The dynamics of discipleship (part 28)

Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” – LUKE 4:9-11

The devil is relentless when it comes to deceiving us and will stop at nothing to try and get us to fall for his schemes.

He had already tried to get Jesus to doubt who He was and now for a second time he tried it again before taking Him up on the pinnacle of the temple.

Satan knows the word of God backwards and forwards and is not above quoting it in order to gain an advantage.

This diabolical scheme obviously works because he has been successful in dividing most of the church of Jesus Christ into denominations, cults, sects, and religious organizations all divided because of proof-texting the word of God. (A proof-text is a passage of scripture presented as proof for a theological doctrine, belief, or principle.)

As the devil quoted Psalm 91:11,12 to Jesus trying to convince Him to jump off the temple and His angels would bear Him up, Jesus again used the sword of the Word against him defeating him and the devil departed.

And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’” Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time – LUKE 4:12,13