Satan Tempts Jesus to Cast Himself Down Matthew 4:6

Matthew shared how John the Baptist was baptizing people in the Jordan river and telling them about the one who was coming. He wrote about Jesus being “baptized” and shared, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Then the devil took him up into the holy city, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple,”, and in chapter four and verse six of his book, Matthew shares how the devil “said unto him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down” where we read:

And said unto him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you: and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.

The verse reads, “And said unto him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning you.” Matthew began with the words, “and said” which means “the devil uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto him” or “to Jesus”, “If you are” which means “whether, forasmuch and since Jesus is” “the Son” which means “the supreme love of God who is united to Him in affectionate intimacy, privy to his saving councils and obedient to the Father's will in all his acts” “of God” or “belonging to the Godhead bodily and trinity”, “cast yourself down” which means “throw and thrust your own self from this higher place to a lower”: “for” or “because, since and on account that” “it is written” which means “it is letter which are delineated or formed on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material ”, “He shall give” or “God will provide, grant, enjoin and order” “his angels” which refers to “God's messengers, envoys and ones sent” “charge” or “command” “concerning you” which means “about, on account of, because of and near those who follow Him”. Matthew shared how the “devil” tempted Jesus this second time by quoting scripture (See Psalm 91:11-12) and attempting to convince Him that God would protect Him if He “cast” Himself down.

The verse goes on to say, “and in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.” Matthew continued with the words, “and in their hands” which means “and within the angel's hands” “they shall bear you up” or “the angels will raise and elevate those who trust in Him”, “lest at any time” or “whether or not, perhaps and in no way” “you dash” which means “those who put their trust in Him strike, stumble and stub” “your foot” or “the believer's foot or fett” “against a stone” which means “near, towards and in regard to a rock or small stone”. Matthew continued the “devil's” quote as he referred to the “angels” whom God has provided to protect His believers.

When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “devil” attempted to try Jesus with “the pride of life”. If Jesus “cast Himself down” from the temple pinnacle and the “angels” saved Him, He would be able to “boast” concerning His power and position with God. “Pride” is one of God's most hated traits - “These six things does the LORD hate: yes, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look ...” (Proverbs 6:17-17a). Jesus was sent to be the “Savior and Lord” of the world, and those who believe and trust in Him shall have everlasting life with the One who resisted the temptation to receive man's glory and be proud among them. If Jesus refused to give in to this temptation, how much more should we resist “pride” and “glory of men” when the opportunity arises?

Next time Matthew shares Jesus' answer, “you shall not tempt the Lord your God” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.