Luke 4:9-13 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you be the Son of God… He is not only content to take a foil, but even out of the same thing wherewith he was foiled maketh he matter of a new temptation, a new ball of fire. Out of Christ's conquest, he makes a new assault; that is, since he will needs trust, he will set him on trusting; he shall trust as much as he will. As the former tempted him to diffidence, so this shall tempt him to precedence. (Bishop Andrewes) 1. It is a favourite snare of the tempter to "take " men, ay, Christian men, to "pinnacles." 2. It is to "tempt" God, to do anything wrong on the plea of imagined or intended good to others. 3. Too many make the same mis-use of the Bible that the devil did. 4. The believer must appropriate to himself the Bible promises and commandments. 5. Obedience must be kept abidingly in mind. 6. We must never sunder means from ends. 7. Let the tempted realize the great protecting hands. (A. B. Grosart.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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: |
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