Matthew 4:5

Pinnacle of the temple.

-Tempted to self-destruction. (Dr. O. Winslow.)

The seceded temptation

I. Satan’s doubt. “If Thou be the Son of God,” etc.

II. His purpose. He urged on Christ an act of self-destruction. He was from the beginning the cause of death in all forms.

III. The argument with which he supported it. A quotation from Scripture.

IV. The passion to which he appealed. The pride of the human heart, to display.

V. It was a real temptation; it contanned desire, collision between desire and law, suggestion, and free will. (W. H. Hutchings, M. A.)

Temptations on the pinnacle

I. View the temptation itself.

1. The place of this temptation. It was high; it was holy.

2. The first effort of the devil was to sap the foundations of the Saviour’s strength with a doubt-“If Thou be the Son of God.” The point of attack was our Lord’s Sonship.

3. The cunning tempter has paved the way for the Satanic suggestion, “Cast Thyself down.”

4. The suggestion was backed up by a text of Scripture. He misquotes the text and omits “in all thy ways.” God does not promise to keep us in ways of our own choosing.

5. The answer which the Saviour gave.

II. A few considerations deduced from the whole.

1. Jesus was tempted as I am.

2. Jesus was tempted, but Jesus never sinned.

3. Jesus not only did not fall, but He triumphed gloriously. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

The devil may suggest: compel he cannot. (St. Chrysostom.)

It appeals to the trust which had been triumphant over temptation a moment before. Not even trust in God can expect God to save it from the consequences of presumption and disobedience; it must conform to the laws of God.

Subordinate lessons

The apparent teaching of any isolated text of Scripture always needs to be interpreted and limited by the whole of Scripture.

2. There is often the exaggeration and distortion of virtue. Trust becomes presumption. Strike any one note of human goodness and you will be sure to hear its accompanying discord. (G. S. Barrett, B. A.)

Practical reflections

1. No place is so sacred as to be free from the devil’s intrusion.

2. The difference between God’s miracles and Satan’s prodigies.

3. How different is the guidance of our Saviour from the guidance of our adversary; He casts down and then lifts up.

4. Ye who dwell in lofty places remark that Satan is ever near to take advantage of your unwatchfulness and give you a shameful fall.

5. The limitation of his power. (L. H. Wiseman.)

Elevation in order to destruction

On the rocky shore of Cornwall you may see the black cormorant seizing its prey, a shell-fish, flying up with it in the air, and then letting it fall upon some rock, that the shell may be broken in pieces. The great destroyer sometimes deals with those who serve him in a similar way. (L. H. Wiseman.)