Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’" Matthew 4:8-10, NKJV
A person might argue with the devil, saying he had no authority to promise that to Jesus. But if he didn't, how would this have been a temptation? The Bible says Satan is the prince of this world. Maybe the prince of things worldly. Money, fancy cars, big houses, fame, popularity, power...you get the picture.
Just think if the Pharisees had loved Jesus, if everyone (including the scribes [aka lawyers]) had eaten up his every word? If He had been rich, good looking, powerful, a king of this world, more people would have listened to Him--or at least they would have pretended to. What if Jesus had taken the devil's offer? This world would have been a much different place. Somehow, I doubt it would have been to the good.
I don't think I would have liked Jesus if He had been a phony, would you? No, I didn't think so.
Lord--Thank You for resisting that temptation. Help us too, when we're tempted to do the wrong things, even when it appears that it's for all the right reasons. Strengthen us in our hours of temptations, Lord. Thank You. Amen
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