The Sermon On The Mount - the second temptation
Posted by Melody on December 1st, 2008
I confess that working one’s way through scripture, if you’re really going to unpack it, takes a lot of time. When holidays and performances demand attention it gets really hard. But I digress; on to the rest of Chapter 4.
Satan seems to think he has a chance of being successful in tempting Jesus a second time. He dares Jesus to fling himself off the top of the temple, quoting scripture to make his case (Psalm 91:11-12) and when that doesn’t work, he makes his final offer by showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and saying, “All these things will I give You, if You fall down and worship me.” The hubris Satan displays here is amazaing. Does he really think Jesus is impressed with him? Does he not get it that Jesus is actually God? Could it be that because Jesus was tempted in every way as we are (yet without sin) that Satan made some really dumb assmuptions? I’m curious why this exchange has been included in the bible and what we can learn from it. I like the way Jesus responds in the end, “Begone, Satan! For it is written, ‘you shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’”. (vs.10). I think that quoting scripture when we fall into temptation is an effective way to escape.