I read Satan’s three temptations of the Lord in Matthew
4 again this morning. It’s a familiar passage to most of you:
1. “And the tempter came and said to
Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
But He answered and said, “It is
written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds
out of the mouth of God.’”
2. “Then the devil took Him into the holy city and had Him
stand on the pinnacle of the temple,
and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself
down; for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning you’’, and “On
their hands they will bear you up, so that You will not strike your foot
against a stone.” Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your
God to the test.’”
3. Again, the devil took Him to a
very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their
glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will
give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus
said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall
worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.”
I noticed once again at least two important
points.
First, the Lord Jesus used Scripture in His response
to each temptation. Second, the Devil also knows scripture – and he abuses
it, twists its context, so it will say what he wants it to say. Remember, he is
the father of lies.
The point?
The Holy Spirit warns us through St. Paul about those
who abuse Scripture from pulpits, classrooms, and, today, across social media:
For
such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as
apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even
Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore
it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of
righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. (2 Corinthians
11:13-15)
Our protection against being sucked
into false and demonic-breathed teaching?
That’s easy.
1. Become so familiar with God’s word
– reading it day after day after year after year – so when you meet temptation
to do wrong, you can respond according to God’s revealed will in Scripture.
2. Become so familiar with God’s word that when
Satan’s servants abuse and twist Scripture for their own evil purposes, you
will not be seduced.
Need a Bible reading plan to get you through the
entire Bible in a year? Do an internet search for key words such as ‘Yearly
Bible Reading Plan.’
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