to leap from the pinnacle of the temple to prove divine sonship and refusing to test God by demanding a miraculous rescue. It teaches that genuine trust does not presume on protection, does not leave the path of duty to force the Father to intervene, and does not use divine power for one's own relief, benefit, or vindication. Satan had quoted the promise of angelic keeping while leaving out the limiting words about keeping in appointed ways, urging a path the Father had not appointed and insinuating doubt about sonship. To tempt God is to presume on His care by deliberately entering needless danger and demanding a display of power, and to risk life in that way without a purpose that directly honors God misuses His mercy and departs from the entrusted mission. Jesus therefore remained on the path of obedience, trusting the Father without going beyond what He had chosen and remaining faithful to the divine plan while enduring suffering on behalf of fallen humanity.
The setting is on a pinnacle of the temple in the holy city at Jerusalem, where the devil challenged Him with If Thou be the Son of God to cast Himself down, pressing the written promise that angels would have charge over Him and bear Him up lest He dash His foot against a stone. Satan's ability to carry Him there demonstrates power to place even the Son of God in peril, and the same power took Him also to a high mountain to present alluring deceptions with the kingdoms of the earth and their glory. It belongs to the second stage of the wilderness temptation after victory on the point of appetite, won on behalf of the race so that people in all future time in Christ's name may overcome appetite. Because all was at stake in whether he or Christ would be victor, Satan would not cease his efforts but continued to beset Him with temptations there in order to awe Him with superior strength.
It belongs to the wilderness conflict after the baptism when, full of the Holy Ghost, He was led and driven by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights with the wild beasts, eating nothing and drinking nothing. He did not go to invite temptation but to be alone to contemplate His mission and work and by fasting and prayer to brace Himself for the blood-stained path He must travel, while Satan thought it the best time to approach Him. Before facing this threefold test on behalf of those He came to redeem, He prayed to the Father for strength to endure it in solitary struggle. The temptations were severe, especially after fasting and prolonged mental strain, yet the attacks gained no hold on Him, and He would not enter controversy or be drawn into argument but met each point with what God had inspired holy men to write. The conflict was between the Prince of Light and the leader of the kingdom of darkness over mighty issues for the world, in which Satan after tempting man to sin claimed the earth as his as prince of this world, and Christ as Son of man came to stand loyal to God, to disprove the claim of complete control, to set free all desiring deliverance, and to recover the dominion Adam had lost through sin. The struggle was so costly that He was fainting and apparently dying on the field of battle until angels from the world of light came and ministered to Him and strengthened Him with food.
It is the answer in the second stage after victory on appetite and is connected with resistance to the offer of the kingdoms of the world and their glory on condition of acknowledging Satan's supremacy. Christ met that bribe for worship with It is written, seeing those earthly dominions as under a tyrant, humanity full of woe under oppression, the earth defiled by hatred and sin, and men possessed body and soul, which sight had brought Him from heaven to dispute the apostate's right to rule and wrench his spoil from him. The same suggestion of an earthly kingdom was later repeated when the multitude, after He fed five thousand from five loaves and two fishes, sought to take Him by force and make Him king. The temptation on that occasion was real with real conflict in His mind, and He promptly and decidedly refused the honor, constraining His disciples to cross the lake, dismissing the multitude, and going alone into the mountain to pray, which was virtually saying Get thee behind Me.
Refusing to imperil His own life or work a miracle to meet a test stands in contrast to the later miracle at the wedding feast turning water to wine. That miracle, given only a few days afterward, was worked not for Himself but to show that marriage is not forbidden by God. His physical suffering and mental anguish on humanity's behalf are also presented simply as the example for overcoming appetite through self-denial and restraint. In that presentation the wilderness battle shows what He overcame as an example for overcoming temptation, without explaining the specific warning against tempting God.
Presumption Tested Against Faith
Satan quoted the promise that angels would keep and bear up, but left out the limiting words in all thy ways, and angelic guardianship holds only along the ways God leads and marks out, not on paths of Satan's choosing or outside the light given through His holy Word. To claim protection while acting outside God's ways and demand a miraculous rescue by throwing Himself from the temple would be tempting God, testing Him outside His ways, and believers have nothing to do with proving truth that way but are to plant their feet on the eternal platform of truth and stand on the affirmative. No one may needlessly place himself in danger and then claim God's protection, and no one may claim blessing and promises without complying with their conditions, for those who trust God and follow His way remain under guardianship and receive strength for every required duty, while those who follow their own way cannot claim the promises.
To tempt God is presumption: leaving the path of obedience and duty, deliberately and unbidden entering needless danger, rushing where He has not called, violating natural laws and disregarding prudence and judgment, placing the soul on the enemy's ground and forcing Providence to intervene with a miracle. It is opposed to firm trust and humble dependence through trial and peril, to perfect trust joined with submission that refuses to demand miraculous deliverance, and His promises are given on conditions of faith and obedience and do not protect those who act rashly or deliberately imperil their lives. God's angels protect His people as they travel the path of duty, not when they presumptuously follow a path of their own choosing, and they do not preserve from evil influences those who choose to place themselves on the enemy's ground; God will preserve all who walk in obedience, but to depart from it is to venture where falling is sure, so believers must watch and pray lest they enter temptation. The refusal, even while weak from hunger, sets the example not to accept challenges to prove truth through actions God has not directed and not to put oneself outside His providence, and It is written is the weapon for contests with the enemy by which the ambitious challenge was resisted and foiled.
Jesus would not use divine power or a miracle for His own relief, benefit, deliverance from emergency, to meet His own needs, to win popular favor, or to prove truth and sonship, for all His wonderful works were for the good of others. To display power to rescue Himself from difficulty and peril that would make it necessary for the Father to save Him from danger would be forcing providence on His own account, daring presumption showing human weakness rather than intelligent confidence, and would have broken His agreement with the Father to live as a human probationer on humanity's behalf. Standing at the head of humanity with divinity and humanity combined, sinless without blot or stain, He answered only with It is written to demonstrate what God will be to those who resist, leaving a perfect pattern that safety in trials and perils is firm trust and unwavering confidence rather than presumption; if He had failed there could be no redemption and Satan's power over the race would be complete, for Satan's object was to expose human weakness so He would not be a perfect pattern. He overcame this test of prideful display on humanity's behalf and made a way for people to overcome through His help and example.
Trust in God does not license disobedience or doing what He has not commanded or has forbidden, and God's care is not a license to deliberately enter danger and then expect protection. Claiming His promises to excuse transgression is presumption, Satan's counterfeit of faith, whereas true faith claims promises on the foundation of the provisions of Scripture and brings forth fruit in obedience by complying with the conditions on which mercy is granted, while presumption claims favor without complying. His mercy and readiness to forgive do not make chosen disobedience safe: those who seek pardon and turn from sin can be forgiven, but God cannot bless those who choose to disobey Him.
The command was first spoken when Israel thirsted in the desert and demanded water, asking whether the Lord was among them after God had already worked marvelously for them, and their demand for further evidence was unbelief testing Him. In the same way urging Christ to cast Himself from the pinnacle was urging Him to demand fresh proof that He was the Son of God after God had already testified to it, and to claim protection God had not promised, since the angelic promise belongs only to ways of God's choosing. Testing God is manifesting distrust by asking for what He has not promised, or by praying to find out whether He will keep His word and whether He loves, instead of praying because He will keep it and because He loves; true trust and submission wait for God's time and way, believe that He is and rewards those who diligently seek Him, and give a perfect example of faith.
Casting Himself down would not have honored or glorified the Father, since only Satan and God's angels would witness it, and it would have been tempting God and yielding to Satan, the foe He came to conquer, risking His life to make God display power and performing a sign for His enemy before His mission was fulfilled. It could not overthrow the plan of salvation, and people must not call on God to display power merely to win against an enemy or prove rights. Christians when tempted or when rights are disputed should bear it patiently and should not ask God to display power for victory over enemies unless God can be directly honored and glorified by it, unless there is a special purpose that directly honors Him.
Presumption lies close beside perfect faith, and sudden unreasonable impulses called faith are presumption; to fling Himself down to force miraculous rescue would have exhibited human weakness, forced Providence to come to rescue, and required the Father to display divine power to save from death after willfully placing Himself in peril. By refusing while keeping perfect faith, He gave a perfect example showing entire confidence that the Father would not suffer temptation above strength given to endure, and that if integrity were preserved without willfully entering danger an angel would be sent to deliver if necessary. Genuine faith walks according to God's word and does not open the door to the enemy, and this victory over the love of display leading to presumption — one of three leading tests upon appetite, love of the world, and presumption that overcame Adam and Eve and so readily overcome every heart — was urged in far greater degree because of superior character with the terrible weight of the world's sins upon Him. Endured in humanity with real possibility of yielding, taking infirmities of degenerate humanity after four thousand years of decline, with suffering not only gnawing hunger through nearly six weeks of fast but guilt of sins as one who knew no sin made sin for man, these three great temptations He overcame in behalf of man to work out righteousness man could not work, redeem Adam's failure against the charge that the law is unjust, prepare ransom by suffering, self-denial, humiliation and death, and bring help so man by following His example can overcome as He overcame.
Christ would not risk His life to prove He was God's Son or to prove dependence on God, would not be driven into presumption departing from His Father's will to take advantage of His humanity at Satan's dare, and temptation could overcome Him only if He consented. Not putting faithfulness, love and protecting care to needless trial by presumptuously experimenting on providence with an unbidden act, even in the enemy's hands in extreme difficulty and peril though God could bear up if He required it, shows not strength of faith but weakness when crossed into presumption, by which many souls urged over the line of trust are wrecked. He answered doubt with Scripture rather than accepting it, remained in the path God marked out though weak from hunger, refused to enter a path Satan devised, and thereby gave the example of meeting the tempter with God's word without parleying; Satan attacks especially when people are weak or distressed to shake confidence.
God must not be tested by demanding a miraculous display as proof of power to satisfy curiosity, pride, unbelief or Satan's purposes before His bitterest foe; Jesus refused to perform a miracle for those ends and would not use divine power for self-vindication or to meet demands for a sign. His followers should answer similar demands meekly by pointing to Scripture as evidence of loyalty, as evidence that they are God's loyal people and heirs of salvation. Refusing to follow a temptation that presumes on God is not tempting God but acknowledges God's authority and the prerogative of His law.
The warning applies against using chance or physical tests to decide what to do and against doing something spectacular to bring oneself into prominence; such man-made tests divert the mind from God, and apparent wonders do not make them reliable guides, while safety comes from looking to God and obeying Him. The verse means not presuming on promises by going unbidden into temptation and not giving up to despondency when temptation comes; Jesus would not place Himself unnecessarily in the way of temptation and followers must not do so. Yet when God brings trial it has a purpose for good, so trying situations and the Spirit's leading into them should not be doubted and courage should not be lost, for God is faithful not to allow temptation beyond what can be borne but to make a way of escape for those who offer thanksgiving and call upon Him in trouble and will be delivered.
Answering Satan With Scripture
At every point of the wilderness conflict the answer was only what God has said, never human words, wisdom, arguments or reasoning. There was no entering into argument, controversy or parleying on the tempter's ground, no repeating or strengthening hostile statements, but point by point the reply was a plain declaration of the Lord. The stand taken was always to the affirmative of positive truth, and speaking that truth strengthens those who speak it. Even weakened by fasting through forty days and forty nights, with prolonged mental strain and the full power of darkness upon Him, the assaults gained no hold. It was necessary at that time to join issue with Satan in person and dispute an authority grown almost supreme, and the conquest was won in that way.
Scripture was the weapon, wisdom, power, sword and shield of eternal truth, the sure defense and firm unchanging foundation for withstanding power and deception. Victory did not come by divine power used for self nor by impetuous speeches, but from a mind stored with heavenly treasures of truth, answering from what is written. That Word sets a limit to the enemy's power, fortifies against him, drives him back, gives light for appointed work, and brings victory through humility and dependence, with power given through it by the Holy Spirit greater than miracles against demands for signs. It is to be studied, followed, learned, kept in memory and filled into the mind, and used together with earnest prayer when temptation comes, with dependence upon it in every case. Neglect of the Word brings disaster and defeat, for the adversary is a diligent student of Scripture who works to pervert truth, draw the mind from God's words, weaken and confuse memory, and lead to disobedience and neglect of searching.
Satan pressed a Scripture that seemed appropriate for the occasion to accomplish his design, misusing a divine promise while leaving out its limits. He mixes truth with falsehood to make deception appear trustworthy, disguising evil as goodness and appearing as humanity's friend to justify indulgence and worldly pleasure. An appeal to Scripture can thus be made to serve a false purpose in an attempt to overthrow, and convincing presenters of Scripture may still be deceivers, so God's Word must not be twisted or replaced. The same work will be repeated in the most trying times before us, when Satan will come clad in angel robes quoting Scripture, and unless life is hid with Christ in God he will surely bind the soul in unbelief.
The example teaches meeting the enemy's attacks with Scripture and not relying on deceptive arguments, human tradition, theory, speculation, authority or eloquence of leaders and councils. There is to be no answer with railing accusation and no meeting Satan with Satan's own manner of weapons, but only words of pure truth and righteousness. Those who abandon that example become self-sufficient and use weapons Satan knows well how to turn back upon those who use them, while those who depend on God's Word need not give Satan advantage. Applying truth to the situation drives the enemy away and keeps falsehood from taking root, and its power is not diminished by human disobedience. God's written Word is sure and more trustworthy than human authority or reasoning, the unerring guide to be followed in temptation and difficult questions.
The answer was given while weak and suffering in human nature after fasting forty days and nights, with Satan approaching in the guise of an angel of light and using Scripture in his appeal. The Bible gives knowledge of how temptation is to be met, and meeting it without parleying escapes defeat.
Scripture is the appointed defense against Satan's devices and ungodliness, to be taught early so children erect that barrier in themselves and meet temptation as Christ did. It is the foundation of faith in the great and sacred truths given by God and the pattern for proclaiming solemn truths, putting on the whole armor, standing bravely at post in the face of detraction and falsehood, and resisting the enemy. Beliefs are to be grounded in God's Word rather than in opinions or claims of ministers, councils or church fathers, with only plain scriptural evidence presented rather than theories or tests without biblical foundation. When the heart is supplied with its words, echoed by pen and voice, believers are made firm to principle in perplexing ordeals. His exactness in principle, uprightness in conduct and wakefulness to discern wiles is the pattern to be copied in walk and work, in strict honest transactions and in character made tender, charitable, meek and lowly of heart.
Representative Victory For Humanity
Led by the Spirit though under no compulsion, Christ entered the wilderness conflict as humanity's representative, substitute, surety, second Adam and perfect example on behalf of fallen humanity and those He came to redeem, standing in the sinner's stead on the ground where Adam fell in a world disloyal and marred by rebellion to dispute Satan's almost supreme authority, disprove his claim as prince of this world, show he had not gained complete control, free those desiring deliverance and recover the dominion Adam lost. Before facing the fallen foe He prayed to the Father for strength to endure it, took the nature of man with all its possibilities, and proved to angels and men that man may overcome and that in every emergency the powers of heaven are ready to help, for there is nothing to endure that He has not endured. As Commander of heaven in humiliation His dignity, authority and allegiance were assailed yet no taunt could call Him from allegiance, and His overcoming in human nature vanquished the enemy and placed the human race on vantage ground with God so that every advantage He had is made possible for man.
He was tempted in humbled human nature that was fallen but not corrupted, without sinful corrupt propensities or evil propensity for temptation to answer, truly capable of yielding as Adam did with real possibility of yielding. Though as God He could not be tempted, in created human nature united with divinity and fitted by the indwelling Spirit while resting on the Father's wisdom and strength He could be strongly tempted and could have been corrupted only by receiving Satan's words in place of God's, with His will ever kept on God's side in perfect obedience, meeting the tempter with Scripture instead of His own power or divine power in a way that would make Him tempted as God rather than as man. His victory over that love of display which leads to presumption was one of three tests upon appetite, upon the love of the world, and upon presumption, and the enticements He resisted are those that overcame Adam and Eve and that so readily overcome every human heart. He met Satan's assault as every person is met, seeing through his wiles and resisting to the end without swerving from allegiance, taking His stand on truth and refusing controversy on Satan's ground, and He showed what God's power can do through humanity so that through faith people may share the divine nature and overcome as He did.
The temptation was a hundredfold stronger and severer than any ever brought upon the race, urged in far greater degree because of His superior character with the terrible weight of the world's sins upon Him. After His baptism He endured nearly six weeks of agonizing fast in which suffering was not only gnawing hunger but guilt of the sins of the world pressing heavily upon Him as one who knew no sin made sin for man, withstanding the fearful test upon appetite, love of the world, and love of honor and pride of display which leads to presumption. These three great leading temptations He endured and overcame in behalf of man, working out a righteous character for him because man could not do this for himself, preparing the way for man's ransom by His life of suffering, self-denial, self-sacrifice, humiliation and death. It shows the love of God in not withholding His divine Son from taking the humiliation of humanity and giving His dearly beloved to shame and agony even to death on the cross to bring many sons and daughters to glory, and that to overcome as Christ overcame is infinite gain while to gain the whole world and lose the soul is eternal loss.
The contest after the long fast was between Satan and Christ alone, and humanity's salvation and destiny of the race were at stake. Satan believed success would give him victory over the whole human race and establish his life, kingdom and empire, so Christ's failure would have placed humanity under his power while victory meant his overthrow and the breaking of his power and empire. Satan disguised himself as an angel of light and offered an easier way than the path of trial and suffering, using every artifice and force to turn Christ from allegiance, and victory in the first temptation would have secured the rest and sustained his false claim to the kingdoms. Christ met the tempter at every point and put him to flight, conquering the powers of darkness in humanity's behalf and sending him away defeated at the beginning of public ministry.
Christ vanquished the mighty foe upon every point and repulsed him in every conflict over appetite and manifold temptations, winning where Adam failed and redeeming Adam's failure, and He did not yield in any particular. His victory was complete, as complete as Adam's failure in Eden, on the same great points including those that assailed Adam and Eve, especially on the point of appetite after forty days and nights without food with real hunger when Satan began tempting as soon as suffering started. His resistance showed the sinfulness of indulgence and left an example of temperance, self-denial and obedience, teaching followers how to resist since temptations are adapted to circumstances and offer an apparent good but victory is possible in His name. His victory over temptation was won in humanity through divine power joined with humanity and gained for mankind, giving people through His grace and strength a chance to overcome.
The wilderness victory is the foundation of the plan of salvation won on humanity's behalf, giving fallen people in His name a way, pattern and strength to overcome. His victories were won for followers to make it possible to conquer sin, Satan and temptation and be made complete through faith, giving strength, grace and moral power so that through divine power and His merits people may overcome in His name rather than by own strength. The conflict is not merely between two rulers but concerns every person who faces the same adversary and must gain victory individually, for His victory does not benefit anyone unless that person also overcomes for himself. As humanity's representative He raised humanity in moral value before God, and none is tempted above what can be borne since God makes a way of escape, leaving no excuse to remain in transgression.
All heaven watched the humiliation with intense interest, with angels on guard ready to act if Satan passed his prescribed limit and burning with love seeing their Commander apparently in the foe's power. Christ gave evidence taunts could not draw Him from allegiance, overcame as Captain of salvation in human nature until Satan left the field a conquered foe for a time, and the terrible strain left Him as one dead and fainting and apparently dying on the field of battle. Then angels from the world of light encircled Him, ministered food and strength, heavenly help followed the season of temptation, and divine consolation flowed into His soul while His will remained submitted to the Father. By that victory the enemy was vanquished and humanity was placed on vantage ground with God, so that for time and eternity man can resist satanic agencies by becoming partaker of the divine nature and can keep the law of God, with every advantage Christ had made possible and the church to stand in Him who took sin's penalty upon His divine soul.
His refusal of deceptions aimed at turning Him from the suffering required in the plan of redemption, when Satan claimed God did not require Him to endure it, remained steadfast in carrying it out in every particular in spirit and in letter. As attacks pressed He clung more firmly to the Father and continued on His path and pressed on toward Calvary, and the attacks brought His spotless character into clearer view. No threat could intimidate Him, no peril awaken fears, no hardship exhaust endurance, and no temptation allure Him from duty, nor could He be led into sin or driven from His work. His life under severest temptation and powerful sorcerous delusions swept away error and presented heaven-born principles clear and free from Satan's enshrouding, making the way to heaven clear and plain as the pattern of character to be attained.
The victory was Satan's first manifest defeat and his failure to overcome Christ, in which the Prince of life gained the victory in behalf of the human race while all heaven rejoiced. It fulfills the foretold warfare of enmity between the woman's seed and the serpent and illustrates the continuing conflict between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error, and the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. His endurance of the wilderness test proves His veritable coming as the Coming One foretold by the sure word of prophecy, and that victory secured the plan of salvation and the price paid for human redemption. Having already conquered the prince of darkness there before meeting the same enemy again, that conquest gives ground for later victories over demons, so that when He met the same evil spirit possessing the demoniac in the Capernaum synagogue He met him face to face again and conquered him again, setting the captive free by a word of authority and proving power to wrest dominion from Satan, showing His kingdom comes not by earthly triumph or display yet embraces world kingdoms and ends Satan's power with retribution.
Adversary Unmasked And Defeated
Satan had power to carry Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and to a high mountain, and there he personally tempted and taunted the Lord, showing Him the kingdoms of the earth and their glory. The account reveals him as a real and powerful adversary who dared to tempt Christ even in human nature, whose fall from heaven did not destroy his powers or make him a beast. He has grown more artful in tempting humanity and approached Jesus attractively with enticing presentations.
In the wilderness Christ was surrounded by demons under deceptive pretensions as angels from heaven, using seducing attractions and wily insinuations against God as with Adam and Eve to undermine confidence in God, destroy faith and trust, and strain the mind constantly to gain one clue to allure into controversy as if reading unspoken thoughts. He sought with every artifice to turn Christ from allegiance, obstructed understanding of God's Word to divert an inquiring mind from truth, and single-handed wrestling in the desert Christ advanced step by step in humiliation and self-sacrifice while all Satan's attempts to inspire Him with his own attributes failed. He works through human beings to speak deception, through every divided heart and unchristlike trait to confuse judgment and weaken faith, misconstrues Scripture to serve his own purposes as begun in Eden, and afflicts bodies then relieves them through his agencies so a miracle is claimed and he receives glory, a falsehood human wisdom cannot discern and human strength cannot overcome except through faith in Christ.
He approached concealing his true character, claiming to be a sanctified pure angel direct from heaven doing good for humanity, clothing himself with angel robes and the appearance of light to deceive, with a brightness that could not deceive the Redeemer. The same disguise he uses with tempted ones now, even appearing as an angel of light to test people as he tested Christ, coming to sincere seekers dissatisfied with churches through professed reformers with claims of new light. He could assume forms such as Samuel's at Endor, which was produced by him and not by God's prophet. His temptations especially weaken people physically and morally by indulgence of appetite, for intemperance dulls perception of eternal things and hinders duty to God and others.
The enemy had once been an angel next to Christ in majesty and glory in the heavenly courts, who wanted Christ's place as one with the Infinite God, became jealous, originated sin by telling falsehood for truth, sought to change God's government and fix his own seal to its rules, and was expelled from heaven. As the first great rebel who had deceived thousands he attempted with pretentious claims to deceive the Son of God, presenting himself as an angel of light just as false religious leaders claim to be Christ's representatives. Yet Christ was not alone, for angels were round Him and ministered to Him during the enemy's assault, as angels are commissioned to minister to those under fearful assaults, and in that wilderness meeting with the one with whom there was war in heaven Christ overcame and Satan was defeated.
His presumptuous, malicious attack urging Christ to cast Himself down from the temple helped expose his character to the loyal universe. That malicious challenge was part of his attempt to destroy Jesus and oppose the revelation of God's character through a life of mercy, love and compassion. The tempter there was Satan himself, the same evil spirit who afterward possessed the demoniac in the synagogue, whom Jesus knew although assuming another form, and as He had conquered him in the wilderness He wrested the writhing captive from his grasp and conquered him again. Having failed to overcome Christ in the wilderness, Satan turned to indirect strategies to oppose Him during His ministry, including urging avoidance of the suffering and self-denial involved in His mission, yet Christ remained steadfast in carrying out every detail of the plan to redeem humanity.
He personally fought Christ in the desert as part of an unbroken assault from Bethlehem to Calvary, for the issues were too great to entrust to confederate angels, so all the energies of apostasy were rallied and Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell to prevent a perfect childhood, a faultless manhood, a holy ministry and an unblemished sacrifice, to lead Him into sin, discourage Him and drive Him from His work. He was defeated and could not lead Jesus into sin, discourage Him or turn Him aside, and the more mercilessly the storm of wrath beat from desert to Calvary the more firmly the Son clung to His Father's hand and pressed on in the bloodstained path, bringing out His spotless character in purer light. The conflict at the beginning of ministry shows Satan's kingdom opposed to God's kingdom, and Satan continued to assail Him with temptations from the desert to the cross while planning to try again during the ministry after his strongest efforts failed.
He failed to turn Jesus from obedience and allegiance through forty days of temptation, showing followers can also resist efforts to draw them toward sin, but later succeeded with fallen humanity by drawing people from Jesus to human priests claiming authority to pardon sins instead of directing them to Christ. He continues to tempt through deceitful wonders presented as heavenly, leading people to worship him, with phrenology and mesmerism as tools corrupting people and preparing the way for spiritualism, which neglect of prayer makes easier to accept. By the same deception of appearing as an angel from heaven doing good while concealing real purposes and true character, he hides his existence, gathers thousands under his control, and while men blinded by sin honor him works their eternal ruin. His rage at defeat in the wilderness led him to determine to bring sorrow upon Christ by striking John the Baptist and causing Christ to suffer through John's suffering.
Pattern For Daily Living
Jesus gave no acceptance to the doubt hidden in the tempter's if, would not imperil His life to give evidence to Satan, and would not be driven into presumption by taking advantage of His humanity to depart from His Father's will. Satan can solicit but cannot compel to sin, for he could neither cast Jesus down nor force Him to cast Himself down, and unless consent is given he cannot overcome, since not all the power of earth or hell could force departure from the Father's will. He may distress and cause agony but cannot control the will, contaminate or defile, and when personal weakness is felt and dependence is placed on Christ rather than self, unseen heavenly agencies work for the tempted one and lift up the standard against the enemy to stop him.
He overcame by the word of God alone, answering from Scripture and refusing consent to sin even by a thought because there was nothing in Him that responded to Satan's sophistry. His humanity was united with divinity and fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, resting on His Father's wisdom and strength, and He came to make believers partakers of the divine nature so that while united to Him by faith sin has no more dominion over them and they may attain perfection of character. Every promise in God's word is theirs to live by, and when assailed they are to look not to circumstances or to the weakness of self but to the power of the word, hiding it in the heart to keep from sin and from the paths of the destroyer, for He endured temptation in human nature so He could understand human trials and know how to help those who are tempted.
Believers have nothing to do with the proving of truth by testing God, but are to plant their feet on the eternal platform of truth and stand on the affirmative. They are not to oppose Satan by controversy but by taking the affirmative of God's Word, meeting the demand with Scripture authorizing refusal, keeping the tongue from uttering any words but those He uttered and speaking no word when feelings are stirred even in answer to provoking questions. His suffering in temptation shows the way through temptation and the need for divine help, providing an example of hardship, self-denial, patience under affliction, solemn consecration to God and preparation for holy work that believers, especially the young and those rescuing others from snares, must be willing to follow in seeking eternal life.
Placing oneself unbidden on the enemy's ground and expecting to be saved from wounds is tempting God, and God imparts no power to those who reject His guidance and act in self-sufficiency as if they knew more than their Lord. Such self-trusting ones fall an easy prey to Satan and are left to their supposed strength unto suffering and a crippled life or defeat and death, while safety is for those who realize weakness and trust in a power higher than self, heed God's cautions, do God's will, leave no weak point where Satan can make his fiercest assault, and stand barricaded by the assurance of Scripture under a Thus saith the Lord. While the tempted soul looks to God Satan has no power over him, though Satan disguises temptation as something heavenly, makes his fiercest assaults on weakest points exploiting weakness, distress, weariness and shaken faith, and gives no opening only to the one who gives him no opening, follows Christ's example, holds firm moment by moment with watching unto prayer, and will not parley since parleying gives advantage.
Temptation can follow closely after special blessing and communion with God, and being severely tempted or exhausted does not mean abandonment by God. Workers and preachers tempted when exhausted may also overcome by relying on Him, and should use discretion to preserve health and strength so they can meet such trials. Victory comes through conflict and through power from above in answer to prayer, with Scripture as the weapon against enticements, with prayer and fasting drawing near to God in trial, and with earnest prayer in His name bringing Him as helper when temptation presses; those who endure steadfastly may be ministered to by angels as Jesus was, for when steadfast Satan leaves and angels minister. Those who wait submissively for the Lord's time in faith rather than taking matters into their own hands to make a place for themselves will likewise conquer.
His fast of forty days and forty nights was to break the power of appetite upon humanity and work out a glorious victory for human agents, and that victory makes it possible for people in their own act and on their own behalf, with divine intelligence cooperating, to take up the work, stand in moral integrity, stand free from all slavery of perverted appetite and passion, and restore the moral image of God in man. Appetite, passion and taste can be resisted and broken free from enslaving habit through self-denial and temperance even when restraint brings temporary suffering, and believers who bring appetite under conscience and obey health laws gain moral strength to resist Satan and stand in integrity. Intemperance and sensual indulgence dull perception of eternal things, destroy mental and moral powers and hinder duty, so indulgence counteracts truth, and fathers should tell their children this story to that end.
That pattern rebukes dissipation and gluttony, for His self-denial and self-control while suffering hunger condemn indulgence in eating, drinking and amusements that lead to levity and forgetfulness of God. Training children to eat what and when they choose makes gormands from babyhood, forms taste for injurious food, taxes the system, debilitates the constitution and sacrifices mental and physical vigor, letting self-indulgence grow into gluttony and intemperance. His example gives no sanction for socials, festivals and picnics that tempt appetite to overindulgence, but comparing life with His life and recognizing the victory gained in His wilderness suffering strengthens to resist appetite and avoid such indulgence, and the living Savior is ready to help those who face temptation to appetite.
He took His stand on the foundation of truth and would not move even for the offer of the whole world and its glory if He would worship Satan, resisting through rigorous self-denial and perfect submission to His Father's will and refusing to gain kingdoms by worship. Worldly power and riches gained at cost of honesty and principle bring a curse, and apparent advantages from submitting to Satan's plans come at cost of what is good, holy and pure. Even the least departure from God's word must be firmly resisted in every form rather than met by compromise, presenting only plain scriptural evidence and having as little as possible to do with opposing arguments.
Satan attacks especially when people are weak or distressed to shake confidence, and comes to every soul when clouds encompass and poverty afflicts to annoy weak points and cause distrust of God's love. He comes to believers as he came to Christ, bidding them watch sharply for their own interest, reject liberality as whimsical notions, behold worldly plans until favorable to worldly methods and blind to truth, with promise to make their name great. Resistance requires holding to God as source of strength, instantly rejecting suggestions and bribes instead of listening or uniting with worldly plans, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith and becoming strong in His strength, for no honor or favor of the world compensates for one hour or one act of disobedience to God.
In the verse He stood in defense of the honor of God and maintained the purity of truth at any cost through manifold trials and severe conflicts. All who are in harmony with God and through faith receive strength to resist wrong and stand in defense of the right will share that experience, having severe conflicts and frequently having to stand almost alone. Those of yielding temperament who lack courage to condemn wrong and keep silent when influence is needed to defend the right may avoid heartaches and perplexities, but they lose a very rich reward if not their own souls, whereas those who make God their dependence gain precious victories, keen and clear moral sensibility, moral powers able to withstand wrong influences, and integrity of purest character; God permits temptation to reveal whether character is pure and tempting offers must not lead to spiritual ruin.
His example strengthens weak purposes and resolves against temptation, and the victory is obtained by connecting with God to receive wisdom and grace to refine and elevate life. Those who make Christ first in everything, feel weakness and dependence instead of leaning to own understanding, daily seek strength and wisdom from above and keep God in all thoughts, can be trusted with sacred responsibilities without self-confidence, will meet the adversary the same way with It is written and Get thee behind me, Satan, and will not be betrayed into sinful neglect of duty. Those who fail to connect not only fall but carry others down through influence and will be judged for good left undone because content with earthliness of mind, while trusting supposed power and merits instead of God brings ruin.
The wilderness conflict was the same kind of battle every person must face, and its temptations including presumption, appetite and love of the world are still offered to people. Satan brings the same kinds to followers who without pure unselfish love may be deceived, and Christians likewise face new and unexpected temptations needing constant fervent prayer for fresh strength and grace. Discerning and resisting brings victory in the conflict between good and evil, while neglecting prayer and practices corrupting the mind prepare the way for spiritualism and make deceitful wonders presented as heavenly easier to accept.
His wilderness victory over Satan using God's word provides the pattern for defending truth and overcoming through patient effort and perseverance with His understanding and help for those who call sincerely, leaving them without excuse if they fail since God gives power to stand. Resisting as He resisted means facing temptation point by point as a conqueror without sin, following all light by studying the Bible, meeting its requirements and laying aside worthless reading, which brings angels to strengthen understanding and God into families and schools to teach escape from corruption. Temptation can come under appearance of righteousness through people claiming holiness while sinning against God and deceiving others, becoming tempters themselves, yet His testing is the pattern for believers' testing when Satan approaches as an angel of light, and His resistance of evil is the example of highest education teaching daily following of His teachings.
He stood on Scripture refusing to put God to the test while enduring various temptations in poverty, so no one can claim He did not know poverty or what it is to be tempted. The physician faces fierce temptations and needs a fresh supply of grace each day to keep hold of God.
Jesus refused to throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple to force a miraculous rescue, teaching that genuine trust does not test God by demanding protection. To tempt God is presumption, leaving the path of obedience to enter needless danger unbidden and force providence to intervene, while true faith humbly depends on Him in trial and obeys His conditions. Satan quoted the promise of angelic keeping but omitted its limits, for angels guard only along the ways God appoints, not on paths of Satan's choosing. At every point Christ met the tempter only with what God has said, never with human reasoning or controversy, holding to positive truth as the sure defense believers must use. Led by the Spirit, He faced temptation as humanity's representative and second Adam where Adam fell, to disprove Satan's claim, recover lost dominion, and win strength for fallen people to overcome in His name.
Words and Wilderness Setting
The saying is an answer back from Scripture, refusing to leap from the pinnacle of the temple to prove divine sonship and refusing to test God by demanding a miraculous rescue. It teaches that genuine trust does not presume on protection, does not leave the path of duty to force the Father to intervene, and does not use divine power for one's own relief, benefit, or vindication. Satan had quoted the promise of angelic keeping while leaving out the limiting words about keeping in appointed ways, urging a path the Father had not appointed and insinuating doubt about sonship. To tempt God is to presume on His care by deliberately entering needless danger and demanding a display of power, and to risk life in that way without a purpose that directly honors God misuses His mercy and departs from the entrusted mission. Jesus therefore remained on the path of obedience, trusting the Father without going beyond what He had chosen and remaining faithful to the divine plan while enduring suffering on behalf of fallen humanity.
The setting is on a pinnacle of the temple in the holy city at Jerusalem, where the devil challenged Him with If Thou be the Son of God to cast Himself down, pressing the written promise that angels would have charge over Him and bear Him up lest He dash His foot against a stone. Satan's ability to carry Him there demonstrates power to place even the Son of God in peril, and the same power took Him also to a high mountain to present alluring deceptions with the kingdoms of the earth and their glory. It belongs to the second stage of the wilderness temptation after victory on the point of appetite, won on behalf of the race so that people in all future time in Christ's name may overcome appetite. Because all was at stake in whether he or Christ would be victor, Satan would not cease his efforts but continued to beset Him with temptations there in order to awe Him with superior strength.
It belongs to the wilderness conflict after the baptism when, full of the Holy Ghost, He was led and driven by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights with the wild beasts, eating nothing and drinking nothing. He did not go to invite temptation but to be alone to contemplate His mission and work and by fasting and prayer to brace Himself for the blood-stained path He must travel, while Satan thought it the best time to approach Him. Before facing this threefold test on behalf of those He came to redeem, He prayed to the Father for strength to endure it in solitary struggle. The temptations were severe, especially after fasting and prolonged mental strain, yet the attacks gained no hold on Him, and He would not enter controversy or be drawn into argument but met each point with what God had inspired holy men to write. The conflict was between the Prince of Light and the leader of the kingdom of darkness over mighty issues for the world, in which Satan after tempting man to sin claimed the earth as his as prince of this world, and Christ as Son of man came to stand loyal to God, to disprove the claim of complete control, to set free all desiring deliverance, and to recover the dominion Adam had lost through sin. The struggle was so costly that He was fainting and apparently dying on the field of battle until angels from the world of light came and ministered to Him and strengthened Him with food.
It is the answer in the second stage after victory on appetite and is connected with resistance to the offer of the kingdoms of the world and their glory on condition of acknowledging Satan's supremacy. Christ met that bribe for worship with It is written, seeing those earthly dominions as under a tyrant, humanity full of woe under oppression, the earth defiled by hatred and sin, and men possessed body and soul, which sight had brought Him from heaven to dispute the apostate's right to rule and wrench his spoil from him. The same suggestion of an earthly kingdom was later repeated when the multitude, after He fed five thousand from five loaves and two fishes, sought to take Him by force and make Him king. The temptation on that occasion was real with real conflict in His mind, and He promptly and decidedly refused the honor, constraining His disciples to cross the lake, dismissing the multitude, and going alone into the mountain to pray, which was virtually saying Get thee behind Me.
Refusing to imperil His own life or work a miracle to meet a test stands in contrast to the later miracle at the wedding feast turning water to wine. That miracle, given only a few days afterward, was worked not for Himself but to show that marriage is not forbidden by God. His physical suffering and mental anguish on humanity's behalf are also presented simply as the example for overcoming appetite through self-denial and restraint. In that presentation the wilderness battle shows what He overcame as an example for overcoming temptation, without explaining the specific warning against tempting God.
Presumption Tested Against Faith
Satan quoted the promise that angels would keep and bear up, but left out the limiting words in all thy ways, and angelic guardianship holds only along the ways God leads and marks out, not on paths of Satan's choosing or outside the light given through His holy Word. To claim protection while acting outside God's ways and demand a miraculous rescue by throwing Himself from the temple would be tempting God, testing Him outside His ways, and believers have nothing to do with proving truth that way but are to plant their feet on the eternal platform of truth and stand on the affirmative. No one may needlessly place himself in danger and then claim God's protection, and no one may claim blessing and promises without complying with their conditions, for those who trust God and follow His way remain under guardianship and receive strength for every required duty, while those who follow their own way cannot claim the promises.
To tempt God is presumption: leaving the path of obedience and duty, deliberately and unbidden entering needless danger, rushing where He has not called, violating natural laws and disregarding prudence and judgment, placing the soul on the enemy's ground and forcing Providence to intervene with a miracle. It is opposed to firm trust and humble dependence through trial and peril, to perfect trust joined with submission that refuses to demand miraculous deliverance, and His promises are given on conditions of faith and obedience and do not protect those who act rashly or deliberately imperil their lives. God's angels protect His people as they travel the path of duty, not when they presumptuously follow a path of their own choosing, and they do not preserve from evil influences those who choose to place themselves on the enemy's ground; God will preserve all who walk in obedience, but to depart from it is to venture where falling is sure, so believers must watch and pray lest they enter temptation. The refusal, even while weak from hunger, sets the example not to accept challenges to prove truth through actions God has not directed and not to put oneself outside His providence, and It is written is the weapon for contests with the enemy by which the ambitious challenge was resisted and foiled.
Jesus would not use divine power or a miracle for His own relief, benefit, deliverance from emergency, to meet His own needs, to win popular favor, or to prove truth and sonship, for all His wonderful works were for the good of others. To display power to rescue Himself from difficulty and peril that would make it necessary for the Father to save Him from danger would be forcing providence on His own account, daring presumption showing human weakness rather than intelligent confidence, and would have broken His agreement with the Father to live as a human probationer on humanity's behalf. Standing at the head of humanity with divinity and humanity combined, sinless without blot or stain, He answered only with It is written to demonstrate what God will be to those who resist, leaving a perfect pattern that safety in trials and perils is firm trust and unwavering confidence rather than presumption; if He had failed there could be no redemption and Satan's power over the race would be complete, for Satan's object was to expose human weakness so He would not be a perfect pattern. He overcame this test of prideful display on humanity's behalf and made a way for people to overcome through His help and example.
Trust in God does not license disobedience or doing what He has not commanded or has forbidden, and God's care is not a license to deliberately enter danger and then expect protection. Claiming His promises to excuse transgression is presumption, Satan's counterfeit of faith, whereas true faith claims promises on the foundation of the provisions of Scripture and brings forth fruit in obedience by complying with the conditions on which mercy is granted, while presumption claims favor without complying. His mercy and readiness to forgive do not make chosen disobedience safe: those who seek pardon and turn from sin can be forgiven, but God cannot bless those who choose to disobey Him.
The command was first spoken when Israel thirsted in the desert and demanded water, asking whether the Lord was among them after God had already worked marvelously for them, and their demand for further evidence was unbelief testing Him. In the same way urging Christ to cast Himself from the pinnacle was urging Him to demand fresh proof that He was the Son of God after God had already testified to it, and to claim protection God had not promised, since the angelic promise belongs only to ways of God's choosing. Testing God is manifesting distrust by asking for what He has not promised, or by praying to find out whether He will keep His word and whether He loves, instead of praying because He will keep it and because He loves; true trust and submission wait for God's time and way, believe that He is and rewards those who diligently seek Him, and give a perfect example of faith.
Casting Himself down would not have honored or glorified the Father, since only Satan and God's angels would witness it, and it would have been tempting God and yielding to Satan, the foe He came to conquer, risking His life to make God display power and performing a sign for His enemy before His mission was fulfilled. It could not overthrow the plan of salvation, and people must not call on God to display power merely to win against an enemy or prove rights. Christians when tempted or when rights are disputed should bear it patiently and should not ask God to display power for victory over enemies unless God can be directly honored and glorified by it, unless there is a special purpose that directly honors Him.
Presumption lies close beside perfect faith, and sudden unreasonable impulses called faith are presumption; to fling Himself down to force miraculous rescue would have exhibited human weakness, forced Providence to come to rescue, and required the Father to display divine power to save from death after willfully placing Himself in peril. By refusing while keeping perfect faith, He gave a perfect example showing entire confidence that the Father would not suffer temptation above strength given to endure, and that if integrity were preserved without willfully entering danger an angel would be sent to deliver if necessary. Genuine faith walks according to God's word and does not open the door to the enemy, and this victory over the love of display leading to presumption — one of three leading tests upon appetite, love of the world, and presumption that overcame Adam and Eve and so readily overcome every heart — was urged in far greater degree because of superior character with the terrible weight of the world's sins upon Him. Endured in humanity with real possibility of yielding, taking infirmities of degenerate humanity after four thousand years of decline, with suffering not only gnawing hunger through nearly six weeks of fast but guilt of sins as one who knew no sin made sin for man, these three great temptations He overcame in behalf of man to work out righteousness man could not work, redeem Adam's failure against the charge that the law is unjust, prepare ransom by suffering, self-denial, humiliation and death, and bring help so man by following His example can overcome as He overcame.
Christ would not risk His life to prove He was God's Son or to prove dependence on God, would not be driven into presumption departing from His Father's will to take advantage of His humanity at Satan's dare, and temptation could overcome Him only if He consented. Not putting faithfulness, love and protecting care to needless trial by presumptuously experimenting on providence with an unbidden act, even in the enemy's hands in extreme difficulty and peril though God could bear up if He required it, shows not strength of faith but weakness when crossed into presumption, by which many souls urged over the line of trust are wrecked. He answered doubt with Scripture rather than accepting it, remained in the path God marked out though weak from hunger, refused to enter a path Satan devised, and thereby gave the example of meeting the tempter with God's word without parleying; Satan attacks especially when people are weak or distressed to shake confidence.
God must not be tested by demanding a miraculous display as proof of power to satisfy curiosity, pride, unbelief or Satan's purposes before His bitterest foe; Jesus refused to perform a miracle for those ends and would not use divine power for self-vindication or to meet demands for a sign. His followers should answer similar demands meekly by pointing to Scripture as evidence of loyalty, as evidence that they are God's loyal people and heirs of salvation. Refusing to follow a temptation that presumes on God is not tempting God but acknowledges God's authority and the prerogative of His law.
The warning applies against using chance or physical tests to decide what to do and against doing something spectacular to bring oneself into prominence; such man-made tests divert the mind from God, and apparent wonders do not make them reliable guides, while safety comes from looking to God and obeying Him. The verse means not presuming on promises by going unbidden into temptation and not giving up to despondency when temptation comes; Jesus would not place Himself unnecessarily in the way of temptation and followers must not do so. Yet when God brings trial it has a purpose for good, so trying situations and the Spirit's leading into them should not be doubted and courage should not be lost, for God is faithful not to allow temptation beyond what can be borne but to make a way of escape for those who offer thanksgiving and call upon Him in trouble and will be delivered.
Answering Satan With Scripture
At every point of the wilderness conflict the answer was only what God has said, never human words, wisdom, arguments or reasoning. There was no entering into argument, controversy or parleying on the tempter's ground, no repeating or strengthening hostile statements, but point by point the reply was a plain declaration of the Lord. The stand taken was always to the affirmative of positive truth, and speaking that truth strengthens those who speak it. Even weakened by fasting through forty days and forty nights, with prolonged mental strain and the full power of darkness upon Him, the assaults gained no hold. It was necessary at that time to join issue with Satan in person and dispute an authority grown almost supreme, and the conquest was won in that way.
Scripture was the weapon, wisdom, power, sword and shield of eternal truth, the sure defense and firm unchanging foundation for withstanding power and deception. Victory did not come by divine power used for self nor by impetuous speeches, but from a mind stored with heavenly treasures of truth, answering from what is written. That Word sets a limit to the enemy's power, fortifies against him, drives him back, gives light for appointed work, and brings victory through humility and dependence, with power given through it by the Holy Spirit greater than miracles against demands for signs. It is to be studied, followed, learned, kept in memory and filled into the mind, and used together with earnest prayer when temptation comes, with dependence upon it in every case. Neglect of the Word brings disaster and defeat, for the adversary is a diligent student of Scripture who works to pervert truth, draw the mind from God's words, weaken and confuse memory, and lead to disobedience and neglect of searching.
Satan pressed a Scripture that seemed appropriate for the occasion to accomplish his design, misusing a divine promise while leaving out its limits. He mixes truth with falsehood to make deception appear trustworthy, disguising evil as goodness and appearing as humanity's friend to justify indulgence and worldly pleasure. An appeal to Scripture can thus be made to serve a false purpose in an attempt to overthrow, and convincing presenters of Scripture may still be deceivers, so God's Word must not be twisted or replaced. The same work will be repeated in the most trying times before us, when Satan will come clad in angel robes quoting Scripture, and unless life is hid with Christ in God he will surely bind the soul in unbelief.
The example teaches meeting the enemy's attacks with Scripture and not relying on deceptive arguments, human tradition, theory, speculation, authority or eloquence of leaders and councils. There is to be no answer with railing accusation and no meeting Satan with Satan's own manner of weapons, but only words of pure truth and righteousness. Those who abandon that example become self-sufficient and use weapons Satan knows well how to turn back upon those who use them, while those who depend on God's Word need not give Satan advantage. Applying truth to the situation drives the enemy away and keeps falsehood from taking root, and its power is not diminished by human disobedience. God's written Word is sure and more trustworthy than human authority or reasoning, the unerring guide to be followed in temptation and difficult questions.
The answer was given while weak and suffering in human nature after fasting forty days and nights, with Satan approaching in the guise of an angel of light and using Scripture in his appeal. The Bible gives knowledge of how temptation is to be met, and meeting it without parleying escapes defeat.
Scripture is the appointed defense against Satan's devices and ungodliness, to be taught early so children erect that barrier in themselves and meet temptation as Christ did. It is the foundation of faith in the great and sacred truths given by God and the pattern for proclaiming solemn truths, putting on the whole armor, standing bravely at post in the face of detraction and falsehood, and resisting the enemy. Beliefs are to be grounded in God's Word rather than in opinions or claims of ministers, councils or church fathers, with only plain scriptural evidence presented rather than theories or tests without biblical foundation. When the heart is supplied with its words, echoed by pen and voice, believers are made firm to principle in perplexing ordeals. His exactness in principle, uprightness in conduct and wakefulness to discern wiles is the pattern to be copied in walk and work, in strict honest transactions and in character made tender, charitable, meek and lowly of heart.
Representative Victory For Humanity
Led by the Spirit though under no compulsion, Christ entered the wilderness conflict as humanity's representative, substitute, surety, second Adam and perfect example on behalf of fallen humanity and those He came to redeem, standing in the sinner's stead on the ground where Adam fell in a world disloyal and marred by rebellion to dispute Satan's almost supreme authority, disprove his claim as prince of this world, show he had not gained complete control, free those desiring deliverance and recover the dominion Adam lost. Before facing the fallen foe He prayed to the Father for strength to endure it, took the nature of man with all its possibilities, and proved to angels and men that man may overcome and that in every emergency the powers of heaven are ready to help, for there is nothing to endure that He has not endured. As Commander of heaven in humiliation His dignity, authority and allegiance were assailed yet no taunt could call Him from allegiance, and His overcoming in human nature vanquished the enemy and placed the human race on vantage ground with God so that every advantage He had is made possible for man.
He was tempted in humbled human nature that was fallen but not corrupted, without sinful corrupt propensities or evil propensity for temptation to answer, truly capable of yielding as Adam did with real possibility of yielding. Though as God He could not be tempted, in created human nature united with divinity and fitted by the indwelling Spirit while resting on the Father's wisdom and strength He could be strongly tempted and could have been corrupted only by receiving Satan's words in place of God's, with His will ever kept on God's side in perfect obedience, meeting the tempter with Scripture instead of His own power or divine power in a way that would make Him tempted as God rather than as man. His victory over that love of display which leads to presumption was one of three tests upon appetite, upon the love of the world, and upon presumption, and the enticements He resisted are those that overcame Adam and Eve and that so readily overcome every human heart. He met Satan's assault as every person is met, seeing through his wiles and resisting to the end without swerving from allegiance, taking His stand on truth and refusing controversy on Satan's ground, and He showed what God's power can do through humanity so that through faith people may share the divine nature and overcome as He did.
The temptation was a hundredfold stronger and severer than any ever brought upon the race, urged in far greater degree because of His superior character with the terrible weight of the world's sins upon Him. After His baptism He endured nearly six weeks of agonizing fast in which suffering was not only gnawing hunger but guilt of the sins of the world pressing heavily upon Him as one who knew no sin made sin for man, withstanding the fearful test upon appetite, love of the world, and love of honor and pride of display which leads to presumption. These three great leading temptations He endured and overcame in behalf of man, working out a righteous character for him because man could not do this for himself, preparing the way for man's ransom by His life of suffering, self-denial, self-sacrifice, humiliation and death. It shows the love of God in not withholding His divine Son from taking the humiliation of humanity and giving His dearly beloved to shame and agony even to death on the cross to bring many sons and daughters to glory, and that to overcome as Christ overcame is infinite gain while to gain the whole world and lose the soul is eternal loss.
The contest after the long fast was between Satan and Christ alone, and humanity's salvation and destiny of the race were at stake. Satan believed success would give him victory over the whole human race and establish his life, kingdom and empire, so Christ's failure would have placed humanity under his power while victory meant his overthrow and the breaking of his power and empire. Satan disguised himself as an angel of light and offered an easier way than the path of trial and suffering, using every artifice and force to turn Christ from allegiance, and victory in the first temptation would have secured the rest and sustained his false claim to the kingdoms. Christ met the tempter at every point and put him to flight, conquering the powers of darkness in humanity's behalf and sending him away defeated at the beginning of public ministry.
Christ vanquished the mighty foe upon every point and repulsed him in every conflict over appetite and manifold temptations, winning where Adam failed and redeeming Adam's failure, and He did not yield in any particular. His victory was complete, as complete as Adam's failure in Eden, on the same great points including those that assailed Adam and Eve, especially on the point of appetite after forty days and nights without food with real hunger when Satan began tempting as soon as suffering started. His resistance showed the sinfulness of indulgence and left an example of temperance, self-denial and obedience, teaching followers how to resist since temptations are adapted to circumstances and offer an apparent good but victory is possible in His name. His victory over temptation was won in humanity through divine power joined with humanity and gained for mankind, giving people through His grace and strength a chance to overcome.
The wilderness victory is the foundation of the plan of salvation won on humanity's behalf, giving fallen people in His name a way, pattern and strength to overcome. His victories were won for followers to make it possible to conquer sin, Satan and temptation and be made complete through faith, giving strength, grace and moral power so that through divine power and His merits people may overcome in His name rather than by own strength. The conflict is not merely between two rulers but concerns every person who faces the same adversary and must gain victory individually, for His victory does not benefit anyone unless that person also overcomes for himself. As humanity's representative He raised humanity in moral value before God, and none is tempted above what can be borne since God makes a way of escape, leaving no excuse to remain in transgression.
All heaven watched the humiliation with intense interest, with angels on guard ready to act if Satan passed his prescribed limit and burning with love seeing their Commander apparently in the foe's power. Christ gave evidence taunts could not draw Him from allegiance, overcame as Captain of salvation in human nature until Satan left the field a conquered foe for a time, and the terrible strain left Him as one dead and fainting and apparently dying on the field of battle. Then angels from the world of light encircled Him, ministered food and strength, heavenly help followed the season of temptation, and divine consolation flowed into His soul while His will remained submitted to the Father. By that victory the enemy was vanquished and humanity was placed on vantage ground with God, so that for time and eternity man can resist satanic agencies by becoming partaker of the divine nature and can keep the law of God, with every advantage Christ had made possible and the church to stand in Him who took sin's penalty upon His divine soul.
His refusal of deceptions aimed at turning Him from the suffering required in the plan of redemption, when Satan claimed God did not require Him to endure it, remained steadfast in carrying it out in every particular in spirit and in letter. As attacks pressed He clung more firmly to the Father and continued on His path and pressed on toward Calvary, and the attacks brought His spotless character into clearer view. No threat could intimidate Him, no peril awaken fears, no hardship exhaust endurance, and no temptation allure Him from duty, nor could He be led into sin or driven from His work. His life under severest temptation and powerful sorcerous delusions swept away error and presented heaven-born principles clear and free from Satan's enshrouding, making the way to heaven clear and plain as the pattern of character to be attained.
The victory was Satan's first manifest defeat and his failure to overcome Christ, in which the Prince of life gained the victory in behalf of the human race while all heaven rejoiced. It fulfills the foretold warfare of enmity between the woman's seed and the serpent and illustrates the continuing conflict between good and evil, right and wrong, truth and error, and the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. His endurance of the wilderness test proves His veritable coming as the Coming One foretold by the sure word of prophecy, and that victory secured the plan of salvation and the price paid for human redemption. Having already conquered the prince of darkness there before meeting the same enemy again, that conquest gives ground for later victories over demons, so that when He met the same evil spirit possessing the demoniac in the Capernaum synagogue He met him face to face again and conquered him again, setting the captive free by a word of authority and proving power to wrest dominion from Satan, showing His kingdom comes not by earthly triumph or display yet embraces world kingdoms and ends Satan's power with retribution.
Adversary Unmasked And Defeated
Satan had power to carry Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and to a high mountain, and there he personally tempted and taunted the Lord, showing Him the kingdoms of the earth and their glory. The account reveals him as a real and powerful adversary who dared to tempt Christ even in human nature, whose fall from heaven did not destroy his powers or make him a beast. He has grown more artful in tempting humanity and approached Jesus attractively with enticing presentations.
In the wilderness Christ was surrounded by demons under deceptive pretensions as angels from heaven, using seducing attractions and wily insinuations against God as with Adam and Eve to undermine confidence in God, destroy faith and trust, and strain the mind constantly to gain one clue to allure into controversy as if reading unspoken thoughts. He sought with every artifice to turn Christ from allegiance, obstructed understanding of God's Word to divert an inquiring mind from truth, and single-handed wrestling in the desert Christ advanced step by step in humiliation and self-sacrifice while all Satan's attempts to inspire Him with his own attributes failed. He works through human beings to speak deception, through every divided heart and unchristlike trait to confuse judgment and weaken faith, misconstrues Scripture to serve his own purposes as begun in Eden, and afflicts bodies then relieves them through his agencies so a miracle is claimed and he receives glory, a falsehood human wisdom cannot discern and human strength cannot overcome except through faith in Christ.
He approached concealing his true character, claiming to be a sanctified pure angel direct from heaven doing good for humanity, clothing himself with angel robes and the appearance of light to deceive, with a brightness that could not deceive the Redeemer. The same disguise he uses with tempted ones now, even appearing as an angel of light to test people as he tested Christ, coming to sincere seekers dissatisfied with churches through professed reformers with claims of new light. He could assume forms such as Samuel's at Endor, which was produced by him and not by God's prophet. His temptations especially weaken people physically and morally by indulgence of appetite, for intemperance dulls perception of eternal things and hinders duty to God and others.
The enemy had once been an angel next to Christ in majesty and glory in the heavenly courts, who wanted Christ's place as one with the Infinite God, became jealous, originated sin by telling falsehood for truth, sought to change God's government and fix his own seal to its rules, and was expelled from heaven. As the first great rebel who had deceived thousands he attempted with pretentious claims to deceive the Son of God, presenting himself as an angel of light just as false religious leaders claim to be Christ's representatives. Yet Christ was not alone, for angels were round Him and ministered to Him during the enemy's assault, as angels are commissioned to minister to those under fearful assaults, and in that wilderness meeting with the one with whom there was war in heaven Christ overcame and Satan was defeated.
His presumptuous, malicious attack urging Christ to cast Himself down from the temple helped expose his character to the loyal universe. That malicious challenge was part of his attempt to destroy Jesus and oppose the revelation of God's character through a life of mercy, love and compassion. The tempter there was Satan himself, the same evil spirit who afterward possessed the demoniac in the synagogue, whom Jesus knew although assuming another form, and as He had conquered him in the wilderness He wrested the writhing captive from his grasp and conquered him again. Having failed to overcome Christ in the wilderness, Satan turned to indirect strategies to oppose Him during His ministry, including urging avoidance of the suffering and self-denial involved in His mission, yet Christ remained steadfast in carrying out every detail of the plan to redeem humanity.
He personally fought Christ in the desert as part of an unbroken assault from Bethlehem to Calvary, for the issues were too great to entrust to confederate angels, so all the energies of apostasy were rallied and Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell to prevent a perfect childhood, a faultless manhood, a holy ministry and an unblemished sacrifice, to lead Him into sin, discourage Him and drive Him from His work. He was defeated and could not lead Jesus into sin, discourage Him or turn Him aside, and the more mercilessly the storm of wrath beat from desert to Calvary the more firmly the Son clung to His Father's hand and pressed on in the bloodstained path, bringing out His spotless character in purer light. The conflict at the beginning of ministry shows Satan's kingdom opposed to God's kingdom, and Satan continued to assail Him with temptations from the desert to the cross while planning to try again during the ministry after his strongest efforts failed.
He failed to turn Jesus from obedience and allegiance through forty days of temptation, showing followers can also resist efforts to draw them toward sin, but later succeeded with fallen humanity by drawing people from Jesus to human priests claiming authority to pardon sins instead of directing them to Christ. He continues to tempt through deceitful wonders presented as heavenly, leading people to worship him, with phrenology and mesmerism as tools corrupting people and preparing the way for spiritualism, which neglect of prayer makes easier to accept. By the same deception of appearing as an angel from heaven doing good while concealing real purposes and true character, he hides his existence, gathers thousands under his control, and while men blinded by sin honor him works their eternal ruin. His rage at defeat in the wilderness led him to determine to bring sorrow upon Christ by striking John the Baptist and causing Christ to suffer through John's suffering.
Pattern For Daily Living
Jesus gave no acceptance to the doubt hidden in the tempter's if, would not imperil His life to give evidence to Satan, and would not be driven into presumption by taking advantage of His humanity to depart from His Father's will. Satan can solicit but cannot compel to sin, for he could neither cast Jesus down nor force Him to cast Himself down, and unless consent is given he cannot overcome, since not all the power of earth or hell could force departure from the Father's will. He may distress and cause agony but cannot control the will, contaminate or defile, and when personal weakness is felt and dependence is placed on Christ rather than self, unseen heavenly agencies work for the tempted one and lift up the standard against the enemy to stop him.
He overcame by the word of God alone, answering from Scripture and refusing consent to sin even by a thought because there was nothing in Him that responded to Satan's sophistry. His humanity was united with divinity and fitted for the conflict by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, resting on His Father's wisdom and strength, and He came to make believers partakers of the divine nature so that while united to Him by faith sin has no more dominion over them and they may attain perfection of character. Every promise in God's word is theirs to live by, and when assailed they are to look not to circumstances or to the weakness of self but to the power of the word, hiding it in the heart to keep from sin and from the paths of the destroyer, for He endured temptation in human nature so He could understand human trials and know how to help those who are tempted.
Believers have nothing to do with the proving of truth by testing God, but are to plant their feet on the eternal platform of truth and stand on the affirmative. They are not to oppose Satan by controversy but by taking the affirmative of God's Word, meeting the demand with Scripture authorizing refusal, keeping the tongue from uttering any words but those He uttered and speaking no word when feelings are stirred even in answer to provoking questions. His suffering in temptation shows the way through temptation and the need for divine help, providing an example of hardship, self-denial, patience under affliction, solemn consecration to God and preparation for holy work that believers, especially the young and those rescuing others from snares, must be willing to follow in seeking eternal life.
Placing oneself unbidden on the enemy's ground and expecting to be saved from wounds is tempting God, and God imparts no power to those who reject His guidance and act in self-sufficiency as if they knew more than their Lord. Such self-trusting ones fall an easy prey to Satan and are left to their supposed strength unto suffering and a crippled life or defeat and death, while safety is for those who realize weakness and trust in a power higher than self, heed God's cautions, do God's will, leave no weak point where Satan can make his fiercest assault, and stand barricaded by the assurance of Scripture under a Thus saith the Lord. While the tempted soul looks to God Satan has no power over him, though Satan disguises temptation as something heavenly, makes his fiercest assaults on weakest points exploiting weakness, distress, weariness and shaken faith, and gives no opening only to the one who gives him no opening, follows Christ's example, holds firm moment by moment with watching unto prayer, and will not parley since parleying gives advantage.
Temptation can follow closely after special blessing and communion with God, and being severely tempted or exhausted does not mean abandonment by God. Workers and preachers tempted when exhausted may also overcome by relying on Him, and should use discretion to preserve health and strength so they can meet such trials. Victory comes through conflict and through power from above in answer to prayer, with Scripture as the weapon against enticements, with prayer and fasting drawing near to God in trial, and with earnest prayer in His name bringing Him as helper when temptation presses; those who endure steadfastly may be ministered to by angels as Jesus was, for when steadfast Satan leaves and angels minister. Those who wait submissively for the Lord's time in faith rather than taking matters into their own hands to make a place for themselves will likewise conquer.
His fast of forty days and forty nights was to break the power of appetite upon humanity and work out a glorious victory for human agents, and that victory makes it possible for people in their own act and on their own behalf, with divine intelligence cooperating, to take up the work, stand in moral integrity, stand free from all slavery of perverted appetite and passion, and restore the moral image of God in man. Appetite, passion and taste can be resisted and broken free from enslaving habit through self-denial and temperance even when restraint brings temporary suffering, and believers who bring appetite under conscience and obey health laws gain moral strength to resist Satan and stand in integrity. Intemperance and sensual indulgence dull perception of eternal things, destroy mental and moral powers and hinder duty, so indulgence counteracts truth, and fathers should tell their children this story to that end.
That pattern rebukes dissipation and gluttony, for His self-denial and self-control while suffering hunger condemn indulgence in eating, drinking and amusements that lead to levity and forgetfulness of God. Training children to eat what and when they choose makes gormands from babyhood, forms taste for injurious food, taxes the system, debilitates the constitution and sacrifices mental and physical vigor, letting self-indulgence grow into gluttony and intemperance. His example gives no sanction for socials, festivals and picnics that tempt appetite to overindulgence, but comparing life with His life and recognizing the victory gained in His wilderness suffering strengthens to resist appetite and avoid such indulgence, and the living Savior is ready to help those who face temptation to appetite.
He took His stand on the foundation of truth and would not move even for the offer of the whole world and its glory if He would worship Satan, resisting through rigorous self-denial and perfect submission to His Father's will and refusing to gain kingdoms by worship. Worldly power and riches gained at cost of honesty and principle bring a curse, and apparent advantages from submitting to Satan's plans come at cost of what is good, holy and pure. Even the least departure from God's word must be firmly resisted in every form rather than met by compromise, presenting only plain scriptural evidence and having as little as possible to do with opposing arguments.
Satan attacks especially when people are weak or distressed to shake confidence, and comes to every soul when clouds encompass and poverty afflicts to annoy weak points and cause distrust of God's love. He comes to believers as he came to Christ, bidding them watch sharply for their own interest, reject liberality as whimsical notions, behold worldly plans until favorable to worldly methods and blind to truth, with promise to make their name great. Resistance requires holding to God as source of strength, instantly rejecting suggestions and bribes instead of listening or uniting with worldly plans, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of faith and becoming strong in His strength, for no honor or favor of the world compensates for one hour or one act of disobedience to God.
In the verse He stood in defense of the honor of God and maintained the purity of truth at any cost through manifold trials and severe conflicts. All who are in harmony with God and through faith receive strength to resist wrong and stand in defense of the right will share that experience, having severe conflicts and frequently having to stand almost alone. Those of yielding temperament who lack courage to condemn wrong and keep silent when influence is needed to defend the right may avoid heartaches and perplexities, but they lose a very rich reward if not their own souls, whereas those who make God their dependence gain precious victories, keen and clear moral sensibility, moral powers able to withstand wrong influences, and integrity of purest character; God permits temptation to reveal whether character is pure and tempting offers must not lead to spiritual ruin.
His example strengthens weak purposes and resolves against temptation, and the victory is obtained by connecting with God to receive wisdom and grace to refine and elevate life. Those who make Christ first in everything, feel weakness and dependence instead of leaning to own understanding, daily seek strength and wisdom from above and keep God in all thoughts, can be trusted with sacred responsibilities without self-confidence, will meet the adversary the same way with It is written and Get thee behind me, Satan, and will not be betrayed into sinful neglect of duty. Those who fail to connect not only fall but carry others down through influence and will be judged for good left undone because content with earthliness of mind, while trusting supposed power and merits instead of God brings ruin.
The wilderness conflict was the same kind of battle every person must face, and its temptations including presumption, appetite and love of the world are still offered to people. Satan brings the same kinds to followers who without pure unselfish love may be deceived, and Christians likewise face new and unexpected temptations needing constant fervent prayer for fresh strength and grace. Discerning and resisting brings victory in the conflict between good and evil, while neglecting prayer and practices corrupting the mind prepare the way for spiritualism and make deceitful wonders presented as heavenly easier to accept.
His wilderness victory over Satan using God's word provides the pattern for defending truth and overcoming through patient effort and perseverance with His understanding and help for those who call sincerely, leaving them without excuse if they fail since God gives power to stand. Resisting as He resisted means facing temptation point by point as a conqueror without sin, following all light by studying the Bible, meeting its requirements and laying aside worthless reading, which brings angels to strengthen understanding and God into families and schools to teach escape from corruption. Temptation can come under appearance of righteousness through people claiming holiness while sinning against God and deceiving others, becoming tempters themselves, yet His testing is the pattern for believers' testing when Satan approaches as an angel of light, and His resistance of evil is the example of highest education teaching daily following of His teachings.
He stood on Scripture refusing to put God to the test while enduring various temptations in poverty, so no one can claim He did not know poverty or what it is to be tempted. The physician faces fierce temptations and needs a fresh supply of grace each day to keep hold of God.