Bible Study Devotional – Day 136 – Commentary Luke 4:9-13 – What was Satan’s third temptation?

The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

 

In 1993, David Koresh was the leader of the sect of the Branch Davidian Movement at Mount Caramel in Waco, Texas. 2 Corinthians 11:14 says that Satan deceives us by masquerading as an angel of light. But, by the time some of Koresh’s followers recognized his teachings were against the Bible, it was too late. Koresh was ultimately responsible for the deaths of 75 people, including 25 children, in the Waco Siege, a 51-day standoff between the ATF and the Branch Davidians.

 

In the same way in this third temptation the devil disguises himself as an angel of light by quoting Scripture, Psalm 91:11-12. But he quotes it out of context because these verses are not talking about the Messiah but about Jews and Christians who make the Lord their refuge. (See verse 9.) Satan wants the Messiah to die, so there will be no one to save us. Then Satan can rule forever. If the angels were to have saved Jesus, Jesus would have committed a sin by testing God. The result would have been similar, no one to take our sins, no salvation.

 

Jesus understands Satan’s schemes and brushes him off a third time, again by quoting scripture. “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Deuteronomy 6:16)

 

Heavenly Father, help us to serve you only so we don’t fall for Satan’s schemes of tempting us with things we think we need, lying to us with half-truths, and disguising himself as an angel of light.

Bible Study Devotional – Day 136 – Commentary Luke 4:9-13 – What was Satan’s third temptation?

4 thoughts on “Bible Study Devotional – Day 136 – Commentary Luke 4:9-13 – What was Satan’s third temptation?

  1. When we look back at history, both recent and long ago, we learn of leaders that presented themselves as Christians, when in fact they allowed themselves to be guided by Satan in the quest for control. It is scary, and part of me thinks why did God allow this to happen. God can intervene in anything, right? So, why? Never forget what has happened so history does not repeat itself. Is it Satan taking over and God just stands by and allows it to happen? So many times when bad things happen in our lives or history, it is said that God is trying to teach us something.

    1. That’s a lot to think about. All humans are tempted by power and money and only a few of us get into very powerful positions. Unfortunately, I believe that God allowed Hitler and other bad leaders to get into power to teach us to follow Him and not leaders who promise us things that can’t work or be attained without a high cost. And, yes, God let people be murdered and pulled from their families in the process. God also let His Son be murdered, and Jesus pulled His 12 disciples from their families. Death in general is not cruel although it seems that way to those of us left behind. I believe all of the Jews murdered are or will be with God and families will be reunited. What is important to God is that all of His children are ultimately with Him. All of his lessons are geared toward that.

  2. I know it is a lot to think about. It really bothers me at times. Why did God allow this tragedy to happen? He could have stopped it, so why didn’t He? It is not a perfect world and bad things happen. I guess this is where faith comes in to play. Sometimes it is just accepting God’s will. Perhaps it is something that we will never understand until we leave Earth.

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