The Third Temptation of Jesus: Luke 3:9-12
“9) And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10) for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’ 11) and, ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” 12) And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”” Luke 4:9-12
The third temptation of Jesus related more to His spirit and understanding of the ways of God. (See Isaiah 55:6-9) This time Satan used Scripture to temp Jesus. It’s amazing how often the liberal left and apostate church recklessly quotes and twists the Bible.
The devil quoted Psalm 91:11-12 to Jesus as the basis of this temptation. In the context, Psalm 91 deals with Gods protection on those who walk with Him, seek Him and serve Him.
To attempt suicide by jumping off the temple and testing God’s intervention would be making a spectacle of self and forcing the hand of God. This had nothing to do with the intent or context of Psalm 91.
Satan was trying to get Jesus to test or provoke God by twisting the Bible. Listen to this very carefully; “the tempter was trying to get Jesus to tempt God.” He wanted Jesus to set aside His mission of “Savior of men” and take up the role of “critic of God!”
The devil was sitting in the chair of the atheist or agnostic and trying to provoke Jesus. These constantly use the same ploy. Jesus refused to give the devil the upper hand.
Such is the case of those who always demand special signs to prove the existence of God. This was the practice of the Pharisees and religious leaders throughout the four gospels. They constantly demanded signs from Jesus. (See Matthew 12:38-41; 16:1-4)
Signs and wonders are given to confirm the gospel message and pave the way for the Great Commission. (See Hebrews 2:3-4) They are not given to draw attention to the human agent or promote self. They are given to glorify God and adorn the gospel of the kingdom. (See Matthew 10:7-8)
Jesus had nothing to prove to the devil. Satan is not the one who sets the rules of engagement; God does! Never forget that principle!
When you stop obeying God and start listening to the promptings of the devil, your spiritual source of truth is compromised. Your faith is undermined. You just stepped away from abiding in the shadow of the Almighty.
Satan always tries to push people to the edge in testing God. Psalm 91 is about dwelling in the shelter of the Most High and abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. If you are in the shadow of the Almighty, that means He is the one in the spotlight, not you. When the tempter comes, quickly run back into the shelter of the Most High.
Over the next three years in the course of spreading the gospel, Jesus would perform many signs and wonders that pointed to His identity. Jesus set the parameters and the rules of engagement.
Very interestingly, Psalm 91:13 was ignored by the devil. This is the very next verse in the context from where the devil quoted, It says; “13) You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.”
Satan always twists God’s word and ignores the context. Instead of taking Him to the pinnacle of the temple, according to the context of Psalm 91, the devil should have said; “If you are the Son of God, step on my head!”
Jesus would have replied, “Don’t worry, it’s coming soon enough!” Jesus always fulfills the Word of God! He always sets the rules of engagement. He always wins. And so, the devil was both immediately and ultimately defeated by Jesus.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“9) And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; 10) for it is written, ‘He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,’ 11) and, ‘On their hands they will bear You up, So that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” 12) And Jesus answered and said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”” Luke 4:9-12
The third temptation of Jesus related more to His spirit and understanding of the ways of God. (See Isaiah 55:6-9) This time Satan used Scripture to temp Jesus. It’s amazing how often the liberal left and apostate church recklessly quotes and twists the Bible.
The devil quoted Psalm 91:11-12 to Jesus as the basis of this temptation. In the context, Psalm 91 deals with Gods protection on those who walk with Him, seek Him and serve Him.
To attempt suicide by jumping off the temple and testing God’s intervention would be making a spectacle of self and forcing the hand of God. This had nothing to do with the intent or context of Psalm 91.
Satan was trying to get Jesus to test or provoke God by twisting the Bible. Listen to this very carefully; “the tempter was trying to get Jesus to tempt God.” He wanted Jesus to set aside His mission of “Savior of men” and take up the role of “critic of God!”
The devil was sitting in the chair of the atheist or agnostic and trying to provoke Jesus. These constantly use the same ploy. Jesus refused to give the devil the upper hand.
Such is the case of those who always demand special signs to prove the existence of God. This was the practice of the Pharisees and religious leaders throughout the four gospels. They constantly demanded signs from Jesus. (See Matthew 12:38-41; 16:1-4)
Signs and wonders are given to confirm the gospel message and pave the way for the Great Commission. (See Hebrews 2:3-4) They are not given to draw attention to the human agent or promote self. They are given to glorify God and adorn the gospel of the kingdom. (See Matthew 10:7-8)
Jesus had nothing to prove to the devil. Satan is not the one who sets the rules of engagement; God does! Never forget that principle!
When you stop obeying God and start listening to the promptings of the devil, your spiritual source of truth is compromised. Your faith is undermined. You just stepped away from abiding in the shadow of the Almighty.
Satan always tries to push people to the edge in testing God. Psalm 91 is about dwelling in the shelter of the Most High and abiding in the shadow of the Almighty. If you are in the shadow of the Almighty, that means He is the one in the spotlight, not you. When the tempter comes, quickly run back into the shelter of the Most High.
Over the next three years in the course of spreading the gospel, Jesus would perform many signs and wonders that pointed to His identity. Jesus set the parameters and the rules of engagement.
Very interestingly, Psalm 91:13 was ignored by the devil. This is the very next verse in the context from where the devil quoted, It says; “13) You will tread upon the lion and cobra, The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.”
Satan always twists God’s word and ignores the context. Instead of taking Him to the pinnacle of the temple, according to the context of Psalm 91, the devil should have said; “If you are the Son of God, step on my head!”
Jesus would have replied, “Don’t worry, it’s coming soon enough!” Jesus always fulfills the Word of God! He always sets the rules of engagement. He always wins. And so, the devil was both immediately and ultimately defeated by Jesus.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
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