Luke the physician shared how Jesus, “ full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If you are the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give you, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it”, and in chapter four and verse seven of his book Luke shared how the devil tells Jesus what will happen, “if you therefore will worship me” where we read:
If you therefore will worship me, all shall be yours.
The verse reads, “If you therefore will worship me, ...” Luke began with the words, “If you therefore” or “whether Jesus then, wherefore, consequently, accordingly and these things being so” “will worship me” which means “will reverence, give homage to and prostrate Himself before the devil”. Luke shared how “Satan” presented the condition that Jesus would “reverence and give homage” to him.
The verse goes on to say, “... all shall be yours.” Luke continued with the word, “all” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone of the kingdoms of the world”; “shall be yours” or “will be given to Jesus”. Luke shared how the devil told Jesus he would give Him “all the kingdoms of the world” if He would only bow down to Him.
When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see the culmination of the devil's second temptation of Jesus. This time, as he appealed to the lust of the eyes, the devil tempted Jesus with having all His eyes could see. Jesus will respond to the devil in a couple verses, but for now, let us be aware that “Satan” attempts to convince people to “sin” by showing them things they could obtain. They are offered a “temporary” satisfaction by submitting to the “devil” and his ways. God sent Jesus to demonstrate how people are to “resist” the “devil” and his enticements, and because Jesus was victorious over “Satan's temptations”, He is the “Savior and Lord” of all the world. Everyone who believes and trusts in Jesus will be forgiven of their sins, receive everlasting life with God and rely upon the power of God to resist the “devil” when he tempts them sin. (See James 4:7)
Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells the devil, “Get thee behind me, Satan”, 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.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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