Matthew 4:8 Commentary and Bible Study

Now comes the third temptation according to Matthew’s order. Satan takes Christ up to an exceedingly high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world in a split-second, ‘in a moment [point] of time’ (Luke 4:5). In what manner this is done we are not told. Is this a vision or is it real? Some like to think it is real; the language seems to be cast that way, but you cannot literally see all the kingdoms from any actual mountain top. In Reformed tradition commentators tend to think it is a kind of vision which Satan was allowed to immerse Christ in, and he submitted to it. It could be that the devil made representation of this to the mind of Christ. The word ‘in a moment of time’ also suggest this is a vision. If so, whatever it was that Satan suggested, Christ could see even more clearly because he is the Lord.Matthew quotes the devil as saying, ‘All these things will I give thee,’ and Luke adds the words, ‘and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.’ Is there any truth in any of that? Does Satan have authority to give this world to those who are loyal to him? This is the great battle of the universe. Here is Satan, ruler of kingdoms of this world, in possession in a measure of God’s domain. He has taken over the hearts of men. We often rush in and say, he is lying, it is not his to give. But it was true that if Christ had fallen, the world would have been his. He would have had his minions in hell. You might say, it has gone to his head and he thinks it is really his, but in a sense he is right, and yet only by theft, only by deceit, and, importantly, only for a time. He speaks as one who is going to win the long war against God. He assumes what he has stolen, he will keep. He is ruler of the air and he gives it to those who serve him, but it was never given to him legitimately. He thinks he speaks truly, but he is a deluded fiend. And what will happen to all that he has given when he meets with defeat? It will all be taken away again. Even before then, God strips away all that unbelieving man has at the moment of death. It was never rightfully theirs, and death was still there, waiting to take it from them. So no, there is no truth in any of it. It is not delivered to Satan; he has stolen it. Nor is it delivered to whomsoever the devil will give it, for what is given illegitimately will be taken away again by God. How clearly this temptation strips bear the devious policy of the devil!What is the vision of? Immediate international peace and Christ reigning on earth, happiness on earth, no inequality, all things ordered perfectly. Christ will be acclaimed internationally, and the world will turn to him because it is tired of limited rule. He is being tempted to take the kingdom without the cross, to consider his own comfort, self-aggrandisement, and be indifferent to the souls of men. He is to set aside the cause of the lost and to have it all for himself. ‘You can have all if you recognise me’, says the devil. ‘I will make a pact with you: accept my authority and receive power on my terms. The plan of salvation is not necessary. You do not have to go through with the suffering described in Isaiah. As long as I am worshipped as the Father is worshipped, I will give you all that is in my hands. Abandon redemption; there is no need for you to be humiliated. Treat me as an equal with God and you can have all nations. There will then be no more war, no more sickness.’ Yes, but the trouble is there would be no redemption. There would be no pardon for lost mankind, death would still reign, and there would be no eternal life, no Calvary, no atonement. Even if this division between Father and Son could be conceived, there would be no Redeemer. Satan thought he could divide God. But could Satan be trusted anyway? How long before he double-crossed his victim?However, not for a moment did Christ entertain this suggestion. He felt the trial of it, but he did not yield. Christ’s love must carry through the plan of redemption. He sees his elect and he knows that he must die for them, and he cannot swerve from the plan of salvation. Love for his Father’s commission, and love for his people, and his undying faithfulness to them, made this suggestion utterly obnoxious to him. Has the thought ever crossed Christ’s mind that he should abandon the difficult path he was sent to tread and serve himself? We do not like to imagine such a thing, but yes it has, and this is the record of it. The thought did not come from within him however; it came from the devil, and Christ did not accept it in the smallest degree. It was the meeting of two opposing moral forces which could not be more violently opposed to each other.