Luke 4

​Luke 4:3-4:
 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Feb 15, 2022: ​Ed Rea: Luke 4:3–4: “And the devil said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.’ But Jesus answered him, saying, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” ‘ “
​Satan used 3 kinds of temptation against Jesus, and he still uses the same ones against all believers to this day. The first is the temptation to do it by yourself. The second is the temptation to take the easy way, the way of least resistance. And the third is the temptation to not believe it until you see it.

​Luke 4:9-12:
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

As a last desperate temptation, the tempter suggests that Jesus leap from the pinnacle of the Temple.  If He were God's Son, as He claimed to be, then surely God would not allow Him to be harmed, even though He would fall four hundred and fifty feet to the floor of the Kidron Valley below. If it was the temptation to be sensational in His work, the Jews had been looking long for a sensational Messiah--one who would restore the nation spectacularly. They would restore the nation spectacularly. But spectacles do not save. They are interesting and entertaining, but not necessary to salvation. Sensational preachers have a way of running out of sensations, and when that happens the people leave them. What would Jesus have proved about the love of God--which was the cornerstone of the Kingdom, in making the love of God--which was the cornerstone of the Kingdom, in making such a sensational Leap? He would have proved nothing. Men are not led to repentance and renewal by tricks. It was a suggestion that God be put to the test--and the devil did not understand that God is never tested. (4:12)