"The Temptation"

In all the dealings of Jehovah with His people, His plan has ever been to appoint for them a season of trial, discipline, suffering, and probation previous to sending them forth upon any important mission. The more exalted the character, and the higher the work for Him to do, the deeper seems to have been the suffering and the humiliation. Probation doth ever precede exaltation; and “before honor, is humility.”

Following the footsteps of our Lord, the record informs us that after passing through the waters of baptism, and having received the anointing Spirit, He was “led up of the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil.” There, under circumstances of trial, the most severe in which human nature could be placed, Jesus endured the greatest privation and hunger. Then the tempter presented himself with evil suggestions, prompting to cross the line of obedience. These Christ instantly repelled with the word of the living God. When the tempter said, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread:—Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” The adversary then thought to be more successful by quoting Scripture, and “taking him up to the holy city, setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hand they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Here was a quotation of Scripture, certainly; but a false light was thrown upon it. It was taken out of its proper connection and brought to bear upon an occasion for which it was not intended, with a view to accomplish the destruction of the Son of God. Jesus perceived the evil intention of His adversary, and brought the commandment to bear upon him, and said: “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” Thinking, probably, that an appeal which might touch the dignity of his position as a prospective ruler, would secure his triumph, the tempter “again taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them: And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” The climax of his presumption now appeared; and Jesus could no longer tolerate his presence; then He said unto him, “Get thee hence, Satan (or adversary), for it is written: Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Then, finding he could not prevail in the least, “the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.” Thus the allegiance of Christ to His Father’s word was unswerving at all times. The words of the Spirit, through the Psalmist, saying: “Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips, I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer” (Psalm xvii.), seem to have a most appropriate bearing upon this scene of trial and temptation.

A parallel and a contrast, are made to appear between the trial of Jesus in the wilderness, and that of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Both He and they, were placed under circumstances of trial: although those circumstances were different in their character. Temptation was presented to both, although the form and manner in which it came, were different. The tempters, in either case, were different, yet both are styled “the devil” in the New Testament. The same evil principle of antagonism to God and His word, emanated from both the serpent in the garden, and the tempter in the wilderness. But a wonderful divergence in the results is brought to light: for, while Eve received and acted upon the suggestion of the serpent, Jesus repelled His adversary, and cast him off, through the power of the word of God. Eve, by her acquiescence in the deceptive reasoning of the serpent, became instrumental in bringing “the principle of evil,” to be incorporated in the whole race of Adam. Jesus, by faithful adherence to the Father’s word, and uncompromising contention with the adversary, became instrumental in bringing the “principle of good” and righteousness, to be incorporated in all those who come into Him as the head of the New Creation.

The serpent flatly contradicted the word of God, but the tempter of Christ quoted the Scripture as if he believed it; at the same time making it of none effect, by taking the isolated passage from its legitimate context, and misapplying it: so depriving it of its true value and import. In the hand of such a manipulator, the Scripture could only become an instrument of destruction instead of salvation.

Both these deceivers have their counterpart among men. Upon the foundation of the serpent’s lie, various forms of error have arisen in the world. There are those who boldly contradict and reject the word of God entirely; and there are those who “wrest the Scriptures to their own destruction.”

The temptation of Eve assailed three distinct points in her nature—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Human nature has ever since been assailable in all these points. And when trial and temptation are brought to bear in each individual experience, some resemblance may be traced to the first parents of our race.

The Scripture tells us that Christ came in the flesh, and took part of human nature. “Forasmuch as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same.” “For verily, not of angels doth he take hold, but he taketh hold of the seed of Abraham.” “Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high-priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted” (Heb. ii. 14-18). Consolation, as well as salvation for the believer, is contained in this truth. For the apostle Paul assures us that “We have not an high-priest who can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted according to our likeness, yet without transgression” (Heb. iv. 15).

In view of these testimonies the temptation of Christ can only be understood in the light of a most real and living character. And His conquest over every desire of nature, under such severe trial, as suffering of most intense and vivid reality. “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season” (Luke iv. 13). Having been released, temporarily, from so trying an ordeal, the record of Christ’s ministry still bears testimony to the continual subjection of His own will to the will of the Father. For, He said: “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” (John vi. 38).

And when nearing the last agony, the power of the adversary gained a brief triumph, and combined to put Him to death. Still faithful and true, the Saviour expressed His perfect conquest, in these words: “Father, not my will, but thine be done” (Luke xxii.). The serpent’s seed gained but a short-lived victory. The Father soon rescued His beloved Son, and broke the devil’s chain, by raising Him from the dead, to a life of glorious incorruptibility, immortality, and power. Released then, forever, from the machinations of Satan (the adversary), He now sits “at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (Heb. viii. 1).