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Chapter 4
1-4
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 4:1-4
.
1-13
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 4:1-11
;
2:1, 2
.
2
. See
EGW comment on Matthew 4:1, 2
.
5-8 (
Matthew 4:8-10
). Satan Tried to Make a Contract With
Christ
—[
Luke 4:5-8
quoted.] This presumptuous blasphemy, and
insult to Jehovah, excited the indignation of Christ, and led Him to
exercise His divine authority, and command Satan in an authoritative,
dignified manner to desist. Here Satan, in his pride and arrogance,
declared himself to be the rightful and permanent ruler of the world,
the possessor of all its glory, as though he had created the world and
all the riches and glory contained in it. He endeavored to make a
special contract with Christ, to make over to Him at once the whole
of his claim, if He would worship him.
Here Satan showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world. They
were presented in the most attractive light. He offered them to
Jesus if He would there worship him. He told Jesus that he would
relinquish his claims of the possessions of earth. Satan knew that
his power must be limited, and finally taken away, if the plan of
salvation should be carried out. He knew that if Jesus should die to
redeem man, his power would end after a season, and he would be
destroyed. Therefore it was his studied plan to prevent, if possible,
the completion of the great work which had been commenced by
the Son of God. If the plan of man’s redemption should fail, he
would retain the kingdom which he then claimed. And if he should
succeed, he flattered himself that he would reign in opposition to the
God of heaven (
Redemption: or The First Advent of Christ, pages
50, 51
).
6. Two Parties and Two Banners
—Satan has called this world
his territory. Here his seat is, and he holds in allegiance to himself all
who refuse to keep God’s commandments, who reject a plain, “Thus
saith the Lord.” They stand under the enemy’s banner; for there are
but two parties in the world. All rank either under the banner of
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