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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
3. The Temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-13)
LUKE 4:5-13
5 The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. 7 If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’” 9 He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’ 11 and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12 Jesus answering, said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” 13 When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another time.
The devil did not stop at the first temptation, but offered more enticements to cut off the Son from communion with his father, and prevent the salvation of the world. The evil one led the Holy One to a high mountain, and showed him all the countries, animals, armies, cultures and powers of the earth, so that Jesus thereafter called him “the ruler of this world”, to whom all things have been delivered.
The father of all liars alleged that the whole world was delivered to him, that he had the power to dispose of it and all its glory, and that he was prepared to give Jesus whatever he wished if he fell down and worshiped him. Jesus came to this world to restore the corrupt world to God and to reconcile the disobedient with his Father. Now Satan is offering Jesus to gain the world without sufferings or death, on condition that one of the persons of the Holy Trinity should be enslaved by the spirit of the evil one.
Jesus, without delay, refused all riches, fame, and authority. He chose the written word, and adhered to his Father with whom he was in continuous communion of love. He ordered the enemy, with divine authority, to submit himself to God and worship the Creator, putting an end to his enmity through sincere repentance. At that moment, heaven held its breath, and all the chambers of hell trembled, for the Son of God ordered the devil to obey the Lord.
However, the devil pretended to be deaf. He hardened his heart against the commands of God the Highest. He was prepared to accompany Christ to the temple to worship God. He set Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple that overlooked worshippers praying in the holy temple. Then the accursed deceiver whispered in Christ’s ear, saying, “If you are the Son of God, proclaim your full glory, throw yourself down from here, and the angels of God will hasten to bear you up in their hands. Thus you will show the power of God, according to your faith, and the multitudes will be filled with wonder, and acknowledge with shouts that this is the true Christ. They will worship you willingly, hoping for the resurrection of the dead; and nothing wrong will happen to you, for your faith will save you.
But Christ chose the way of the cross, knowing that his second glorious coming cannot take place without the cross, for God is not willing that any reprobate should be condemned, but that all should come to repentance and be saved. Jesus did not want to fascinate the harmless with miracles, but to lead them to conversion and renewal of their minds. Christ refused the temptation of the devil, that he might not lose communion with his heavenly Father, or establish his kingdom before the time was ripe for believers. Christ called that thought which was against the will of the Holy One “a temptation of God”. He continued obediently, chose the way of the cross, and refused to make bread, display authority, or show his glory.
What do you do when tempted by the devil? Do you give in to your lusts, and become enslaved by your thoughts? Do you fall into the deceitfulness of riches and the worship of money? Do you want to put into effect the ways of God in your own strength, without his guidance? Then you will become a follower of the devil, and lose your communion with God. Dear brother, choose to read the word of God every day, content yourself with what you have, and pray to your Lord so that he may help you understand his word with divine wisdom, and to carry it out in your life, for the devil also knows the Bible, and deceives you with the words of God in a twisted manner. Make every effort to understand the word of your Lord truthfully, and continue in your sonship, that nothing may separate you from God, your Father, who filled you with his gentle Spirit so that you may do his will.
PRAYER: O Mighty Lord, I am too weak to resist the tricks of the devil. Do not lead me into temptation, but make me firm in the strength of Christ, and deliver me from the devil, so that the evil enemy may not have authority over me, but I may continue in communion with you and with our heavenly Father forever.
QUESTION 37: Why did Jesus not accept the riches of the world, and refused to show himself in the glory of his Father in the midst of the temple?