To get a stump out you push one way, pull the other way, and then lift straight up. A snake can be a snake in the grass striking with the element of surprise or it can glide openly with head erect and neck flared to paralyse with fear. He no longer operates with the appeal “if you are the Son of God” – he accepts He is the One – even concedes He is the One who is the Messiah. This is no subtle temptation, yet a strong one. It’s a ‘double or nothing’, ‘winner takes all’ proposition. Let’s lay our cards on the table, quit pussy-footing around and shadow boxing, and admit what I want and what you want.
So Satan shows Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory (in a moment of time – Luke 4:5). What’s Jesus seen for six weeks? – dust and desolation, rocks and sand, gnarly stunted bushes. What does He now see? – templed cities, marble palaces, fertile fields, fruit-laden vineyards and orchards, cool clear streams, blue oceans, and lots of people. Could Satan give it or is it just a bald-faced lie? How could it be a temptation if it were glaringly false? Note Lk 6:46 – when the disobedient called Jesus “Lord”, was this a lie? In one sense ‘yes’ (they didn’t honour Him as Lord), but in another sense ‘no’ inasmuch as Jesus is Lord of all (whether they obey or not). Similarly, in John 12:31 Satan is called the “Prince of this world”, and in 1 John 5:19 we are told “the whole world lieth in wickedness”, so it is fair to say he has a dominion in this world – the rule of sin under the guise of the words of Billy Joel, sinners have more fun. It is the rule of a tyrant who deceives. He only tells the truth when it is convenient:- never trust his promises; never give the Devil an even break. Would he have honoured his promise to Jesus? Wouldn’t have mattered if Jesus sold out!
Fall down and worship me. The aorist tense would indicate that this was but a one time event Satan craved, and what a small price to pay for what would be a large benefit. Look what God has offered you so far – in the desert – sand – hunger- weakness – and this is only the beginning! I’ve got a better deal and what’s more I can give it to you now – at bargain prices! You can get it without a fight – not even forty days – just a few moments. Besides, you came to have this (Dan.7:14). This wasn’t much different to his approach with Eve – eat and be like God! (Who knows how God-like we would be if man hadn’t sinned?)
The easy road to success has its appeal. To cheat on an exam; to steal from the boss (after all you get the pay increase you deserve); to lie (the attraction of a lie is that it promises a way out of a predicament). Satan needs to place himself on the side of God’s plan for Jesus by making Him King – yet the whole proposition is false. In that one act of worship Jesus would become a rebel against God. . We think it foolish that the Devil should try such, but he had succeeded with millions before Jesus AND by offering much LESS! He offers things that are legitimate in the time, manner and place God chooses to give them – but he says you can have it now! God says “joy in life with tribulations” – Satan says “I can cut out the tribulations and the patience and the cost!”
Besides, it could be an act, soon to be repented of, a momentary act which would be outweighed by the great good that could be accomplished – the end sanctifies the means – do a little evil that good may come. But men don’t do evil from good motives. They may say they do and deceive themselves it is so, but the motive is really selfish, in their own interest, for their own gratification and their own ease. Jesus struggled with antagonistic forces – the role of King and the willing obedience of people. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you to myself – but you would not”. Satan here says, I can save you all that.
The indignation of Jesus is evident (like Job to his wife). “Begone Satan” (if the worship of angels is forbidden how much more the Devil!)! We might wonder why Jesus had not told him to ‘get’ earlier on. He has exhausted his store of temptations in the present context, and now it is all out in the open. Satan has no more tricks up his sleeve. Having tried pushing, pulling, and lifting there’s nothing else. So the Devil leaves (“resist and he will flee” – so James), but as Luke 4:13 says, “for a season”. For example, He tries again through Peter (Matt.16:23) and even on the cross –if you be the son of God come down from the cross.
The final blow is another scripture – Deut. 6:13. This is from a pertinent context (Deut. 6:10-15), the great temptation that faced Israel in trial and prosperity. Again He speaks as a man under God – He made no use of His divine prerogatives and powers – if He had He would have removed Himself from the realms of temptation since God, as God, cannot be tempted. But He was tempted in all points as a man, and He beat the Devil as a man! (so Heb. 4:15,16)