The Temptation of Jesus
Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ” Matthew 4:5-7
Oh the sly tactics of the devil. He knows God’s Word perhaps better than any of us, and he knows how to twist and manipulate it to accomplish his will against God. He is especially good at getting people to trust the promises of God in times or situations where they do not apply.
Satan especially loves to lead people to trust God’s promises of love and salvation when they are living in open sin and defiance of God. In order to recognize these deceptions of the devil, we need to know God’s Word. We need to understand the role of the law and the gospel. We need to know when and where God’s promises apply. It becomes obvious that we can’t just jump off a cliff and trust the angels to protect us when God says, “You shall not tempt [or test] the Lord your God.” It is also clear that we cannot count on God’s love and forgiveness if we are living in open, unrepentant sin, for the Apostle John says, “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.” (1 John 2:4-5) May we live in genuine repentance and faith and His Word and truly rejoice in all God’s promises.
O God, forsake me not! Lord, hear my supplication!
In every evil hour Help me o'ercome temptation;
And when the Prince of hell My conscience seeks to blot,
Be Thou not far from me, – O God, forsake me not!
The Lutheran Hymnal 402:3