obedience and overcome the devil. The human soul needs to be fed by something more than the bread (which only feeds the body). Although the human body cannot live without the soul, the human soul will live on eternally even without the body. It is the word of God which feeds the soul, and gives it life. It is this word which has brought us life, keeps us in life, and preserves us to eternal life. And it is this same word which Jesus successfully used to resist temptation. 4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple. The power of the devil may here be seen. By his power he bodily took Jesus, without the need of time or transport, to the highest point of the temple in Jerusalem. It is perhaps strange that Jesus allowed this to be done to him, but he wished to face Satan fully in all his evil power for our sakes. Christ's was no half-hearted battle or mock war. The word of God does not diminish the power of our enemy, but it assures us that the infinitely greater power of God is within us (1 John 4:4). 4:6 And said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you' and 'with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' " For the second time the devil tempts Christ's divinity. "If you are the Son of God,” says Satan, “then prove your indestructability”. Throw yourself down, and experience the fulfilment of scripture; God will not allow you to be hurt. But Christ had voluntarily humbled himself to become a servant and was committed to doing God's will, not forcing God's hand with impetuous actions of his
43