Chapter 40—Second Temptation of Christ
[
This article appeared in
The Review and Herald, August 18, 1874
and
The Review and Herald, September 1, 1874
.]
Satan was defeated in his object to overcome Christ upon the point
of appetite; and here in the wilderness Christ achieved a victory in
behalf of the race upon the point of appetite, making it possible for
man in all future time in His name to overcome the strength of appetite
on his own behalf. Satan was not willing to cease his efforts until he
had tried every means to obtain victory over the world’s Redeemer. He
knew that with himself all was at stake, whether he or Christ should
be victor in the contest. And, in order to awe Christ with his superior
strength, he carried Him to Jerusalem and set Him on a pinnacle of the
Temple, and continued to beset Him with temptations.
He again demanded of Christ, if He was indeed the Son of God,
to give him evidence by casting Himself from the dizzy height upon
which he had placed Him. He urged Christ to show His confidence in
the preserving care of His Father by casting Himself down from the
Temple. In Satan’s first temptation upon the point of appetite, he had
tried to insinuate doubts in regard to God’s love and care for Christ as
His Son, by presenting His surroundings and His hunger as evidence
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that He was not in favor with God, He was unsuccessful in this. He
next tried to take advantage of the faith and perfect trust Christ had
shown in His heavenly Father to urge Him to presumption. “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 hands they shall bear thee
up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone” (
Matthew 4:6
).
Jesus promptly answered, “It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt
the Lord thy God” (
Matthew 4:7
).
The Sin of Presumption
The sin of presumption lies close beside the virtue of perfect faith
and confidence in God. Satan flattered himself that he could take
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