This is Jesus’ second temptation in the desert. It occurs early in his ministry, just after his baptism. Often we are tempted the most severely when we are vulnerable. Jesus had been fasting for 40 days and would undoubtedly have been starving and exhausted. This is one reason why it is important for us to take care of ourselves and get plenty of rest. It also happened after a spiritual high – his baptism. The devil is known to come after us after a spiritual high, so just be warned.
This second temptation has always been the most intriguing to me. The first and third temptations are pretty straight forward – to use his supernatural powers to turn stones into bread – or for anything else he ever wanted; and to rule over the world in power and luxury as a political ruler. But the second temptation is a bit more tricky. Why would he be tempted to jump off of the temple?
Malachi 3:1 says that the Messiah would “suddenly” appear in the temple. If Jesus had dropped down “from heaven” into the temple courts, safely landing on the cobblestones, he probably would have been declared the Messiah on the spot. He could have avoided the grueling three-year ministry he was about to endure. He would cut short his mission and God’s plan and gotten it all over with. Satan was probably hoping he would jump off and hit the pavement and he would have been done with him. This may have simply been a trap. (Jesus did appear in the temple when the time was right – but he just walked in.)
Jesus explained to the devil that we are not to put God to the test. We are not to act recklessly or foolishly and expect God to bail us out. That’s just not fair. If I choose to jump off of a building, he would probably let me hit the ground. Psalm 91, that Satan quoted, means God protects us as we live our lives, not as we act foolishly.
Jesus defeated Satan’s temptations with Scripture. This is how we defeat temptation too. We know the Word. The Word gives us the power to be victorious.
