When Satan attempts his second temptation of Jesus, recorded in Matthew 4, he throws Scripture into the mix, twisting it to say something different that what it really says. But Jesus sees right through it and stands firm.
After the failure of the first temptation, which played upon Jesus hunger, Matthew tells us that the devil takes him into Jerusalem, to the temple. This was most likely a visionary experience, and not a literal move to a new location, because the scene ends with Jesus still apparently in the wilderness.
Just what part of the temple is meant by “pinnacle” is also uncertain. Different scholars and commentators have suggested three different alternatives. First is the apex of the temple itself. A second option could have been the top of Solomon’s porch. And finally, a third possibility was at the top of Herod’s royal portico. This third option is probably the most likely. It was found at the southeast corner of the temple area, and provided a broad view of the valley of Kidron. At the time of Jesus, it was — and still is — the highest part of the temple.
Regardless of which option is correct, the temple itself represented the presence of God Himself, and was a place where many assumed that His protection was certain. This is probably why Satan quoted Psalm 91, which speaks of God protection and his willingness to rescue his people. Satan suggests that Jesus test this protection by forcing God’s hand, making Him demonstrate his power and faithfulness.
This second temptation was designed to created a distrust in the power and protection of God. Satan is a crafty adversary, and his use of Scripture was twisted. He misquoted the passage from Psalm 91, leaving out a portion of it, thereby changing its meaning. That has been his strategy since the beginning, to create doubt in the power and promise of God.
In the Garden of Eden, Satan did the same thing, casting doubt upon what God had said, “Did he really say…?” That temptation deceived Adam and Eve, but Jesus resisted. Satan’s claim was that, by jumping from the temple, Jesus would attract the crowd and short cut his way to fame. It was a subtle hint that Jesus could accomplish his purpose without going to the cross.
But Jesus saw through the lie, and responded again with a passage from Deuteronomy 6:16, in Matthew 4:7: “It is written, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” He knows that he cannot manipulate God into protecting him from harm; that in fact, his entire purpose is to accept that harm destined for all sinners so that we can receive the promise of eternal life.
Jesus know that God’s protection encompassed more than just a physical protection from suffering and death. He knew that we would need to be saved form something much greater. He knew that suffering and death were required for his purpose to be accomplished. And so he remained faithful, trusting that the Father knew what he was doing.
The temptations of the enemy have not changed. He still creates a distrust and a doubt about God’s Word, about whether or not we can trust what he says. Rather than falling for the same old lie, let’s look to God’s ultimate purpose. Rather than just focusing on the protection we might need right now, let’s keep our focus on the ultimate salvation that God accomplished on our behalf… a salvation that will carry us into eternity.
Question: How has the enemy been tempting you to distrust God? What can you do to stand firm in the face of such temptations? You can leave a comment by clicking here.