holy city of Jerusalem, and "setteth him on pinnacle ofthe temple," from whence he tempted him to cast himself down, because God had promised in his word to protect his people in danger; but the Saviour give him to know that we are not to tempt God by any presumptuous acts of our own. Satan made yet one more effort to overcome Christ; for he took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and promised them all to him, if he world fall down and worship him. To this bold temptation Christ gave him a reply, that compelled him to depart; he said, "Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered to him." (ver. 10, 11.) Such are the outlines of Christ's tempta tions in the wilderness; which are also stated, with some trifling variation, in Mark i. Now what are we to learn from this account, and what benefit may we gain from it? If Christ was thus tempted, we cannot expect to escape the arts and stratagems of our great adversary, who, "as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour, (1 Peter v. 8.); for if the Master thus suffered, the disciples cannot expect to fare better. When Satan tempted our Saviour, our Lord opposed his suggestions by quoting passages of scripture in opposition; and we cannot fly to any stronger defence than the word of God; for whatever our enemy would urge us to, there is every thing in God's word to lead us to oppose him, and not to listen to is temptations. But this is not all we are to learn from what Christ endureth; for we are told by St. Paul in Hebrews ii. 18, that Jesus having "suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted;" and in chap. iv. 15, that he is "touched with the feeling of our infirmities, for he was in all points tempted as we are," O what a comfortable reflection is this, that our Redeemer knows all we suffer from Satan; he has himself tasted the bitter cup, and he will give us strength in every time of need. To him may we therefore look with confidence, when the wicked one besets us, pleading what he has done and suffered; and may we at length be "more than conquerors through Him that loved us." (Romans viii. 37.) |