The Temptation on the Mountain (3)
The Temptation on the Mountain (3)
It is also written (Matthew 4:7)
An Exciting Battle – The Danger of a Single Verse
An Extraordinary Person – It is also written…
Risky but Attractive – Preach, Rebuke, Exhort
Satan Fights with Verses – The War of Teaching with Verses
Satan’s Wrong Way of Using Verses – The War of Anger with Verses
Verses in Spreading Heresies – Silence and Speech with Verses
The Letter, Not the Spirit – In Doctrine and Theology
The Wrong Concept – Do Not Tempt the Lord Your God
Perverting Words – Four Examples of How We Sometimes Tempt the Lord
An Exciting Battle
Undoubtedly, Satan found his temptation of the Lord Jesus to be an exciting battle. For here, he was fighting someone extraordinary—someone of whom the Father said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” All His ways are the delight of the Father, and the Spirit of God dwells upon Him.
Satan saw no weakness in Him at all.
His entire life was absolute holiness at every age. How could anyone overcome such a One, who could challenge all, saying: “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46)
But this very holiness provoked Satan; he desired to wage war against it. This provocation increased with the words of John the Baptist about Him: “This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who ranks before me, for He was before me.’” (John 1:30)
What does it mean that “He was before me”? And what did John mean when he said, “I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal. Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:27, 29)
Satan looked at Him and seemed to say, “He has been silent for thirty years, and I too have been silent. But if He begins to act, I will act as well!
Will He begin His ministry with fasting and contemplation, with solitude and the mountain? That is something I cannot allow. It seems the serious time has come; we are entering a battle that cannot be avoided.
He seems to be an enemy of a special kind, one I have never fought before.
Could He truly be the Son of God? Could He be the One Isaiah prophesied would be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)? Is this Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14), whose name is called Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6)? If this is true, then the matter is grave—for I fear the rest of that verse!”
Yet Satan said in his heart, “I will not fear. For I once defeated one of whom it was said that he was made in the image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:26–27).
And by his fall came death’s dominion, “for sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men” (Romans 5:12). Satan saw that his battle with humanity had always been one of continual victory.
Does not Scripture affirm this constant truth? “They have all turned aside; they have together become corrupt. There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Psalm 14:3)
And not only the weak—Satan remembered: “For she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men.” (Proverbs 7:26)
He remembered many strong ones who fell—Solomon, the wisest man on earth, to whom God appeared twice, in Gibeon and in Jerusalem (1 Kings 9:2). Yet Satan was not frightened by Solomon’s wisdom, but turned his heart after other gods “through his wives.” So Solomon followed Ashtoreth and Milcom (1 Kings 11:4–5).
Thus, Satan saw that his wars with the strong had their own pleasure—an exciting battle to break the monotony of his routine.
Human weaknesses had become predictable—“the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16): the love of money, of women, of fame, of pride, of indulgence, of speech. All had become dull, unchallenging. Man’s easy fall no longer gave the battle any thrill.
But now, with this fasting Man on the mountain, though it was a risk, it was an attractive one—an opportunity to explore the unknown.
So Satan came and said to the Lord Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” (Matthew 4:3)
A phrase he had never used with any human before. It had deep meaning and purpose, as we saw in the previous article.
But the Lord stopped him with a verse from Scripture—“a word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
Then Satan changed his strategy: “Since You answer with the Word of God, I will fight You with the Word of God!”
And here lies the danger in some spiritual wars: Satan does not always use worldly methods, but—
Satan Fights with Verses
He said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over You, and in their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.’” (Matthew 4:6)
The issue of Christ’s Sonship to God was still Satan’s chief concern—just as before, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
The same problem of Sonship that caused the killing of the infants of Bethlehem, that lay behind all the miracles performed in Egypt (Isaiah 19:1), and that echoed even at the Cross: “If You are the Son of God, come down from the Cross.” (Matthew 27:40)
Now, he wanted to destroy Christ by having Him throw Himself from the mountain—relying on a verse.
If He truly were the Son of God, and angels bore Him up, His divinity would be revealed, and the plan of salvation would be ruined.
But we notice that in quoting Scripture, Satan deceived and misquoted.
That verse was never about a man throwing himself off a mountain. Its true text says:
“No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” (Psalm 91:10–12)
Satan neither cited it in its context nor quoted it fully. He twisted it to fit his temptation.
The verse speaks of protection “in your dwelling” and “in your ways,” not of deliberately seeking danger.
It teaches that God prevents the trial from reaching you—not that you should throw yourself into it.
Thus, Satan uses Scripture in a diabolical way—applying it out of context, quoting partially, and interpreting deceitfully, as if cutting the verse into pieces to fit his scheme.
In this way, Satan used Scripture to spread heresies and false teachings.
What doubts did Arianism spread? Misinterpretation of a few verses. Even modern heresies use Scripture to mislead.
Therefore, let no one be deceived—always seek the correct understanding of the verse.
Satan memorizes Scripture, but he is no scholar of it.
A true scholar is not one who memorizes verses but who understands them rightly in harmony with the Spirit of Scripture.
As the Apostle said: “The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)
The Jews, in insisting on Sabbath observance, accused the Lord of breaking the Sabbath when He healed or raised the dead. They relied on the verse: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy… you shall do no work.” (Exodus 20:8, 10; Deuteronomy 5:12, 14)
The problem was not in the verse, but in their wrong understanding of it.
Satan is ever ready to offer many wrong interpretations, using Scripture to mislead, to confuse, or to burden people beyond their strength—like the Pharisees who “bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4), and who “shut up the kingdom of heaven against men.” (Matthew 23:13)
The literal misuse of Scripture is one of the devil’s wars.
Another of his tactics is using half-truths—taking one verse while ignoring others that complete the meaning.
I spoke of this danger in the introduction to the book “Salvation in the Orthodox Concept”, for the Bible is not a single verse but a complete book.
So whenever someone brings you a verse to prove a doctrine or teaching, and says “It is written,” answer with the same words the Lord used:
“It Is Also Written…”
Use this response both spiritually and theologically.
As the Apostle said: “Comparing spiritual things with spiritual.” (1 Corinthians 2:13)
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If the enemy provokes you to lose your gentleness, saying:
“It is written: ‘Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort.’” (2 Timothy 4:2)
Answer: This was said by St. Paul to St. Timothy—a bishop responsible for guiding souls. Who am I to put myself in his place?
It is also written: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.” (James 3:13)
And again: “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.” (Galatians 6:1)
Thus, correction is not only by rebuke, but also by the meekness of wisdom.
Even St. Paul, who said “Reprove, rebuke, exhort,” also said: “For three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:31)
Those tears showed his love and concern—not harshness or cruelty. -
If the enemy urges you to anger, saying:
“Moses’ anger burned when he saw the calf and the dancing, and he threw the tablets and broke them.” (Exodus 32:19)
Answer: Moses was a prophet of God, with divine authority, and the situation was grave—the whole nation had made a golden calf to worship! (Exodus 32:8)
Yet it is also written: “Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all men on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3)
And he interceded for the people and for his sister Miriam when God struck her (Numbers 12:9, 13).
Moreover, Scripture says: “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7:9)
And: “Let every man be slow to anger, for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19–20)
And again: “Let all bitterness, wrath, and anger be put away from you.” (Ephesians 4:31)
So, “do not associate with an angry man.” (Proverbs 22:24) -
If a thought urges you to make yourself a teacher, saying:
“Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel.” (1 Corinthians 9:16)
Answer: Paul said this because he was divinely entrusted: “I have been entrusted with a stewardship.” (1 Corinthians 9:17)
But it is also written: “Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)
“For we all stumble in many things.” (James 3:2)
And: “He who teaches, in teaching.” (Romans 12:7)
If the Church appoints you to teach, do it faithfully. Otherwise, learn first. -
If Satan tells you to remain silent in witnessing for Christ, quoting:
“The prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.” (Amos 5:13)
Answer: “To everything there is a season… a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7)
And: “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent.” (Acts 18:9)
Wisdom and discernment are needed to know when to speak.
As it is written of the Lord with His apostles: “Then He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” (Luke 24:45) -
Use the same principle in doctrine:
If it is said to you, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” (Acts 16:31)
Answer: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)
And again: “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26, 17)
Do Not Tempt the Lord Your God
Returning to our meditation on the mountain, the Lord answered Satan, “It is also written: You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” (Matthew 4:7; Deuteronomy 6:16)
Satan wanted the Lord to test the Father’s love—throwing Himself down to see whether angels would save Him.
But Jesus answered, “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.”
The love of God is not to be tested or proved. We do not challenge Him to demonstrate His care by miracles.
Even amid suffering or trial, we remain sure of His love.
We do not test Him by demanding signs or wonders to confirm it.
To be continued in the next issue.
Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, published in Watani Newspaper, April 6, 1986.
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