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The Wonderful Combat, Sermon 5.4

06 Saturday Aug 2022

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III.  [What it is to “tempt God” in the Christian life]

Thirdly, as it is a point of God’s power to help without means: so has he in his wisdom appointed means: there be degrees, whereby we ascend to the effect: they are as a pair of stairs. Where these are, we must use them; but when he offers us a strange sign, it is scrupulous & foolish niceness to refuse it.[1] As, when God bad Ahaz aske a sign, Is. 7. 12. and he would not for tempting God, he was too precise, he was but an hypocrite[2]. Moses asked a sign & had it[3], and God was well pleased with it. And so did Gideon also, to assure himself of delivering Israel by him, Judges 6. 36[4].

In great, weighty, and extraordinary callings, it was allowable to request a sign: but when there is no need, or when there be otherwise sufficient, as Matt. 16. 1 where many miracles were daily done before their eyes, and where (though they had never so many more) yet they would not have believed on him. Such were the Scribes and Pharisees, that for every trifling occasion, must have a sign from heaven[5]. Thus, to grate upon God’s omnipotent providence, is saucy malapertness.[6]

For ordinary matters, there be ordinary means to serve our turns: and for extraordinary, there be extraordinary ways and means reserved, that we need not let fall our trust in matters corporal, we all confess there be means, as they which will not work, may not eat, 2. Thes. 3. 10.[7] In warfare there is no victory to be hoped for, without fight, building of ramparts, and making of darts and shields, 2. Chron. 32. 5.[8]

Only in spiritual matters we think to do well enough, though we never put too our endeavor; we lay all upon God, and trouble not ourselves. There is but one degree or step in all Christianity; it is no more but out of the font to leap straight into heaven; from predestination, we leap straight to glorification: it is no matter for mortification, there be no such mean degrees[9]. But Saint Paul tells us, it is so high, that we had need of a ladder, in which be many steps: insomuch, as he puts a How shall to every step, Rom. 10. 14. How shall they call on God on whom they haue not beleeued? &c. There must be calling on God, believing on him, hearing his word: there must ordinary means.[10]

And there is a ladder of practice, as well as of speculation or contemplation 2. Pet. 1. 5[11]. Join virtue with your faith, & with virtue knowledge, and with knowledge temperance, and so patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love: if these things be in you, you shall not be idle and fruitless in the knowledge of Christ: for he that hath not these things, is blind: he goes blindfold to the wood, and may chance hop beside heaven, or step besides the ladder[12].

A great many say as Balaam did, O let my soule dye the death of the Righteous: but they care not for living the life of the righteous[13]. He went but blindfold, he knew not the Angel that stood with a sword drawn in the way, but would have gone upon it, if his ass had been so foolish[14]. A great many think that presumption, in being secure of their salvation, is good divinity [good theology][15]. Balaam thought he went well, when he went on the point of a naked sword[16].

So, one enticed by the flattery of a harlot, thinks he goes to a place of great pleasure: but he goes as one that goes to the slaughter, & as a fool to the stocks Proverbs7. 22[17]. Those whom it pleases God to have partakers of his kingdom, he puts them in mind to remember their Creator in the days of their youth, before the evil days come[18]: he gives them the grace of timely repentance, and suffers them not to defer it till the last cast, and then to think that with the turning of a pin (as it were) they shall with a trice be in heaven, with Elijah in a whirlwind[19].

Augustine saith, We may in some cases advise men to have great hope that they shall be saved: but in no case give them warrant of security[20]. So, in Ephes. 5. 6. This we know, that no whoremonger nor vncleane person, hath anie inheritaunce in the kingdome of heauen. Let no man deceiue you through vaine words, he that doth righteousnesse is righteous[21], and hee that doth vnrighteousnes, is of the diuel. 1 John 3.7[22].

Now therefore to neglect the hearing of the word, or when he comes to hear it, to clap down in his place without desire or mind to bear it away, thereby to be bettered in his life; and without purpose after by meditating on it, to chew it, and so to kindle a fire within himself, whereby it may be digested, and turned into the substance of the mind: this is to tempt God[23]:

So, also to bear a greater countenance, and make more show of holiness than indeed is in one, is to lay a greater yoke on himself than he need as Act. 15. 10 is a tempting of God[24]. Again, he that sins must look for evil to follow, Psal. 91. 10[25]. He therefore that sins, and yet thinks to escape punishment tempts God[26].

They that by often experience have found, that such and such things have been to them occasions of sinning, and yet will presume to use the same again, tempt God[27]. And those which set up their Idols in their heart and put the stumbling block of iniquity before their face, Ez. 14. 3[28] & yet think not they sin, such tempt God. He that comes to ask forgiveness of God and will not perform the condition in the Lords prayer, that is, Forgive others, tempts God[29].

Generally, he that seeks for good of God, & will not perform that which he is to do; or does evil, thinking to escape scot-free, without endeavoring to avoid or resist it, both these tempt God: and to these two may all other be referred[30].

Notes

God has appointed ordinary means for the spiritual life of the Christian. These are like the steps of a staircase or the rungs of a ladder. If we would progress, we must take the steps.

God is not bound by the ordinary means. And in extraordinary cases, God may even supply extraordinary evidence. But to demand an extraordinary sign when ordinary means will suffice is to tempt God.

A practical application of this might be demanding God provide an extraordinary sign when it comes to making an ordinary decision. Someone might ask themselves, “Should I take this job?” This is an ordinary decision. Wisdom, experience, advice are sufficient to make this decision. But it is not uncommon for people to look around for mystical signs as evidence from God.

If you want to eat, get a job. If you want success in battle, prepare for war.

Demanding and seeking such extraordinary signs would be to tempt God.

When it comes to spiritual matters, we are even more likely to “tempt God.” God has provided well-established means to repent, to grow in grace, to mortify sin. But it is easy and common to tempt God here. A person may think, I have been baptized, my work is done. God will get me to heaven. They want to jump from the font (the source, the beginning) to heaven (the end) without any steps in between.

But the Scripture is clear that this life from repentance to glorification is to follow a pattern. We move from faith to virtue, from virtue to knowledge, from knowledge to self-control, and so on.

There are two basic patterns for those who seek to avoid the steps of the Christian life. One is to seek the good ends of God without practicing the steps to proceed. For instance, one can seek forgiveness of sin, but refuse to grant that forgiveness to another:

Matthew 6:5–15 (ESV)

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

                        “Our Father in heaven,

                        hallowed be your name.

            10          Your kingdom come,

                        your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

            11          Give us this day our daily bread,

            12          and forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

            13          And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”

This is to tempt God: to seek the end without the appointed conditions.

A second way to tempt God is to live in unrepentant sin: I will sin without seeking to mortify sin and think that God will forgive me my sloth. I will do evil and think God will ignore it, or perhaps even reward. That also is to tempt God.

[1] We are to use the ordinary means which God has appointed for our good. But, when God does something unexpected (a strange sign), we may and should make use of that unexpected situation.

[2] Isaiah 7:10–17 (ESV)

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”

This refusal by Ahaz sounds like he is not tempting God and thus is behaving as Jesus did when tempted by the Devil. Calvin explains as follows:

And Ahaz said. By a plausible excuse he refuses the sign which the Lord offered to him. That excuse is, that he is unwilling to tempt the LORD; for he pretends to believe the words of the Prophet, and to ask nothing more from God than his word. Ungodliness is certainly detestable in the sight of God, and in like manner God unquestionably sets a high value on faith. Accordingly, if a man rely on his word alone, and disregard everything else, it might be thought that he deserves the highest praise; for there can be no greater perfection than to yield full submission and obedience to God.

But a question arises. Do we tempt God, when we accept what he offers to us? Certainly not. Ahaz therefore speaks falsehood, when he pretends that he refuses the sign, because he is unwilling to tempt God; for there can be nothing fitter or more excellent than to obey God, and indeed it is the highest virtue to ask nothing beyond the word of God; and yet if God choose to add anything to his word, it ought not to be regarded as a virtue to reject this addition as superfluous. It is no small insult offered to God, when his goodness is despised in such a manner as if his proceedings towards us were of no advantage, and as if he did not know what it is that we chiefly need. We know that faith is chiefly commended on this ground, that it maintains obedience to him; but when we wish to be too wise, and despise anything that belongs to God, we are undoubtedly abominable before God, whatever excuse we may plead before men. While we believe the word of God, we ought not to despise the aids which he has been pleased to add for the purpose of strengthening our faith.

John Calvin, Isaiah, electronic ed., Calvin’s Commentaries (Albany, OR: Ages Software, 1998), Is 7:12. Jerome comments on this passage:

To a casual onlooker he made it appear that he did not have a problem of too little faith, but rather was possessed of such deep faith that he did not want to ask for evidence. To do so, he alluded to Scripture, but like others before and after him, he took the scriptural statement out of its context. His allusion was to Deut. 6:16, where testing (or tempting, AV) the Lord was forbidden. However, the sense of that passage is of a demand for proof arising from doubt and rebellion. Such a testing is indeed repugnant to God (so also the NT: Matt. 16:4; Mark 8:12; Luke 11:29); but a testing of God which grows from faith and, out of faith, dares to rest its weight upon God, that testing God invites (so 2 K. 20:8–11; Mal. 3:10; cf. also Ps. 34:7 [Eng. 6] for a different expression of the same thought). It is obviously not belief which prompts Ahaz’s statement. If it were, he would not have continued with the plans for an alliance with Assyria. Rather, it is unbelief which gives rise to his announcement, an unbelief profound enough that it will not even permit evidence that it is wrong.

John N. Oswalt, The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1–39, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1986), 206.

[3] Exodus 4:1–9 (ESV) Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’ ” 2 The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.” 3 And he said, “Throw it on the ground.” So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent, and Moses ran from it. 4 But the Lord said to Moses, “Put out your hand and catch it by the tail”—so he put out his hand and caught it, and it became a staff in his hand— 5 “that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you.” 6 Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. 8 “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe the latter sign. 9 If they will not believe even these two signs or listen to your voice, you shall take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground, and the water that you shall take from the Nile will become blood on the dry ground.”

[4] The Angel of the Lord came to Gideon and told him that Gideon would deliver Israel from the overwhelming oppression of Midian. Gideon seeks to confirm that he understands the command he has received and that God in fact will do this wholly unexpected thing (using Gideon to deliver) Israel.  Gideon laid out a “fleece” a sheepskin on the ground overnight. He first asked that the skin be wet with dew but the ground be dry; and it was so. He then asked that the fleece be dry and the ground be wet.

[5] Despite Jesus having performed many public miracles, the leaders of Israel (Scribes & Pharisees) demanded a “sign from heaven.”

[6] Irreverent back-talking,

[7] An example of an ordinary means is that you want to eat, you need to work to get the food: “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” 2 Thess. 3:10 (ESV) God can feed us by means of a miracle, but that is not the ordinary means.

[8] 2 Chronicles 32:5 (ESV)

5 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance.

[9] Andrews notes that the Christian life proceeds through various steps: Romans 8:28–30 (ESV)  “28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” There are some who in spiritual things think that there is no need for “ordinary means” to progress. We are predestined and walk into heaven. If there is any “work” to be done, it is all of God and nothing of us. But the Scripture is different. For example, we are called to mortify (put to death) our sins: “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” Romans 8:13 (ESV)  

[10] Paul shows that the Christian life progresses by steps, as if up a ladder. We can see the steps on the ladder when Paul uses the phrase “How shall” to make each step of the passage:  “14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” Romans 10:14–15 (ESV)

[11] This is not the only “ladder” in Scripture. Peter sets out another ladder which looks more to the internal workings of a human being (“speculation”): 2 Peter 1:3–8 (ESV) “3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

[12] If you do not take the ordinary steps laid out in Scripture, you like someone walking blind. You are hoping to hop into heaven, but you won’t find the ladder which takes you there.

[13] Balaam was a prophet for hire: He was retained by the Moabite King to curse Israel, but was unable to do so. In one place he says, “

                  “10             Who can count the dust of Jacob

or number the fourth part of Israel?

                                    Let me die the death of the upright,

and let my end be like his!”

Numbers 23:10 (ESV). Andrews notes that Balaam wants the death of the righteous, but is unwilling to live the life of the righteous.

[14] As Balaam began on his trip to curse Israel, his donkey stops at something Balaam cannot see. Balaam becomes angry and tries to force the donkey to proceed. Only then does Balaam finally see what the donkey saw: an angel with a sword standing in the way.

[15] Many people think that a presumptuous security in their salvation is good theology. In our culture, this would be someone who “said a pray”, raised a hand, or was baptized, and there was nothing more to their Christian life.

[16] Balaam thought he was going well until he saw an angel with a sword ready to kill him.

[17] The foolish young man who turns into a prostitute thinks he is merely going to have a good time.

Proverbs 7:21–23 (ESV)

                  21               With much seductive speech she persuades him;

with her smooth talk she compels him.

                  22               All at once he follows her,

as an ox goes to the slaughter,

                                    or as a stag is caught fast

                  23               till an arrow pierces its liver;

                                    as a bird rushes into a snare;

he does not know that it will cost him his life.

[18] Ecclesiastes 12:1 (ESV) “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.’”

[19] The ordinary work of God in our lives is the work of hearing, believing, repenting, mortifying, worshipping, then coming to glory. But there are some who presume upon the goodness of God and think that they live as they wish then turn on a dime (a pin) and like Elijah, a chariots of fire and a whirlwind will take them to heaven.

[20] We can hold out the hope that you can be saved: this is a good promise and offer of God. But we cannot give them any assurance that they are saved (outside of the promise of God and the necessity of repentance and belief). God can save anyone. But those who live a life contrary to repentance can have no security of salvation.

[21] Ephesians 5:5–6 (ESV)  “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

[22] 1 John 3:7–8 (ESV) “Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”

[23] Here is how you tempt God: Fail to come to hear the Word preached. Come to the sermon, but don’t pay attention. Don’t take what you have heard with you; and then don’t meditate upon it so that it will work in you, “kindle a fire.”

[24] To make a show of holiness, when it is a show and not a reality, is another way to tempt God. Acts 15:6–11 (ESV) “The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. 7 And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. 10 Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? 11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.’”

[25] If you live like the Devil and want to claim the promise of God’s protection you tempt God:

Psalm 91:9–11 (ESV)

                  9                 Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

                  10               no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

                  11               For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

If “you have made the Lord your dwelling place.”

[26] Punishment follows sin. The one that sins and thinks he will escape all consequences is tempting God.

[27] Sin often proceeds by habit: There is a cue for the sin, “an occasion,” and then the sins follows. For example, in Proverbs 7 the young man goes out alone, in the dark, past the house of the harlot. He walks to the match and then the fire follows. The person who repeatedly returns to the occasion which leads to his sin, and then is “surprised” that sin follows is “tempting God.” See, Proverbs 4:23–27 (ESV)

                  23               Keep your heart with all vigilance,

for from it flow the springs of life.

                  24               Put away from you crooked speech,

and put devious talk far from you.

                  25               Let your eyes look directly forward,

and your gaze be straight before you.

                  26               Ponder the path of your feet;

then all your ways will be sure.

                  27               Do not swerve to the right or to the left;

turn your foot away from evil.

[28] Ezekiel 14:1–5 (ESV)

Then certain of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. 2 And the word of the Lord came to me: 3 “Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces. Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them? 4 Therefore speak to them and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Any one of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart and sets the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him as he comes with the multitude of his idols, 5 that I may lay hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, who are all estranged from me through their idols.

[29] The person who asks forgiveness of God and refuses to forgive others, as is stated in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:14-15), tempts God.

[30] There are basic ways in which one tempts God: First, the person who seeks good from God and then refuses to do that which God requires (forgive me, but I will not forgive others). Second, the person who does evil and then expects God to at least ignore it. He develops this a bit one: the one who sins and yet refuses to do anything to avoid the temptation which leads to the sin.

The Wonderful Combat, Sermon 5.3

04 Thursday Aug 2022

Posted by in Lancelot Andrews

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II. [In ordinary times, use ordinary means]

For the second, we are to know, that where need is, (as the Heathen speaks) there a man may commit himself to the providence of God, & rely upon him[1]. For we have heard, that where the means fail us, God hath yet in store his four prerogatives: therefore, when it comes to a dead lift (as we say) then to have a strong confidence in GOD, is thank-worthy: and it is the practice & property of faith, to say boldly with Abraham when he saw nothing present, that even on the hill God will provide, Gen. 22. 14[2].

When our enemies are behind us, and the Red Sea before us, then to look for a way through the sea, and to expect Manna out of heaven, and water out of the rock, is much worth[3]. So, our Savior, when he and his company were in the desert, where no meat was to be had, fed them miraculous: but being near to the town where they might have it, he dismissed them[4]. When Elijah was in distress, & all meats failed him, then the Angel brought him meat, 1. Kings 19. 6[5]. When Hagar and Ishmael were in the wilderness, and the water in the bottle spent, and she in great heaviness, then GOD comforted her from heaven, Gen. 21.7. When the Israelites were in the deserts, then they had an Angel to lead them, Ex. 23. 20[6]. When Sidrach, Misach and Abednago were cast bound into the fiery furnace then God sent them an Angel to be their deliverer, Dan. 3. 38[7]. And so when Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den (not when he put himself in) God sent his Angel to stop the Lions mouths, Dan. 6. 22[8]. When we are deserti in deserto[9], and all means fail, it is time to trust in God, as Jobdid[10].

Our conversation [conduct, not merely speech] therefore must be without covetousness, and we must be content with those things that we have: for he hath said, he will not fail us, nor forsake us, Heb. 13. 5[11]. This [takes] it out of the compass of tempting God, and this is as much as the Psalm could warrant him to look for[12]. Look upon it[13], and you shall see, that it expresses such dangers, as could not be prevented by man’s care & industry, as, from the snare of the hunter, v. 3. who uses to lay it so as we cannot see it to avoid it. Ver. 5. Thou shalt not feare the arrowe that flyeth by daye. An arrow (we know) will reach a man far off before he be aware. And so, throughout the Psalm, they are things out of our defense, therefore they need Angel’s help: but when we have means to help ourselves, God’s omnipotence is for the time discharged[14]. Eutychus that fell out of a window by heaviness of sleep, was restored to life by Paul, Acts 20. 9[15]. This then is Christ’s answer, If there were no stairs, and he must needs go down, it were a good Scripture to meditate on.

Notes

When may we look for God to miraculously intervene? When there are ordinary means to solve our trouble, we are to look to ordinary means. If you are sick and there is medical treatment available, look to the medical treatment. But when there are no ordinary means, we may look to God directly. If the medical treatment cannot save us, then we can look to God to save us.

This is good direction: There is a kind of Christian who looks to God to resolve our problems without normal human intervention: I will have money to pay bills without work. I will have health without taking care of my health. And so on. To do this is presume upon God, to “tempt” God.

There is another kind of Christian who will never look to God and will seek to solve all problems around God and without God. This is the temptation to turn stones into bread.

The temptation of the pinnacle offers a good illustration of this: If there are stairs, take the stairs: do not jump. But if you are pushed from the pinnacle, trust in God.

[1] “Where need is”: where there is a lack of something which puts someone in need. When we are truly in a circumstance where we cannot proceed or where we suffer the lack of something, we should properly trust God to care for us. We are to commit ourselves to the providence of God.

[2] When we have exhausted all of the ordinary means, or where there is no ordinary means to resolve our difficulty, it is appropriate to rely upon God to resolve our trouble. The passage referenced concerns God’s command to Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, the son of promise. The command of God is twice troubling: First, there is the obvious problem of a human sacrifice, particularly of one who is beloved. But with Abraham, the command of God was to destroy the very thing which God had promised Abraham. God promised Abraham as a son. Abraham had waited decades for God to fulfill that promise. And only through Abraham would God fulfill the promises to Abraham of a land and a people. To kill Isaac was for all of God’s promises to apparently fail. However, God provided a substitute for the life of Isaac. “So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The LORD will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.’” Genesis 22:14 (ESV)

[3] Andrews recounts God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites in Exodus. First, Israel was pinned between the Egyptian Army on oneside and the Red Sea on the other. God provided an escape through the Red Sea.  (Ex. 14) Second, in the wilderness, the people ran out of food. God provided “manna” to feed the people. (Ex. 16) Third, when there was no water to be had, God provided water from a rock. (Ex. 17:1-7) From this Andrews concludes: When we have no ordinary means to go ahead, God has the wisdom and power to provide for us miraculously.

[4] For instance, in Matthew 14, the crowd remained with Jesus until the end of the day. Since they were in a “desolate place” (Matt. 14:15), Jesus did not send them away but fed them miraculously

[5] Elijah was in a desolate place and could find nothing to eat. There, God miraculously fed him.

[6] God says to Moses, “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.” Exodus 23:20 (ESV)

[7] The three refused to worship an idol set up by the King of Babylon. For their refusal, they were cast into a “fiery furnace.” They miraculously survived the ordeal. And one “like the son the gods” (Dan. 3:25) was seen in the furnace with them.

[8] Daniel did not look for persecution or trouble. But when persecution found him, God saved him.

[9] Deserted in the desert.

[10] We are to use ordinary means.  But where there are no ordinary means, we are to rely upon God.

[11] We are to be content with what God provides. When God provides ordinary means, we are to be content. When there are no ordinary means to escape, we are to be content knowing that God has not deserted us: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5 (ESV)

[12] The promise of the Psalm quoted by the Devil should not be taken as a blanket promise that no difficulty would ever befall Jesus (or us). But rather, a promise that God has the ability in the midst of extraordinary difficulties to provide an extraordinary remedy.

[13] Andrews quotes lines from the Psalm to prove his point. The troubles listed a “snare” and an “arrow” are both things that one might be able to avoid with ordinary means: A snare is unseen and an arrow can shoot you from a place you did not expect. God promises protection for these troubles we cannot avoid by ordinary means. Therefore, an “angel’s help” is offered.

[14] When we have ordinary means, we should not look to God to provide an extraordinary protection.

[15] Eutychus was a young man listening to Paul speak late into the evening. He would have without question have been working all day, the evening being the only time he could be free. Eutychus fell asleep and fell from the window. But God miraculously spared and raised Eutychus.

The Wonderful Combat, Sermon 5.2

27 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by in Lancelot Andrews

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I. [What it is to tempt God]

First, whosoever will not use such ordinary means as God hath appointed, tempts God[1]: if he use extraordinary, (as here the Devil would have Christ do) when nobody went about to thrust him down, willfully to have cast himself down, were great madness: or when a man hath a faire pair of stairs to go down by to call for a Cherub to carry him, or for the wind to fly down, Psalm 18. 10[2] were great wantonness[3].

There is an humor in man[4], that we are all given unto by nature; to be marvelous desirous to try conclusions, in matters that are rare, and unknown unto them contemning things common, and to be fond after strange novelties[5]. It was told them as plain as could be, that they should not reserve of the Manna till morning, and they needed not to have reserved it, they had flesh every day: and yet forsooth they would needs keep it[6], if it were but for an experiment sake, to try whether it would stink or no, Ex. 16. 20[7]. And though they were forbidden to gather on the Sabaoth day, and on the even had enough for two days, and it was told them they should find none; yet they must needs try. When a thing cannot bee had without great difficulty, it is our manner to have a vehement longing after it, as when David was in a hold, and the garrisons of the Philistines were in Bethlehem, then being thirsty, no water would serve his turn, but that in Bethlehem, 2. Sam. 23. 15. But when three mighty men, had broken into the host of the Philistines, & had brought him of it, he cared not for it[8].

Notes

What does it mean to “tempt God?” Andrews takes it as presumptuous misuse of what God has provided. God has given us “ordinary means” to live in this world. While God is capable of miracles, we are not to presume God will provide such a miracle. To jump from a building and to expect God to save us is to presume upon God’s goodness. You will also hit the ground. 

We would agree that the person who jumped from the tower was a madman. But are there places in which we do presume upon God’s goodness? Do we do something foolish and say, “I did this for God, so God will bless me?” I have seen very heated conversations on the question as to whether a particular decision is a matter of trusting God or presuming upon God. While leaping from a building may an easy call, there are other matters which are less clear.

For instance, a man with a perfectly stable job quits his job and moves him family to a new city to attend seminary to be a pastor. Is this a pious act of faith, or a presumptuous tempting of God (God, I gave up my job, so you have to take care of my family)?

We are susceptible to this ploy not merely through false piety. It can also come about because we want what we do not have. It is easy to seek to justify our vain curiosity on the supposedly pious ground.

The test which Andrews lays out for us is this: Has God provided an “ordinary means” to accomplish this end? It is not presumption to take the stairs down to the ground floor. Perhaps if we asked ourselves pointedly, “What is the ordinary means to accomplish this end” we would be spared much sorrow.

[1] By “ordinary means”, Andrews means the normal way in which something is done. When just proceed in the world without asking to

[2] Psalm 18:6–10 (ESV)

                  6                 In my distress I called upon the Lord;

to my God I cried for help.

                                    From his temple he heard my voice,

and my cry to him reached his ears.

                  7                 Then the earth reeled and rocked;

the foundations also of the mountains trembled

and quaked, because he was angry.

                  8                 Smoke went up from his nostrils,

and devouring fire from his mouth;

glowing coals flamed forth from him.

                  9                 He bowed the heavens and came down;

thick darkness was under his feet.

                  10               He rode on a cherub and flew;

he came swiftly on the wings of the wind.

[3] God has appointed “ordinary means” for us to conduct our lives. We use ladders and walk down stairs. If we jump off a building and say, “God catch me!” We are either crazy or extremely sinful.

[4] A natural disposition.

[5] We are always curious about those things which have not experienced. We tend to ignore those things of which we have had experience. This was an issue which would have been a matter of consideration at this time.  There was a great deal of exploration. Modern science was beginning to test everything. The question of curiosity a live issue at the time of this sermon. Consider the following notice by Francis Bacon in a letter to his uncle, Lord Burghley dated 1592:

I confess that I have as vast contemplative ends, as I have moderate civil ends: for I have taken all knowledge to be my province; and if I could purge it of two sorts of rovers, whereof the one with frivolous disputations, confutations, and verbosities, the other with blind experiments and auricular traditions and impostures, hath committed so many spoils, I hope I should bring in industrious observations, grounded conclusions, and profitable inventions and discoveries; the best state of that province. This, whether it be curiosity, or vain glory, or nature, or (if one take it favourably) philanthropia, is so fixed in my mind as it cannot be removed. And I do easily see, that place of any reasonable countenance doth bring commandment of more wits than of a man’s own; which is the thing I greatly affect. (Bacon 1857–74, VIII, 109)

Quoted, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/francis-bacon/

[6] Truly, this would be something they would “have to” do.

[7] Exodus 16:18–20 (ESV)  18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them.

[8] When David could not get into Bethlehem, he said, I wish I could drink from the well in Bethlehem. Andrews’ point is we human have a tendency to want what we cannot have and look into what is not our business. It was this tendency for a sort of discontentment which the Devil is seeking to exploit by means of this temptation.

The Wonderful Combat, Sermon 5.1

27 Wednesday Jul 2022

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The Fifth Sermon


Matth. 4. Ver. 7. Iesus said vnto him, It is written againe: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God[1].

Considering that Saint James says chap. 4. 5. The Scripture speaketh nothing in vaine[2]: & that as our Savior Christ saith John 10. 35, No scripture can be disappointed[3]; it may seem strange that the Devil coming armed with The sword of the spirite[4], (for so is the word of God termed, Ephes. 6. 17.) Christ gives not place, but opposes himself to answer[5]. We see that a message coming in the name of the Lord, this very name abashed Nehemiah(Neh. 6. 10) at the first hearing, till he perceived it was contrary to the law of God, and so came not from him[6]: which here we see to be the cause, why Christ does not yield by and by, upon the hearing of the Word, but sets himself to make answer: forsomuch as the word is not of force, Quia dicitur[7] onely, but Quia creditur, as Augustine notes[8]. If there bee not the mixture of faith with it, (whereof Paulspeakes, Heb. 4. 2.) it is nothing worth. And therefore, the bad spirit was nothing abashed or daunted, at the hearing of the bare names of Jesus and Paul, Act. 19. 15, but answered, I know them, but who are ye?[9] They did not believe, and therefore could do them no good, but were wounded themselves: glorious names would not serve the turn[10]. So was it here used without faith.[11]

When the Scripture is here urged against one, a man would think it were not to be answered by citing another place of Scripture; but by some tradition of the Elders, Mark 7. 1 or some gloss, or other shift[12]; but we see our Savior answers here no other way but by Scripture.

Because the wolf comes sometimes disguised in a sheep’s skin, it is no reason that therefore the very sheep should lay away their fleeces[13]: so here, because the Devil uses the Word, as the slaying letter, 2. Cor. 3. 6 or as the sword to kill men with[14]; it is no reason why Christ may not therefore use it in his own defense[15].

Why then (will some say) one of these two inconveniences will follow: [1] that hereby we shall think the Scripture is of the Devil’s side, as well as of Christ’s side, & so divided; as in like sort they make a division of Christ, when one holds with Paul, another of Apollos, 1 Cor. 1. 13[16]. No, it is not so, Christ alleges[17] not this Scripture in that sort, as one nail to drive out another: but by way of harmony and exposition, that the one may make plain the meaning of the other[18].

For albeit the Devil shows himself to be the Devil, in citing that text so, as might best serve for his purpose: in that, whereas the Psalm whereout he taketh it, has it thus, That he might keepe him in all his wayes; which words he leaves out[19]. For if he had cited that, he could not thereby have enforced any casting down: for the angels have no charge over a man, but in his ways; & from the top of the pinnacle there was no way, but down the stairs on his feet[20]. He was not (relying on the angels) to cast himself down with his head forward. But the Devil has a wrest, to make the string sound high or low, as he list[21]; or if that will not serve, he hath a rack to stretch them out, as some did Saint Paul’s Epistles, 2. Pet. 3. 16[22]. He can set them on the tenters, to prove, that down the stairs, or over the battlements, all is one, the angels shall safeguard him.

Though this (I say) be the Devil’s corruption, which the late writers have well spied: yet Christ (we see) is not willing to take advantage of that, but uses a wiser course[23]; for so are we to think, that he went the best way to work, that is, the conference of Scripture with Scripture, which Christ here practices, and commends unto us.

In every art, all propositions are not of a like certainty, but some be grounds and principles so certain, as that no exception is to be taken against them. From them are others derived, by a consequence called deduction, not so certain as the other: from these again to others, to the twentieth-hand[24]. So is it in Divinity [theology]. Christ here reduces the Devil’s argument & place, to a place most plain to be confessed. For the Jews valuing of the means, had to consider, that God fed them with Manna, which they knew not, to teach them, that Man liueth not by bread onely, Deut. 8.3[25] condemning the same: and in Deut. 6. 16  bad [said, exhorted] them they should not tempt their Lord their God, as in Massah, when they cried for bread.[26]

The Lord curses him, that makes flesh his arm, and withdraws his heart from God, Jer. 17. 5[27]. They sacrificed unto their yarn, because their portion was plentiful, Hab 1. 16[28]. Job condemns the making gold our hope, or the wedge of gold our confidence, chap. 31. ver. 24[29]. As then we[30] must not deify the means, attributing all sufficiency to them: so, we may not nullify them, & think too basely of them, but use them, that we tempt not God, according to his Word.

Out of these two grounds, may every question be resolved: for every proposition must be proved out of the ground.[31] So that, as we may not think the arm of God to be so shortened, that he cannot help without means: so are we not to think basely of God, for ordaining means[32].

Secondly, we heard, that the Devil’s allegation was taken out of the Psalm, and one of the most comfortable places of all the Psalms[33]. Christ by not standing in disputation about the words and meaning of the text, commends to us the safest and wisest way to make answer in such like cases. Our Savior would warn us, that the Psalm 91 is not fit matter for us to study on, when we are on the top of the pinnacle: he therefore chooses a place of a contrary kind, to counterpoise himself, standing in that tickle place[34].

The Law (we know) is a great cooler to presumption. If one tamper much with the Psalms, being in the case of confidence, he may make the fire too big[35]. Faith is the fire which Christ came to put on the earth[36], and it is seated between two extremes, Distrust, and Presumption. Distrust is as water to it, which if it be powered on in abundance, it will make it to be smoking flax, or utterly quench it[37]: Presumption (on the other side) is a gunpowder to it, which being thrown into it, it will blow it up, and make it fly all about the house[38]. Christ was to take heed of over-heating his faith. Luther [writing] upon the Galatians saith, the 91[st] Psalm is no meet study for many  men’s humors in our days: they had more need of a corrosive, to eat out the soar of the root and bottom[39].

Notes

In this section, Andrews provides instruction on how to understand and make use of Scripture. The first proposition is that Scripture is not a magic recitation. He gives the example of the exorcists who heard of Paul exorcising demons in the name of Jesus. These men, who did not have faith in Jesus, who did not belong to him, thought that merely using the name would give them power. It was not so. It is not the saying of the words, but the believing reception of the words which is efficacious. An unbeliever handling the Scripture will not profit them.

The Devil is the ultimate unbeliever and hence his quotation of the Scripture was not to his profit.

Second proposition: One would have supposed that Jesus would have contested the Devil’s presentation by arguing over the meaning of the passage (indeed, the Devil takes the passage out of context, as Andrews will argue later in this section). But Jesus rebuts the Devil by showing that Scripture is to be read as a harmonious whole. Yes, the Scripture here in this way, but it also provides further clarity on our relationship to God in another place. We must consider both passages to understand either.

All our understanding of the Scripture must be as harmonious. If we come to an understanding which results in conflicts where either one or the other passage must be right (where one nail drives out another), our understanding is incorrect.

The Devil misuses the Scripture in a way to cause a conflict with other passages, and a conflict even with the immediate Psalm.

This leads Andrews to make a comment on the question of God’s use of ordinary means to perform ends. The common way to come down from a pinnacle is by the stairs, not to leap and let the angels catch you before you hit the ground. God is not bound by the means. He most commonly provides us by breach by cause the grain to grow from the ground. But God is not bound by means. He can provide bread in the wilderness without apparent means.

He provides a final observation on the use of the Scripture. There are passages which give us much comfort and hope such as the 91st Psalm. Taken by itself, without reference to the rest of Scripture, could easily lead one to presumption:

Psalm 91:1–13 (ESV)

91 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

            2           I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

            3           For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler

and from the deadly pestilence.

            4           He will cover you with his pinions,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

            5           You will not fear the terror of the night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

            6           nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,

nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

            7           A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

            8           You will only look with your eyes

and see the recompense of the wicked.

            9           Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

            10          no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

            11          For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

            12          On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

            13          You will tread on the lion and the adder;

the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

This could lead one to think that no danger will ever befall me. But we must not read these promises as absolute and disregard the remainder of the Scripture. Consider the life of Christ, himself. He was arrested, falsely accused, beaten, then crucified. He himself promised we would have trouble in this world.  We have the book of Job and Ecclesiastes as well as the Psalms and Proverbs.

Our reading of the Scripture must be of the whole, not isolated parts. Read alone without reference to whole could lead to despair or presumption; the twin dangers which the Devil has sought to exploit in the first two temptations.

Christ’s defense to the Devil’s misuse of Scripture was more Scripture.

What this means for our application is that our knowledge of the Scripture must be more complete. I do not recall the precise reference, but I recall reading in Chrysostom an admonition to the congregation that they go out unarmed, because they do not know the Scripture.

[1] Matthew 4:7 (ESV) “Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ””

[2] James 4:5 (ESV)  “Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’?” Andrews takes the proposition used in the particular in James, do you suppose this one particular statement is of “no purpose,”, i.e., vain and applies it generally. This is an appropriate use of the passage, because the specific application presumes the general. If the Scripture could speak in vain, then the particular instance could be vain. However if the Scripture always speaks to purpose, then all particular instances speak to purpose.

[3] John 10:35 (ESV) “If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—” I am not sure where Andrews got the word “disappointed.” It is possible conceptually to obtain “fail” as an idea related to the Greek verb used in this place: the verb means to untie, to loose, to set free, to destroy. So one could see a metaphorical use which would have the connotation of “disappoint.” But the word “broken” was used going back to Tyndale, and was used in the Geneva.

[4] The “sword of the Spirit”. Eph. 6:17.

[5] The argument runs thus, The Scripture cannot fail in its effect. The Devil quotes from the Bible and says to Jesus, “Do you really believe this promise that you will be hurt if you fall?” The Devil seems to have caught Jesus in a dilemma.

[6] The passage reads:  “9 For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen my hands. 10 Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.” 11 But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” 12 And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.” When Nehemiah first heard considered the words might come from God he was concerned. But upon understanding that this was not God’s word to him, he put it aside. By analogy: The Devil’s use of Scripture gives the appearance of being a word from God, but it was a misuse of the text.

[7] Latin, what is said.

[8] Latin, What is believed. The source is quoted by Calvin in the Institutes: “At longe aliter de Verbo sacramentali docet Augustinus (hom. in Ioann. 13.): ‘Accedat, inquit, verbum ad ele mentum, et fiet sacramentum. Unde enim ista tanta virtus aquae ut corpus tangat, et cor abluat, nisi faciente verbo? non quia dicitur, sed quia creditur. Nam et in ipso verbo aliud est sonus transiens, aliud virtus manens. Hoc est verbum fidei quod praedicamus, inquit Apostolus (Rom. 10:8.). Unde in Actis Apostolorum, Fide mundans corda eorum (Act. 15:9.). Et Petrus Apostolus, Sic et nos Baptisma salvos facit, non depositio sordium carnis, sed conscientiae bonae interrogalio (1 Petr. 3:21.). Hoc est verbum fidei quod praedicamus: quo sine dubio, ut mundare possit, consecratur et Baptismus.’” John Calvin, Institutio Christianae Religionis, vol. 2 (Berolini: Gustavum Eichler, 1834), 352. “Far different is the teaching of Augustine concerning the sacramental word: ‘Let the word be added to the element and it will become a sacrament. For whence comes this great power of water, that in touching the body it should cleanse the heart, unless the word makes it? Not because it is said, but because it is believed. In the word itself the fleeting sound is one thing; the power remaining, another. ‘This is the word of faith which we proclaim,’ says the apostle [Rom. 10:8]. Accordingly, in The Acts of the Apostles: ‘Cleansing their hearts by faith’ [Acts 15:9]. And the apostle Peter: ‘Thus baptism … saves us, not as a removal of filth from the flesh, but as an appeal … for a good conscience …’ [1 Peter 3:21 p.]. ‘This is the word of faith which we proclaim’ [Rom. 10:8], by which doubtless baptism, that it may be able to cleanse, is also consecrated.’” John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion & 2, ed. John T. McNeill, trans. Ford Lewis Battles, vol. 1, The Library of Christian Classics (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2011), 1279.

[9] Acts 19:13–16 (ESV) “13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

[10] The name of Jesus was not a magic word, which merely saying commands evil spirits.

[11] The words of Scripture are not magic. They are used by the Spirit when received by faith.

[12] One would think that the response to be presented with a proposition from Scripture and being told, do you believe this? Would respond with, “You have misinterpreted the passage. It does not mean what you say it means.” The “tradition of elders” means an authoritative interpretation of the most respected teachers. A “gloss” means an explanatory paraphrase. A “shift” would be something else which would “shift” the basis of the proposition.

[13] The metaphor is based upon Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:15 that false prophets will come “in sheep’s clothing”, i.e., disguised as a sheep and thus a true follower. Andrews means, that just because a false prophet comes in sheep’s clothing is no reason to give up the flock. More particularly, just because you are defined by the Scripture, it does not mean that you should give up the Scripture when it is misused by someone. A present application of this proposition would be found in those who some proposition out of the Bible which appears to either contradict the rest of Scripture or which makes the Bible sound unfair or unjust. In response, rather than permitting the Bible to defend itself, we run to some other source of authority.

[14] 2 Corinthians 3:4–6 (ESV) “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

[15] The Devil’s misuses the Scripture is no reason for Christ to abandon the Scripture.

[16] The Corinthian church had broken up into factions which each claimed they were followers of a particular teacher, such as Paul, or Apollos, or Peter. The letter addresses this ungodly fracturing.

[17] An “allegation” here does not mean an accusation in a legal document which has yet to be proved, but rather an assertion.

[18] Andrews here lays down a rule of interpretation. Scripture is not to be read in such a way that one text trumps another: like hammering a nail on a nail drives the bottom nail out of the wood. This can happen when one reads the Bible as if it were a series of separate books which have been cobbled together, the books with different ends and different authors. Rather, the Scripture is to be read as a consistent harmony. We cannot take Scripture out of context, and in the end, the context is the entire Bible. This principle was set forth in the Westminster Confession as follows: “VII. All things in scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all;p yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed, and observed, for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of the ordinary means, may attain unto a sufficient understanding of them.” Westminster Assembly, The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition (Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851), 19.

[19] Here the ESV reads:

Psalm 91:11–14 (ESV)

                  11               For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.  The Geneva has “to kepe thee in all thy ways” as does the Matthew’s translation. The difference between Andrews and the Geneva or Matthews is “to keep him” and “to keep you.”

[20] This is an interesting reading of the verse: the verse was not a promise that the angels would protect no matter the psalmist did (here referring to the Messiah). But the protection was afforded for him being where he was called to be.

[21] He compares the Devil’s speech to one tuning a stringed instrument: The Devil can twist the string however much he desires so that it will play the note he wishes to obtain, that is, he can make words sound however he wishes them to sound.

[22] 2 Peter 3:14–16 (ESV)  “14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” The Devil can even twist Scripture to a bad end.

[23] Rather than demonstrate that the Devil has misapplied the Scripture in place here, Christ has chosen a different form of response by referencing other Scripture to show that Scripture as a whole must be read in harmony.

[24] Any area of knowledge consists of basic principles or axioms which are taken as certain. From those basic principles other propositions may be determined by means of deduction.

[25] Deuteronomy 8:1–3 (ESV) “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

[26] Deuteronomy 6:16 (ESV) “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.”  Andrews is underscoring not merely that Jesus is reading the Bible as a harmony, but even the two verses he has quoted so far in response to the first two temptations are part of the same exhortation to the Israelites in the wilderness. First, God tested them so that they would learn they need to live upon God and not merely upon physical objects, like bread. God is the God of bread. Second, they should not “test” God by complaining that God is not meeting their immediate demands.

[27] Jeremiah 17:5 (ESV)

                  5                 Thus says the Lord:

                                    “Cursed is the man who trusts in man

and makes flesh his strength,

whose heart turns away from the Lord.”

[28] Habakkuk 1:16 (ESV)

                  16               Therefore he sacrifices to his net

and makes offerings to his dragnet;

                                    for by them he lives in luxury,

and his food is rich.

Their “yarn” would be the line they used to make their net.

[29] Job 31:24–28 (ESV)

                  24               “If I have made gold my trust

or called fine gold my confidence,

                  25               if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant

or because my hand had found much,

                  26               if I have looked at the sun when it shone,

or the moon moving in splendor,

                  27               and my heart has been secretly enticed,

and my mouth has kissed my hand,

                  28               this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges,

for I would have been false to God above.

[30] We must not understand the things in the world as having an efficacy in-and-of themselves. Food does not support our life because food has it in itself to support life, but because God has caused food to support our life. This is not to deny the reality or usefulness of food (for instance), but to understand that food is a creation and is subject to the Creator:  “God in his ordinary providence maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at his pleasure.” Westminster Assembly, The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition, Chapter 5.3 (Philadelphia: William S. Young, 1851), 35.

[31] There must be a proper basis for any conclusion.

[32] Two points: First, we must not think that God’s power is limited to the use of means. God can work without means. Second, we must not think God is weak because he uses means.

[33] The Devil chose his text to tempt Jesus by using one of the most comforting passages among all of the Psalms.

[34] When we are in such a “ticklish” place, dangerous place, Jesus gives the proper way to respond. It is not a time for arguing.

[35] It would be easy to take certain texts, such as those which speak of God’s love and mercy out of the context of the entire Bible. God is a God mercy, but equally a God of justice. We are given the Psalms for comfort and the Law for direction.

[36] Luke 12:49 (ESV) “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!”

[37] If we find ourselves beset by distrust of God, it can act to quench faith, like water being poured on a fire.

[38] Presumption is a misuse of faith. Bringing presumption to faith is like bringing gunpowder to a fire.

[39] At this time, the greater problem is presuming upon the grace of God, rather than being fearful that God will hold anyone to account.

The Wonderful Combat 4.4

21 Thursday Jul 2022

Posted by in Lancelot Andrews, temptation

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III.      [The Devil Sings us to the Pinnacle]

The Devil’s dart is▪ Cast thee downe[1]: but he bestows some great cost on this. With the self-same armor that Christ bare off the other dart, does the Devil sharpen and harden this: he does not so in any other of the temptations, therefore we are to look for great matter: he brings scripture, that he may be the better credited. He speaks not now after the manner of men, 1. Cor. 9. 8[2], so that it is not he now that speaks, but Scripture, as Paul reasons there. You see (saith he) I counsel you to nothing, but that the Psalms will bear you out in[3].

The Devil knew well by his own fall, how dangerous the sin of presumption is, it cost him dearly[4], and so did Davidlikewise, and therefore of all other, he prays to God to keep him from presumptuous sins: Ps. 19. 13[5]. He knew also what it was to abuse the goodness, patience and long suffering of God, Rom. 2. 4.[6] Therefore he avouches it by Scripture: he tells him it will be long to go down the stairs, and teaches him a nearer way, but a jump, or to cast himself down, and to fear no hurt, for the Angels have charge of him[7].

And even so he persuades men now-a-days; that they need not go down faire and softly, in fear and trembling, but to defer all till their dying hour, & then commend themselves to God, and throw themselves upon Gods mercy, and that fiery Chariot that took up  Elijah[8] shall come and fetch up them: or else an angel shall carry them up, let them be sure they shall have no harm, for they be God’s darlings, and God doth so dote on them, that he will not suffer them in any case to receive the least hurt that may be[9].

If ever the Devil came in his likeness, it was here. In the first of Sam. 28.18. he came but in the guise of a Prophet[10]: so that instead of saying, Is Saule among the Prophets?[11] it might have been said, “What, is the Devil among the prophets?” But here he has used himself so cunningly, that if ever he was transformed into an angel of light, here it is verified. 1. Cor. 11. 14[12] for he comes here like a white devil, or like a Divine[13], he comes with a Psalter in his hand, and turns to the place, & shows our Savior the 91st  Psalm vers. 11. and 12[14]. wherein first we are to note, that the Devil reads Psalms, as well as we, and hath the words of Scripture in his mouth. And 1. Sam. 28. he counterfeited Samuel so right, and used the very words that he had used, that they could not know him from Samuel: so, here he counterfeited the voce of David[15], Act. 19. 15[16].

This will make us shake off security, considering that God does (for our trial) sometime deliver the adversary the key of the armory, whereby he is able to hold argument with an Archangell, Jude 9[17], yea, with Christ himself, as we see here. How careful therefore had we need to be, to find out a fit answer for him? For only to assault us does he read he Scriptures: yea, but not to anu good end, but even thereby to deceive the simplicity of men; as here, to make them put their souls in adventure to the last hour.[18]

He has indeed a grace with some vain youths of the Court[19], & ungodly Atheists, to set them a scoffing at the Scripture, as Is. 28. 22. But with others, that have the Scriptures in more high reverence, he goes another way to work, making it to them the savor of death, Roman. chapt. 7. vers. 10.[20]

The words which he uses in the name of Samuel, he uses to make Saul despair: and here he uses David’s words to cause presumption, and to make them our bane. And not every Scripture: but if there be any Scripture more full of heavenly comfort than another, that of all other will the Devil abuse; as indeed the Psalms are; and of all the Psalms, this 91. Especially, and in that part, if any one sentence be sweeter than another, that of all other will the Devil abuse[21].

Mark the second verse here cited. He shall giue his Angells charge ouer thee, to keepe thee in all thy ways[22]. These last wordes the Devil leaves out, because they make not for his purpose. They shall beare thee in their hands, that thou dash not thy foote against a stone[23]. And we shall see nothing can be spoken more comfortable: as first, in that it is said, that the Angels have charge over vs in all our ways: Exod. 23. 20. Behold I send my Angell before thee, to guide thee in the way[24], and to comfort, and confirm us: as when Jacob was in fear of his brother Esau, the Angel met him, Gen. 32. 1. and to defend us in all dangers[25], and succor us in all necessities, spreading their wings over vs, and pitching their tents about us, Ps. 34. 7.[26]

Secondly, this charge not only concerns our head and principal members, but also our feet: yea, God’s providence reaches even to the hairs of our head, for they are numbered, Mat. 10. 30[27].

Thirdly, this charge of theirs is not only to admonish us when danger comes, but they are actually to help us, as it were putting their hands between the ground and us. Mat. 13. 41[28] they shall take the rubs and offences out of our way[29].

Fourthly, this do they not of courtesy, as being creatures given of nature to love mankind, but by special mandate and charge they are bound to it, and have a praecipe [Latin, mandate/charge] for it, yea, the very beasts & stones shall be in league with us. Job. 5. 23[30].

This Psalm, and these verses containing such comfort, hath the Devil culled to persuade men, that being such sweet Children of God, they may venture whether and upon what they will; for the Angels attend them at an inch. He bids them put the matter in adventure[31], and then but whistle for an angel, and they will come at first[32]: he carries them up to the top of the pinnacle, and shows them their own case in Annas and Herod; and tells them God will require no more of them, than he did at their hands: & all the way as they go up, he sings them a Psalm of the mercies of God[33]:  he carries them up with a song, that God’s mercy is above all his works, Psalm. 145. 9[34]. And with Psalm. 103.8 how gracious and long-suffring God is, who rewards us not according to our deserts[35]: and Psalm. 136. That his mercie endureth for euer[36]: God therefore being so full of mercy, will take all things in good part. But this mercy theDevil tells them of, differs from the mercy David [the Psalmist] meant: for the mercy David speaks of, is coupled with judgement[37], Ps. 101. 1. I will sing mercie and iudgement to thee O Lord[38]: and Ps. 85. 10. Mercie & truth are met together, Iustice and peace haue kissed each other[39]. Thus I say they shall have music all the way[40], & if any at the height think it a great way down: no, saith the Devil, you need but a jump from your baptism into heaven, you shall need no stairs at all[41].

Notes:

This section raises the matter which Bonhoffer so strikingly called “cheap grace”:

CHEAP GRACE IS THE mortal enemy of our church.[1] Our struggle today is for costly grace.

Cheap grace means grace as bargain-basement goods, cut-rate forgiveness, cut-rate comfort, cut-rate sacrament; grace as the church’s inexhaustible pantry, from which it is doled out by careless hands without hesitation or limit. It is grace without a price, without costs. It is said that the essence of grace is that the bill for it is paid in advance for all time. Everything can be had for free, courtesy of that paid bill. The price paid is infinitely great and, therefore, the possibilities of taking advantage of and wasting grace are also infinitely great. What would grace be, if it were not cheap grace?

Cheap grace means grace as doctrine, as principle, as system. It means forgiveness of sins as a general truth; it means God’s love as merely a Christian idea of God. Those who affirm it have already had their sins forgiven. The church that teaches this doctrine of grace thereby confers such grace upon itself. The world finds in this church a cheap cover-up for its sins, for which it shows no remorse and from which it has even less desire to be set free. Cheap grace is, thus, denial of God’s living word, denial of the incarnation[2] of the word of God.

Cheap grace means justification of sin but not of the sinner. Because grace alone does everything, everything can stay in its old ways

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Discipleship, ed. Martin Kuske et al., trans. Barbara Green and Reinhard Krauss, vol. 4, Dietrich Bonhoeffer Works (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003), 43. The Devil comes to us and tell us that God is all made up of mercy and grace, and that we, having been baptized can fall right into heaven (as he strikingly ends this section).

This false portrayal of God has been a danger throughout the history of the church. In our age, it is coupled with the idea that a God who punishes sin is unworthy to be God. It is presumption on our part: we presume that God will forgive all and everything, that sin is a very small thing.

Thomas Brooks explains that such a lie of Satan must be combated with the utmost gravity and consideration of the truth of the circumstance:

Remedy (3). The third remedy against this device of Satan is, seriously to consider, That sins against mercy will bring the greatest and sorest judgments upon men’s heads and hearts. Mercy is Alpha, Justice is Omega. David, speaking of these attributes, placeth mercy in the foreward, and justice in the rearward, saying, ‘My song shall be of mercy and judgment,’ Ps. 101:1. When mercy is despised, then justice takes the throne.4 God is like a prince, that sends not his army against rebels before he hath sent his pardon, and proclaimed it by a herald of arms: he first hangs out the white flag of mercy; if this wins men in, they are happy for ever; but if they stand out, then God will put forth his red flag of justice and judgment; if the one is despised, the other shall be felt with a witness.5

See this in the Israelites. He loved them and chose them when they were in their blood, and most unlovely. He multiplied them, not by means, but by miracle; from seventy souls they grew in few years to six hundred thousand; the more they were oppressed, the more they prospered. Like camomile, the more you tread it, the more you spread it; or to a palm-tree, the more it is pressed, the further it spreadeth; or to fire, the more it is raked, the more it burneth. Their mercies came in upon them like Job’s messengers, one upon the neck of the other: He put off their sackcloth, and girded them with gladness, and ‘compassed them about with songs of deliverance;’ he ‘carried them on the wings of eagles;’ he kept them ‘as the apple of his eye’ &c.6 But they, abusing his mercy, became the greatest objects of his wrath. As I know not the man that can reckon up their mercies, so I know not the man that can sum up the miseries that are come upon them for their sins. For as our Saviour prophesied concerning Jerusalem, ‘that a stone should not be left upon a stone,’ so it was fulfilled forty years after his ascension, by Vespasian the emperor and his son Titus, who, having besieged Jerusalem, the Jews were oppressed with a grievous famine, in which their food was old shoes, old leather, old hay, and the dung of beasts. There died, partly of the sword and partly of the famine, eleven hundred thousand of the poorer sort; two thousand in one night were embowelled; six thousand were burned in a porch of the temple; the whole city was sacked and burned, and laid level to the ground; and ninety-seven thousand taken captives, and applied to base and miserable service, as Eusebius and Josephus saith.1 And to this day, in all parts of the world, are they not the off-scouring of the world? None less beloved, and none more abhorred, than they.2

And so Capernaum, that was lifted up to heaven, was threatened to be thrown down to hell. No souls fall so low into hell, if they fall, as those souls that by a hand of mercy are lifted up nearest to heaven. You slight souls that are so apt to abuse mercy, consider this, that in the gospel days, the plagues that God inflicts upon the despisers and abusers of mercy are usually spiritual plagues; as blindness of mind, hardness of heart, benumbedness of conscience, which are ten thousand times worse than the worst of outward plagues that can befall you. And therefore, though you may escape temporal judgments, yet you shall not escape spiritual judgments: ‘How shall we escape, if neglect so great salvation?’ Heb. 2:3,3 saith the apostle. Oh! therefore, whenever Satan shall present God to the soul as one made up all of mercy, that he may draw thee to do wickedly, say unto him, that sins against mercy will bring upon the soul the greatest misery; and therefore whatever becomes of thee, thou wilt not sin against mercy, &c.

Thomas Brooks, The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, ed. Alexander Balloch Grosart, vol. 1 (Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert, 1866), 28–29.

Therefore, we must be careful to watch for this deception playing out in our own hearts, when we excuse and minimize our own sin.

[1] Throw yourself down, the Devil to Jesus.

[2] 1 Corinthians 9:7–10 (ESV)  “7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?  8 Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.” Is it for oxen that God is concerned? 10 Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop.” Paul supports his argument by referencing the Scripture. The Devil uses the same technique.

[3] The Devil provides an emphasis to this temptation which he does not make with his other temptations: I am not asking you to do anything other than what is specifically stated in the Scripture, specifically the Psalms.

[4] The Devil fell by the sin of presumption.

[5] Psalm 19:13 (ESV)

                  13               Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;

let them not have dominion over me!

                                    Then I shall be blameless,

and innocent of great transgression.

[6] Romans 2:4 (ESV)  Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

[7] Why go down the stairs when you can just jump (cast yourself down) and the angels will catch you.

[8] 2 Kings 2:11–12 (ESV)

11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

[9] Rather than repent today just wait. And then, at the last minute, cast yourself upon God’s mercy and his angel will take you to heaven

[10] Saul having been abandoned by God goes to the witch at Endor and asks her to raise Samuel from the dead. An apparition appears who looks like Samuel and tells Saul he will die the next day. What actually took place has been a matter of debate. Andrews takes it that the Devil appeared in the likeness of Samuel.

[11] 1 Samuel 10:10–13 (ESV)

10 When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11 And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, “What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” 12 And a man of the place answered, “And who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13 When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

[12] 2 Corinthians 11:14 (ESV) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

[13] A divine would be a well-trained pastor or theologian, an expert in divinity.

[14] Psalm 91:11–12 (ESV)

                  11               For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

                  12               On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

[15] He pretended to be Samuel when Saul went to the witch at Endor. And the Devil pretends to speak like David when he comes to Jesus, since David wrote many of the Psalms.

[16] Acts 19:13–17 (ESV)  13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” 16 And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled.

[17] Jude 9 (ESV)

9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”

[18] Our armoury would be our defense against the Devil, in particular the Scripture itself. But here we see that the Devil can make use of the Scripture against. Therefore, we had better be prepared to know who to defend ourself against his wiles.

[19] The King’s court. The Devil has assistants in the government.

[20] For some, the Scripture does not bring relief but brings condemnation, hence, death: Romans 7:9–11 (ESV)

9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

Andrews is also making an allusion to 2 Corinthians 2:14–16 (ESV)

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

[21] The Devil can turn any part of Scripture to his advantage. He uses words in one place to cause despair; in another place to tempt presumption. He can take the Psalms which are of all parts of the Bible most comforting and turn them into a plea for sin!

[22] Psalm 91:11 (ESV)

                  11               For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

[23] Psalm 91:12 (ESV)

                  12               On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

[24] The reference here is to the Israelites leaving Egypt and going into Canaan. God has promised to go with them to assure their protection and success. Exodus 23:20 (ESV)“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.”

[25] Of Isaacs two sons, Jacob was the one who inherited the promise to Abraham. Following the conflict with Esau, Esau promised to kill Jacob. Jacob had fled to the extended family’s home in Haran. When Jacob returned to Canaan, he feared that Esau would finally execute his revenge. God kept his promise and Esau met Jacob kindly.

[26] Psalm 34:4–7 (ESV)

                  4                 I sought the Lord, and he answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.

                  5                 Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces shall never be ashamed.

                  6                 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him

and saved him out of all his troubles.

                  7                 The angel of the Lord encamps

around those who fear him, and delivers them.

[27]

[28] Matthew 13:40–42 (ESV)

40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

[29] While we may not realize it, angels may have removed difficulties or obstacles without our notice.

[30] Job 5:19–23 (ESV)

                  19               He will deliver you from six troubles;

in seven no evil shall touch you.

                  20               In famine he will redeem you from death,

and in war from the power of the sword.

                  21               You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue,

and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

                  22               At destruction and famine you shall laugh,

and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.

                  23               For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,

and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

[31] The Devil says in effect, “Why don’t you just see what happens.”

[32] All you have to do is whistle, and an angel will come running to save you.

[33]

The fifth device that Satan hath to draw the soul to sin is,

Device (5). To present God to the soul as one made up all of mercy. Oh! saith Satan, you need not make such a matter of sin, you need not be so fearful of sin, not so unwilling to sin; for God is a God of mercy, a God full of mercy, a God that delights in mercy, a God that is ready to shew mercy, a God that is never weary of shewing mercy, a God more prone to pardon his people than to punish his people; and therefore he will not take advantage against the soul; and why then, saith Satan, should you make such a matter of sin?

Thomas Brooks, The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, ed. Alexander Balloch Grosart, vol. 1 (Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert, 1866), 27.

[34] Psalm 145:9 (ESV)

   9      The Lord is good to all,

and his mercy is over all that he has made.

[35] Psalm 103:8 (ESV)

   8      The Lord is merciful and gracious,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

[36] His mercy/steadfast love endures forever is a repeated refrain in this Psalm:

Psalm 136:1–2 (ESV)

 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

   2      Give thanks to the God of gods,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

[37] God is not a God of mercy only, but of judgment and mercy. The mercy is when God withholds deserved judgment. The Devil is portraying a God of all mercy and no-judgment.  The word translated as “mercy” in Andrews’ Bible and translated “steadfast love” in the ESV actually makes this point well. It is the Hebrew word Hesed:

It is not possible to convey precisely ḥesed ‘s semantic range as encountered in profane usage with one Eng. word. ḥesed is not “grace,” and the often suggested “favor” is insufficient. First, ḥesed occurs tangibly in concrete situations and at the same time transcends the individual demonstration and envisions the actor. In this regard, the term exhibits affinities with Eng. “kindness,” and with “goodness” as well (see 3c). ḥesed does occur in relation to particular social forms; its configuration may even be governed by them, but it is never the obvious, the obligatory. It is a human demeanor that alone can fill a form with life and is in some cases (not always) the very requirement for the birth of a community. Jepsen (op. cit. 269) attempted to describe the intention as good will that becomes good deed. This notion is certainly included but is alone insufficient. I suggest an expression for magnanimity, for a sacrificial, humane willingness to be there for the other (Stoebe, diss. 67; id., VT 2 [1952]: 248). It is a given that ḥesed always has to do in some way with the life of the other, and that one expects and hopes from the recipient of such ḥesed a similar willingness that in turn surpasses the obligatory.

Ernst Jenni and Claus Westermann, Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997), 456.

[38] Psalm 101:1 (ESV)

I will sing of steadfast love and justice;

to you, O Lord, I will make music.

[39] Psalm 85:10 (ESV)

                  10               Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;

righteousness and peace kiss each other.

[40] The Devil will be singing to them all the way up the height, until they fall.

[41] This is a striking image which Bonhoffer famously called “cheap grace.”

The Wonderful Combat 4.3

20 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by in Lancelot Andrews, temptation

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II. [Cast thyself down]

The dart itself is, Cast thy self down[1]: which consists of two points[2]. First, the casting down: secondly, that he himself was to cast down himself.

For the first, it is general, the neglect of ordinary means; as here: whereas the ordinary way was down the stairs, he would have him leap, or throw himself over the battlements. And here a man may see to what end the Devil’s halting comes[3]: he brings a man up by little & little to some high place, that so he may send him at once with his head downward. All the preferments that he bestows on a man, is not to any-other intent, but that he may do as the Devil himself did, (who being on high, did cast himself down) and so be like him. John 8. 23[4], that is, from beneath, not from above: who fell from heaven like lightning, Luke 10. 18[5].

So that howsoever in outward show he may seem to befriend vs, yet this is his inward intention and scope. As the Edomites in time of the prosperity of the Israelites, pretended great good will to them: but in the day of their calamity, they were they that cried, Downe with them, downe with them, Psalm. 137.7[6].

God’s manner is, when he means to exalt a man, he will first humble him, and make him low, Matt. 23. 12. The Devil’s manner is (we see) clean contrary. Is.14. 14, to lift them up to the clouds, that he may bring them down to the grave, yea to the lowest grave, Psalm. 86. 13[7]. He carries them the higher, to throw them down with the greater violence. He lifts up Adam with a conceit [an idea, a thought] to be like God[8], to the very top of perfection to the intent he might be like the beast that perishes Psal. 49. 20.

The second hath some matter of comfort:

The Devil is here a suitor to him[9], to do it himself. Why does not the Devil cast him down?[10]

First, it was not in his power; or if it had, yet would not that have served his turn: then there had been no sin of presumption in it. There must be two persons that must concur in our downfall: well may the Devil induce and move us to it; but unless we ourselves be consenting, & cast ourselves down, there can be no downfall to hurt us. For as Chrysostom saith, Nemo laeditur nisi a seipso[11]: so Nullum precipitium nisi voluntarium[12]. The Devil did not cram Eve with the forbidden fruit: but when she saw it, she took it, and eat it, Gen. 3. 6. So the Devil when he enters into the soul of a man (which he counts his palace) he does not break open the door, no, nor so much as draw the latch[13]; but when he comes, he finds it swept and garnished, Luke 11. 25[14] and so goes in. There must therefore be a reaching out of the hand, & an opening of the door by ourselves, and so a casting down of yourself, or else though the Devil thrust sore at thee that you may fall, the Lord will help you, Ps. 118. 13.[15]

In Deut. 22. 8. God has caused battlements to be made on every house top, by which we may stay ourselves[16]: the Devil tells God, that he had made a hedge about Job1. 10. so that unless Job step over it, or break it down, he is safe.

Notes

Andrews notes two details of the temptation. From these two details, he draws application. First, the temptation is to be cast down. This would require one first to be up, so that it would be possible to fall. Application: God brings a man down before he raises him to usefulness. The first move with God is a move of humility. The Devil works in the opposite direction. He plays to human pride. The Devil raises a man to a place of prestige, of pride so that the man can fall into sin.

Second, the Devil does not throw a man down. To be thrown done is not a sin. Therefore, the Devil must use our desires, our volition against us. Unless we willing sin, we do not sin at all. God provides a protection for you to prevent our fall: it is like the small wall raised around edge of a roof.  There is a wall about us. And so when we sin, it comes from our own willingness.

[1] This is the attack, the temptation of the Devil: Cast yourself down.

[2] A common manner of analyzing a text at this time among English theologians was to break down a proposition into its constituent parts. Here, Andrews breaks it down into the primary verb: casting down; and the agent of that action, “he himself.”

[3] Here we can see why the Devil stopped at this place.

[4] John 8:21–24 (ESV)

21 So he said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek me, and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22 So the Jews said, “Will he kill himself, since he says, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23 He said to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 24 I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”

[5] Luke 10:17–20 (ESV)  17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

[6] Psalm 137:7 (ESV)

7                 Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites

the day of Jerusalem,

          how they said, “Lay it bare, lay it bare,

down to its foundations!”

[7] Psalm 86:11–13 (ESV)

                  11               Teach me your way, O Lord,

that I may walk in your truth;

unite my heart to fear your name.

                  12               I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,

and I will glorify your name forever.

                  13               For great is your steadfast love toward me;

you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

[8] Genesis 3:1–6 (ESV)  Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

[9] The Devil is pressing a “suit” (like a “lawsuit”). He is asking for something.

[10] Why doesn’t the Devil just throw Jesus down, instead of asking Jesus to jump?

[11] Latin, No one is injured except by himself.

[12] Latin, None fall except by their own will.

[13] When the Devil comes, he does not need to force entry; it is opened for him.

[14] Luke 11:24–26 (ESV) 24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

[15] Psalm 118:13 (ESV)

13      I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,

but the Lord helped me.

[16] The Mosaic law required a small fence to be placed around the edges of the house roof. Roofs were flat and were used as living space. Andrews uses this as an image our soul. God has provided a protection for us. This is then extended to the image of Job, where it is said that God has placed a fence around Job (a hedge) to protect him. From this he concludes, that unless we willing go, the Devil will not succeed.

Charles Taylor’s Temptations and The Wonderful Combat, an aside

16 Saturday Jul 2022

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John Starke, notes that in A Secular Age, Charles Taylor, notes opposing temptations for the self-sufficient and for the believer:

Yet, at the same time, there is a “malaise” amid this self-sufficient humanism: “The sense can easily arise that we are missing something, cut off from something, that we are living behind a screen. . . . I am thinking much more of a wide sense of malaise at the disenchanted world, a sense of it as flat, empty, a multiform search for something within, or beyond it, which could compensate for the meaning lost with transcendence.”59 There is a fear and anxiety that “our actions, goals, achievements, and life, have a lack of weight, gravity, thickness, substance. There is a deeper resonance which they lack, which we feel should be there.”60 There is, then, a temptation among the secular toward transcendence. We cannot seem to live without it. At the same time, we Christians live and breathe in this secular age as well. This self-sufficient humanism becomes part of the muscle memory of our own souls, even if we are often unconscious to its effect. What Taylor tells us about secularists hits awfully close to home in the pews. So, then, while modern self-sufficient secularists are tempted toward belief, believers are constantly tempted toward self-sufficiency. The task of the preacher, it seems, is to aim at this dual temptation.

John Starke, “Preaching to the Secular Age” in Our Secular Age: Ten Years of Reading and Applying Charles Taylor (p. 41). The Gospel Coalition. Kindle Edition.

What I noticed with these two “temptations” is that they an observation of Lancelot Andrews in The Wonderful Combat: There is a temptation to despair, that God will not come for us. There is also the temptation of presumption, the temptation that God will do what I need. I think that these two temptations are the same as the “temptations” noticed by Starke.

There is the temptation that God has abandoned us, or perhaps there is no God at all.

Alone, what did Bloom feel?
The cold of interstellar space, thousands of degrees below freezing point or the absolute zero of Fahrenheit, Centigrade or Reaumur: the incipient intimations of proximate dawn.

Ulysses (p. 806). Kindle Edition. The self-sufficient is unsure in this position, but so is the believer. We live in an age when belief is constantly contested, challenged. And thus both are constantly pressured (cross-pressured) into something approximates the others place:

Haunting Immanence Taylor names and identifies what some of our best novelists, poets, and artists attest to: that our age is haunted. On the one hand, we live under a brass heaven, ensconced in immanence. We live in the twilight of both gods and idols. But their ghosts have refused to depart, and every once in a while we might be surprised to find ourselves tempted by belief, by intimations of transcendence. Even what Taylor calls the “ immanent frame ” is haunted. On the other hand, even as faith endures in our secular age, believing doesn’t come easy. Faith is fraught; confession is haunted by an inescapable sense of its contestability. We don’t believe instead of doubting; we believe while doubting. We’re all Thomas now.

Smith, James K. A. (2106-02-06T22:28:15.000). How (Not) to Be Secular (Kindle Locations 195-201). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.. Kindle Edition.

Notice here the temptations of despair and presumption, and how they play to both groups. The self-sufficient secularist begins at the place of presumption: he has already taken on this temptation, although the temptation is not to presume upon God to act, but to presume upon God to ignore:

Psalm 50:16–21 (ESV)

16  But to the wicked God says:

“What right have you to recite my statutes

or take my covenant on your lips?

17  For you hate discipline,

and you cast my words behind you.

18  If you see a thief, you are pleased with him,

and you keep company with adulterers.

19  “You give your mouth free rein for evil,

and your tongue frames deceit.

20  You sit and speak against your brother;

you slander your own mother’s son.

21  These things you have done, and I have been silent;

you thought that I was one like yourself.

But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you.

However, the fact of God can never really be shaken. The irreducibility of the world is forcing its way in. In fact, Taylor’s secularist already seems to be outdate. The atheist of Dawkins or Hitchens was an untenable and never going to be popular version. We can see the movement into a rank paganism. Self-sufficiency contains within it a temptation to despair. Hanging on magic is a way to make bread out of stones (indeed, the temptation which the Devil made to Jesus seems to have been a temptation to become a conjurer or a magician in light of contemporary expectations!).

The believer seems to have avoided this, but the constant pressure of the secular age, the battering of doubt is constant:

Nothing is easy about faith in a secular age. “Faith is fraught, confession is haunted by an inescapable sense of its contestability,” Smith writes. “We don’t believe instead of doubting; we believe while doubting. We’re all Thomas now.”

Collin Hansen, “Doubt in our Secular Age,” Our Secular Age: Ten Years of Reading and Applying Charles Taylor (p. 4). The Gospel Coalition. Kindle Edition. This doubt then contains within it a seed of presumption: If God can be doubted, then perhaps I should myself. I should presume that God will not interfere. It is much the same as the temptation to turn stones into bread, but it is not bred from the same despair. It is more of a boast: I guess I’ll have to do it. It is not despair, God won’t come. It is the presumption, there is no God.

The Wonderful Combat, Sermon 4.2 (with a note on celebrity pastors)

15 Friday Jul 2022

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Now come we to the Temptation itself, which hath three general heads. First, the ball of wildfire; which is to consume his faith. Secondly, the dart, Cast thy selfe downe; which is to pierce the soul. Thirdly, he tempers the head of his dart with some stronger metal; which is, Scriptum est.

I.         [The Ball of Wildfire]

First, Si filius Dei es[1].

This is a great mote in the Devil’s eye[2], he uses the same term in the former temptation, and here he is up with it again[3]. And all is to this end, that by often bringing it into question whether we be the sons of God; he may at last make it out of question or doubt, that we are not the sons of God: that by & from Si sis, he may bring it to Ne sis; and so we may be like himself[4].

For to this end is all his compassing of sea and land, to make one proselyte like himself, according to the endeavor of the Pharisees, Mat. 23. 15[5] who did in like sort, and when he is made, ye make him (two-fold more) the child of hell, than yourselves: as on the other side, Christ would have us [to be] the sons of God like hm. But see what a dexterity the Devil has, in making things serve for his purpose: he makes oneself same thing serve for two several, yea, contrary purposes. What a goodly grace he has in the first temptation? He uses it there to procure us to desperation: he makes it here serve for presumption[6].

But indeed there be two manners of Si es, or Ifs: the one is a questioning or doubting Si, as, If thou be the sonne of God, shew vs a signe, Mar. 8. 12[7]. Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me whole. Mat. 8. 2.[8] The other is a plain affirmation, as Phil. 3. 11 If by any means I might attaine to the resurrection of the dead[9]: where we are sure he made no doubt thereof[10]. So here the Devil says, If thou be the Sonne of God, as I now grant indeed. I was in some doubt, but now I confess you are: I am of the voice’s mind, that pronounced you so at your baptism[11].

The Devil (in the former temptation) came out like a malcontent, or a murmurer: here he comes like a flattering parasite, he will pinguare caput eius oleo[12], make his head even swim in the oil of ostentation[13]. But though it be not the same temptation, yet it is the same Devil in both places: for both by the one and other, he seeks the downfall and destruction of man: and though his two Ifs be contrary in themselves, yet are they both also contrary to the will and word of God: for he [God] would not in any case we should distrust him, neither would he that at any time we should cast ourselves down. And therefore, has he caused battlements to be made one every house top, that none might be slain with falling down, Deut. 22. 8[14]. Now he would have him shew himself (thereby) to be the Son of God, for he is now in the sight of all Jerusalem.

It is said, that Christ comes now to put too a spark of fire, that is of faith, & that his will was, it might burn & be maintained. The Devil on the other side, labors by all means possible to quench and put it out: and seeing water would not do it in the former temptation; he goes now about to see, if he can make the very oil itself to put it out, even that very thing whereby it were to be maintained: as indeed it will, if we power out too great a quantity. Or if he cannot quench it, either with water or oil, he will see if he can blow it up with gunpowder.

As seeing the water of distrust will not extinguish his faith, but that he would trust in God: he endeavored now by Scriptures (that magnify the providence of GOD, and the confidence we are to put in him) to set him as far gone in the other extreme, by presuming or trusting too much, that so the fire, which before he would have quenched, may now so flame out, as, not to keep itself within the chimney, but to set the whole house on fire. This is the ball of wildfire of this second Temptation: and so both we see tend to the consuming & nullifying of our faith.

Notes

The Devil will seek by every means to bring us (and did try with Christ) to sin. His resourcefulness in seeking a temptation with the right “bait” can be seen by contrasting the two times he said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God.”

In the first temptation, the Devil speaks as if he doubts that Jesus is the Son of God. He then seeks to cause Jesus to doubt God: are you really the Son of God? Will God really care for you?

He also compares faith to a fire, which the Devil sought to extinguish.

When the first temptation did not work, the Devil used the exact same words, “If you are the Son of God.” But this time he intended something quite different. Well now, since you are the Son of God—and I believe that voice that spoke from heaven at your baptism—since you are the Son of God we should be able to make good use of that. You are very, very important. There is no possibility that God would desert you.

So, tell you what, let’s just see (and let everyone else see) just how much God will go for you.

We have experienced and we have seen both sorts of temptation. There is the temptation that God has forgotten me, which was discussed in the previous sermon.

But when it comes to this temptation, perhaps the closest modern examples would be the Christian “celebrity pastor.” He acts without humility. He assumes and presumes on those around him. He excuses his sin, because he is under such pressure. He excuses such sin because he is obviously being “blessed.”  He can do whatever he wants, because God is on his side.

Such is precisely the Devil’s play here: if he can’t extinguish faith, he will blow up into a wildfire and call the presumption “faith.”

[1] Latin, If you are the Son of God.

[2] A mote in the eye could have two implications: (1) It would be the only thing you could see, being fastened to your eyeball. (2) It would be a serious irritant. Both meanings work well here.

[3] The Devil prefaced both temptations with the clause “If you are the Son of God” (then you should do this).

[4] Latin: Si sis, nec sis: If you may be, Not you. The sentence is a bit unclear. I take the thought to be, that the Devil makes us like himself by point out we are not the Son of God.

[5] Matthew 23:15 (ESV)

15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

[6] As noted earlier: there are (at least) two types of temptation. One temptation works on our fear, we are tempted to distrust God out of desperation. One temptation works on our pride, we are tempted to presume upon God. The Devil is able to use the same ground (If you are the Son of God) to work for both temptations.

[7] Mark 8:11–13 (ESV)  “11 The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.”

[8] Matthew 8:1–2 (ESV)  “When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’”

[9] Philippians 3:9–11 (ESV)  “9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.”

[10] The word “if” can used to express both doubt and certainty.  If can mean, I don’t know if it is true. So if it is true, then …. But “if” can also be used to draw together a certain relationship. John Owen tackles as follows:

The first thing occurring in the words as they lie in the entire proposition is the conditional note, Εἰ δὲ, “But if.” Conditionals in such propositions may denote two things:—

(1.) The uncertainty of the event or thing promised, in respect of them to whom the duty is prescribed. And this takes place where the condition is absolutely necessary unto the issue, and depends not itself on any determinate cause known to him to whom it is prescribed. So we say, “If we live, we will do such a thing.” This cannot be the intendment of the conditional expression in this place. Of the persons to whom these words are spoken, it is said, verse 1 of the same chapter, “There is no condemnation to them.”

(2.) The certainty of the coherence and connection that is between the things spoken of; as we say to a sick man, “If you will take such a potion, or use such a remedy, you will be well.” The thing we solely intend to express is the certainty of the connection that is between the potion or remedy and health. And this is the use of it here. The certain connection that is between the mortifying of the deeds of the body and living is intimated in this conditional particle

John Owen, The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold, vol. 6 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, n.d.), 6.

[11] Speaking as the Devil, Andrews says, “The first time I was unsure whether you were actually the Son of God. But now, I believe the voice that spoke from heaven at your baptism. You are the Son of God.”

[12] Latin, to make his head fat with oil, that is, to cover his head in oil. We would say, “He is laying it on thick.” Or “giving him a big head,” flattering him.

[13] In the first temptation, the Devil tried to make Jesus discontent with what God had determined. In this temptation, he sought to flatter Jesus to prideful display.

[14] Deuteronomy 22:8 (ESV) “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, that you may not bring the guilt of blood upon your house, if anyone should fall from it.”  God does not seek that we should distrust him. God also does not want for us to throw ourselves from buildings. In fact, in the Mosaic law there was a provision to keep people safe from falling. The houses were made with flat roofs, which were used as a place to get out of the heat in the evening. A short wall was to be built along the sides to keep people safe.

The Wonderful Combat, Sermon 4.2

13 Wednesday Jul 2022

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The Second Temptation

Now to the Temptation: wherein we are to consider three things. First, the ground the Devil chose for the working of this temptation. Secondly temptation itself; to wit, the Devil’s speech. Thirdly, Christ’s answer to it.

In the place, three things are to be noted: first, the place itself: secondly, the Devil chose it: thirdly, that our Savior followed him thither.

For a new temptation, he [the Devil] makes choice of a new place. Indeed, for a temptation to presumption, the wilderness was not a fit place: first it was not high enough, and then it was not populous enough. It was a melancholy place: when a man is under the cross in affliction, or in some anguish and sorrow for want, death of friends, or otherwise; and generally, for all solitary men: the hungry temptation is fitter, than this of presumption[1].

Proof of the Point

As long as Noah was in the ark in the midst of the waters, he had in him no presumptuous thought: but sitting under the vine in his vineyard, he was overcome therewith.[2] And just Lot (2. Pet. 2. 8.) in Sodom, had no fit time or place to be presumptuous; but when he dwelt in the mountain in security, then he committed incest with his daughters, being made drunk by them.[3]

David, so long as he was persecuted by Saul, and tossed up & down from post to pillar, had no leisure to be presumptuous: but in the top of his turret, when he was at rest in his palace, 2. Sam. 11. 2. presumption gave him a blow.[4]

So here the wilderness was no fit place, but the pinnacle is a very fit place for one to be presumptuous on. It is as good as a stage to shew himself upon, to see and to be seen.[5]

In the wilderness there was small warrant for one that would be presumptuous: but from the pinnacle he might discern far and near, both the inner court and outward court[6], and see a whole cloud of witnesses[7], and have some warrant of example of all estates, high or low, wise or noble.

For what abuse soever be in him, be he never so presumptuous, he shall see some as provide, stout, and high minded as himself: be his hair never so long, or his ruffs never so great, he shall find some as far gone therein as himself.

If we mark the four gradations that it hath, we shall find it to be a very fit place. As first, before he could come to the pinnacle, he must go out of the wilderness into the city: secondly, not any city, but the Holy City [i.e., Jerusalem]: thirdly, into the temple of the city: and fourthly, out of the temple up to the pinnacle.

First, (having got him to leave the wilderness) he brought him into the city, that there he might say unto him: you see such & such grave [well-behaved, dignified] men, how they behave themselves: why should you seek to bee holier than they? This was a good civil temptation: he brought him not to Caesarea or Samaria, but even to Jerusalem, the Holy City: for that addition is given it, Luke 4.9[8] and Dan. 9. 24[9]. Thirdly, he brought him into the Temple, where even the very ground was holy. Fourthly, not to any other place of it, but to the very top and pinnacle which was over the Sanctum Sanctorum[10].

Who would not tread hard there? and take upon him being in such a place, where if a man will be carried away with example; he may see Ananias the high Priest, renting his clothes, at the hearing of things that sounded like blasphemy, Mark 14. 63[11] and yet buying his bishopric for money;[12] who will not then be bold to do the like?

And Herod a Prince, such a one as heard John Baptist preach; yea, and with much delight, to commit adultery, Mark6. 20 who would fear to doo the like? There he may see the Pharisee, under show of great holiness, tithing mint and cumin, and under color of long prayers, devour widow’s houses, bringing in by extortion, and sending out by excess, Matt. 23. 14[13], 21[14].

And so in this city [i.e., Jerusalem], one may see some men, both great frequenters of sermons, and yet great usurers; gentlewomen misshapen in their attire. Seeing this, who will not be as bold as they, the place being so holy? And being thus warranted by example, surely, we must needs commend the Devil’s wit [intelligence] for his choice.

Out of this arise two notes[15].

First against some fantastical spirits [lying/slanderous people], who say, “Can that be a Holy City, where there be dumb dogs?”[16] There were so in Jerusalem, Is56. 10, where the leaders be blind Matt. 15. 14. They were so where Judas ministered the sacrament[17], where there is division and debate amongst themselves, Phil. 4. 2. Can this (say they) be the Holy City? And thereupon they forsake the fellowship, Heb. 10. 25[18] whereas they (notwithstanding the former abuses, and notwithstanding the eleven tribes were apostates) did yet name it the Holy City.

Secondly, on the other side we are to be instructed, that though a man be on the battlements of the Church, yet hath he no sure footing, or cause to be secure; but rather to fear the more: for even there does the Devil stand at his elbow, watching his overthrow. There is no place (we see) privileged from temptations, no desert so solitary, but the Devil will seek it out: no pinnacle so high, but the Devil is a Bishop over it, to visit and overlook it[19].

To conclude, though in Jerusalem sit the abomination of desolation (whereof Daniel spoke) yet it is the Holy City stils. And though the place be never so holy, yet is that no cause of privilege; but even there may sit the abomination of desolation Both are proved out of Matt. 24. 15[20].

The second thing that we observed in the circumstance of place, is, that the Devil assumpted[21] Christ: which, to those that are weak (as Gregory also collects) may be offensive, in giving them to think, that the Devil had such power over Christ as to carry him whether he listed[22]. But when they shall consider, that even the limbs of the Devil haled and harrowed him to-and-fro, from Annas to Caiphas, from Caiphas to Pilate, from Pilate to Herod, and from him back again to Pilate: and how spitefully and contemptuously he was used in all these places, and at last carried to execution: what miracle will it be to see him (as Augustin speaks) In monte duci a capite, qui a membris traditur[23], &c.

These things do indeed (as all other his sufferings) set forth the greatness of the love of GOD towards us.[24] Of God the Father, that would give his only Son; yea, appoint him this work of our salvation, and give the Devil such a power over him, Luke 20. 53[25]. Of God the Son, that he would be content to suffer such indignity, Phil. 2. 7 as to be obedient to the death of the Cross[26].

The reason of all these his sufferings, as also that he would be baptized of John, a weak and sinful man; was (as himself declares it) to fulfil all righteousness, Matt. 3. 15[27]. So here he was to suffer it, else God’s righteousness would not have been fulfilled, nor the work of our salvation. And as he suffered this Assumption, so afterwards, Luke 9. 51. his second Assumption, was to go to Jerusalem to suffer; and so at the last he came to his third and last Assumption, to be received up into glory, 1. Tim. 3. 16. And by the very same steps and degrees, must we be assumpted. And this is his assumption of suffering, which brought him to glorifying[28].

The third thing is, that our Savior our followed; whereby we are to mark, not so much his courage, that durst encounter with the Devil in any place wheresoever he list to carry him: and that he was not only the God of the valleys, but a God of the mountains also, contrary to their surmise, 1. King. 20. 23[29]. That (I say) is not so much to be marked, as that our Savior would at all stand upon a pinnacle.

There be some that would make us believe, it is a sin to stand upon a pinnacle: but then if that had been so, Christ would never have stood there. And since Christ stood there, it is no more sin for any man else to stand there, than it is to stand in the wilderness: for it is lawful for us to follow his foot-steps, & to tread wheresoever he hath trod before us; yet such places be not privileged. For as it is true, that many men’s table & wealth is their snare, Psalm. 69. 22. so even the good gifts and graces of God, bee turned to a man’s hurt, as knowledge may serve for a quill to puff him up, and make him swell, 1. Cor. 8. 1. Nay, even that godly sorrow, which is so much to be wished for, has in it matter of temptation, least men be swallowed up with too much heaviness, 2 Cor. 2.7.[30]

The Scriptures themselves (we see) are subject to the abuse of the Devil whereby it should follow, that they are to be refused, if everything be to be refused which brings matter of temptation[31]. But as Augustin saith, Non est laus stetisse in pinaculo, sed stetisse & non cecidisse.[32] In every place to answer the Devil is praise-worthy. Indeed, it is dangerous for one that hath a light and guide brain, for such as are drunk Is. 51.22[33] (though not with wine) to stand so high.

Job could stand there without falling, for he had a more settled brain, Job 31:27. Such places are for the wisest and sagest men. Saint Paul stood not there, but yet he could haue stood there, for he had the trick or skill of it, as himself confesses, Phil. 4. 12. “I can be abased, and I can abound, &c”

Notes:

There are two sorts of temptation.

First, Christ was tempted to believe that God would not protect him. This is a temptation of despair: God has left me.  These are temptations of the wilderness.

But there is another type of temptation. This second sort of temptation is a temptation to presumption: it is not fit for a solitary place, but for the most public place of all. It is a change to presume upon the grace of God and show oneself to others in this way.

This is a useful taxonomy of temptation: Some temptations work upon need. We need money. We need food. We are lonely. We suffer some privation. We believe God will not rescue us, and so we seek to solve the problem by means of sin. This temptation works upon our fear and insecurity.

But temptation can work in the opposite direction: We are full and are feeling prideful. We wish to extend that pride and receive praise. The Devil has temptations fitted to our pride which cause us to presume upon the grace and goodness of God.  We fail to see our dependence upon him, and our need to submit to this will here, also.

The Devil having failed at privation temptations with presumption.  For this temptation, the Devil took Jesus to the Holy City and brought him to the highest point.

This then raises a question: How is the Devil taking Jesus anywhere? Andrews makes the question even more pointed: It was not just the Devil, but even the Devil’s “members”, his henchmen who were dragging Jesus around. What then should we think of this? We should conclude that the Son underwent such abuse and humiliation because the Father loves us.

Jesus is brought up (assumpted) first to this pinnacle for temptation. Second, Jesus is assumpted up to Jerusalem to be crucified. Third, Jesus is assumpted up into heaven. He is twice brought up in temptation and trial; then he is brought up in glory.

Another thing to realize here is Jesus is proclaiming the sovereignty of God in all places by going to all places.

He finally deals with the question of avoiding temptation. On one hand, anything can be used to be bring about temptation. We cannot avoid everything. The Devil even uses Scripture as a basis for temptation.

What is the answer? We cannot avoid all temptation. And there is nothing praiseworthy about being tempted. What does not matter is not falling from the pinnacle )where you are being tempted) into sin. As Augustine says, It is not praiseworthy to have stood on a pinnacle. But, [it is praiseworthy] to stand and not fall.

[1] Andrews here makes an observation concerning the subjective power of a temptation. When we are isolated and our circumstance is precarious, we are less likely to presume upon the grace of God. We feel fearful and are more likely to distrust God in such a circumstance. But when we are in a public place and our “faith” will be lauded, we are more likely to presume upon God’s grace. It is interesting that the degree to which we are willing to trust God is dependent upon our circumstance irrespective of God. Why we would think God would vary in his faithfulness depending upon whether some human being is looking is quite strange.

[2] Gen. 9:20-21 recounts that after Noah had survived the Flood, he planted a vineyard. Noah made wine and got drunk, which resulted in an unexplained instance of shame.

[3] In 2 Peter 3:8, Peter refers to Lot as “just” while he lived in Sodom. At the warning of God, Lot and his daughters fled into the mountains when the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by God. Seeing the destruction, Lot’s daughter concluded all life had been destroyed. Falsely believing themselves to be the two last women on earth, they got their father drunk and then had relations which resulted in pregnancy. Gen. ____

[4] After David had secured the throne he was found in Jerusalem, alone on his rooftop [a common place to rest in the evening] at “the time of year when kings go out to war.” 2 Sam. 12___. From the roof, David spied a beautiful, married woman bathing. His ensuing adulterous relationship led to great sorrow for himself, his family, the woman’s family, and the kingdom. Rather than being careful, David has become careless of his sanctification.

[5] The Devil has taken Jesus to a turret of the Temple in Jerusalem: as public a place as could be imagined.

[6] Two courtyards of the temple.

[7] An ironic use of the phrase “cloud of witnesses” from Hebrews 11__. In Hebrews, the phrase is used as a basis for exhortation to live a life of true faith. Andrews appropriates the phrase for the Devil’s attempt to lead to presumption in Jesus: false faith.

[8] Luke 4:9 (ESV)  “And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here.”

[9] Daniel 9:24 (ESV) “Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.”

[10] Latin, Holy of Holiess.

[11] Mark 14:61–63 (ESV)  “But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?’ 62 And Jesus said, ‘I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’ 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need?’”

[12] “Ananias, the son of Nebedæus, successor or Joseph the son of Camei, or Camydus (‘Ant. Jud.,’ xx. i. 3; v. 2), appears to have been actually high priest at this time. He was a violent, haughty, gluttonous, and rapacious man, and yet looked up to by the Jews (“très considéré,” Renan). He had probably lately returned from Rome, having been confirmed, as it seems, in his office by Claudius, to whom Quadratus, the predecessor of Felix, had sent him as a prisoner, to answer certain charges of sedition against him. He seems to have been high priest for the unusually long period of over ten years—from A.D. 48 to A.D. 59 (see Josephus, ‘Ant. Jud.,’ xx. v. 2; vi. 2, 3; viii. 8). But, on the other hand, Josephus (‘Ant. Jud.,’ xx. viii. 5) speaks of a certain Jonathan being high priest during the government of Felix, and being murdered by the Sicarii at his instigation; which looks as if Ananias’s high priesthood had been interrupted. It would appear, too, from xx. viii, 8, that Ismael the son of Fabi succeeded to Jonathan, not to Ananias, as is usually supposed. But the question is involved in great obscurity.” H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., Acts of the Apostles, vol. 2, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 211.

[13] “That ver. 14 is an interpolation derived from the parallel in Mk 12:40 or Lk 20:47 is clear (a) from its absence in the earliest and best authorities of the Alexandrian and the Western types of text, and (b) from the fact that the witnesses that include the passage have it in different places, either after ver. 13 (so the Textus Receptus) or before ver. 13.” Bruce Manning Metzger, United Bible Societies, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, Second Edition a Companion Volume to the United Bible Societies’ Greek New Testament (4th Rev. Ed.) (London; New York: United Bible Societies, 1994), 50. Matthew 23:14 (AV) “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

[14] Matthew 23:21 (ESV) “And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it.”

[15] He answers the objection, “How can this be the Holy City? It is filled with hypocrites. And, the Devil feels comfortable being there.”

[16] Here, “dumb dog” is a just derisive name-calling. The phrase comes from Isaiah 56:10: those who had a duty to protect the city were useless:

Isaiah 56:10 (ESV)

                  10               His watchmen are blind;

they are all without knowledge;

                                    they are all silent dogs;

they cannot bark,

                                    dreaming, lying down,

loving to slumber.

In place of “silent dogs”, the AV has “dumb dogs.”

[17] Rather Judas being the one ministered to others, this appears to be a reference to the supper in John 13, where Jesus gave the bread to Judas: John 13:26 (ESV)  “Jesus answered, ‘It is he to whom I will give this morsel of bread when I have dipped it.’ So when he had dipped the morsel, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot.”

[18] Hebrews 10:24–25 (ESV)  “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

[19] There is no place so remote nor organization so privileged that the Devil will not come there.

[20] Matthew 24:15 (ESV)  “‘So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).’”

[21] The Devil took Jesus to a high place; he raised him up physically.

[22] Some people, the “weak” may misunderstand this passage and conclude that the Devil has power over Christ to force him to go places where Christ did not wish to go. The verb “to list” means to desire or incline.

[23] On the analogy of the Church being the “body” of Christ and Christ being the “head”, he speaks of the Devil. The quotation from Augustine means that Jesus was led up the mountain by the “head” (that is, the Devil); and Jesus was delivered/moved/betrayed by the members (Pilate, Herod, et cetera).

[24] What should we conclude from the fact that the Devil and his minions were permitted to exercise power of Christ? That Jesus Christ lacked strength? No. Andrews says we should look at this willingness to suffer as evidence of the Father’s love toward us. When we look upon the humiliation of Christ, we should see the Father’s love toward us:

1. 1 John 4:8, “God is love.” That the name of God is here taken personally,1 and for the person of the Father, not essentially, is evident from verse 9, where he is distinguished from his only begotten Son whom he sends into the world. Now, saith he, “The Father is love.” that is, not only of an infinitely gracious, tender, compassionate, and loving nature, according as he hath proclaimed himself, Exod. 34:6, 7, but also one that eminently and peculiarly dispenseth himself unto us in free love.” So the apostle sets it forth in the following verses: “This is love.” verse 9;—“This is that which I would have you take notice of in him, that he makes out love unto you, in ‘sending his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him’ ” So also, verse 10, “He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” And that this is peculiarly to be eyed in him, the Holy Ghost plainly declares, in making it antecedent to the sending of Christ, and all mercies and benefits whatever by him received. This love, I say, in itself, is antecedent to the purchase of Christ, although the whole fruit thereof be made out alone thereby, Eph. 1:4–6

John Owen, The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold, vol. 2 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, n.d.), 19–20.

[25] This appears to be a misprint for Luke 22:53. Luke 22:52–53 (ESV)  “52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, ‘Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.’”

[26] Philippians 2:5–8 (ESV)

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

[27] One of the perplexing points in Christology concerns why Jesus submits to baptism of repentance, seeing that he had no need to repent:

Jesus comes from Galilee, from relative safety, to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. The one who is free of sin, the one for whom it is John’s whole mission to announce, comes to be baptized by John. We should not be surprised then that John recognizes it is he who should be baptized by Jesus. Yet Jesus, speaking for the first time in Matthew’s gospel, tells John that he must undergo his baptism in order “to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus, who is the very embodiment of justice, of the law, submits to the law so that we might see justice done. This gives us a foretaste of Jesus, who is life itself, submitting to death so that death may be conquered once and for all.

Stanley Hauerwas, Matthew, Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2006), 48.

[28] Jesus is brought up on the pinnacle (assumpted) to be tempted. He then “goes up” to Jerusalem to suffer. Finally have been tempted and having suffered, he “goes up” to heaven in glory.

[29] For the pagan, a god had control of some element or locale. The Syrians thought Israel’s God was likewise so limited: 1 Kings 20:23 (ESV)  “And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, ;Their gods are gods of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.’” But Jesus shows God is God of the wilderness (a valley) and the God of pinnacle (a mountain). He is God everywhere.

[30] This argument is a bit obscure: it seems to mean that by standing on a pinnacle, Christ was enacting a sinful pride. And that if he put himself in such an obvious and prideful place, and I can go wherever he went, then it is okay for me to do the same. Well, even good things can become a trap for the ungodly. Psalm 69:22 is a prayer of judgment upon those seeking to kill David, “Let their own table before them become a snare.” Good things such as knowledge can lead to pride. 1 Cor. 8:1. And even something as important as sorrow for sin can destroy one in grief. 2 Cor. 2:7.

[31] The Devil can even use the Bible to bring about temptation. So if we are to avoid everything which could conceivably be used as a basis for temptation, we would have nothing left.

[32] There is nothing praiseworthy about standing on a pinnacle, but to stand on the pinnacle not fall [is praiseworthy]. It is not praiseworthy that you were someplace where you could be tempted. What is praiseworthy is to be tempted and no succumb to temptation.

[33] Isaiah 51:22 (ESV)

22      Thus says your Lord, the Lord,

your God who pleads the cause of his people:

          “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering;

          the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more;

The Wonderful Combat, Sermon 4.1

07 Thursday Jul 2022

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The fourth Sermon.

Matt. 4. vers. 5. 6.

Then the diuell tooke him vp into the holie Citie, and set him on a pinacle of the Temple,

And said vnto him, If thou bee the the Sonne of GOD, cast thy selfe downe: for it is written, that hee will giue his Angels charge ouer thee, and with their hands they shall lift thee vp, least at anie time thou shouldst dash thy foote against a stone.[1]

Themanner is, after one hath taken a foil his courage will fail[2]. The angel would have been gone, when he saw he could not prevail over Jacob,Gen. 32. 26.[3] But it is not so here with the Devil: for when he saw that his first temptations would not prevail, he tries another. And even so he plays with Job: for when he could do no good upon his first patent[4], by taking away all that he had, he comes and sues for a new commission, that he might touch his flesh and bones, Job 2. 5. And thereby he gives us to learn, that it is not one foil that can make him give over.[5]

He is one of those, whom a Father says, to have courage above their strength[6]; and of that nature be many in our days, whose daring is above their skill; and have courage to undertake much more than their ability is to perform: not like David, who did as much as he undertook in killing Goliath: nor like him of whom Isaiah speaks in the seventh verse of his third chapter, that when they would have made him Prince, he had no bread nor clothing, and therefore refused[7]: but they will take it upon them though they have not wherewithal, and thereby become authors of trouble, wanting ability to go through withal[8]. But as Augustine says, “It is not all one not to be able to answer, nor to be able to hold their peace?” We see here the Devil is a great undertaker.

Secondly, he is not only content to take a foil, but even out of the same thing wherewith he was foiled, makes he matter of a new temptation, a new ball of fire.[9] Out of Christ’s conquest he makes a new assault; that is, since he will needs trust, he will set him on trusting, he shall trust as much as he will[10]. As the former tempted him to diffidence, so this shall tempt him to precedence[11].

As before the Devil brought him to the waters of Meribah (Exod. 17. 7.) where the Children of Israel did murmur and tempt GOD[12]: so now he brings him to the temptation of Massah[13], (Deut. 6. 16.) that is, to presumption, wantonness and delicacy: for then with bread they were not content, but they must have flesh and other dainties, Psalm. 78. 20[14]. As the first might be called the hungry temptation, so this may be called the wanton temptation. That which was in the Old Testament the Temptation of Maribah, is here in the New Testament the temptation of the wilderness: & that which was there the Temptation of Massah, is here the temptation of the Pinnacle.

In the first, by want of things necessary, he [the Devil] thought to drive them to vexation and bitterness of spirit and to distrust Gods power & goodness: In this second, by unnecessary matters, he draws us on to wantoness, & to put God to try what he can do, and to set him about base services: by the one, he drives us unto unlawful means, by the other, he draws us from the use of things lawful[15]: by the one he brings us to this conceit [thought, idea] that we are so abjected of God, that if we trust in him, he will in the end fail us; by the other, to think we are so dear in God’s eyes, and such darlings, as throw ourselves into any danger, and he will not forsake us: by the one he puts us in fear.

 (as Augustine says[16]) [by causing us to disbelieve God] Deum defuturum, et iamsi promisit[17]; by the other, in [presumptuous] hope Deum adfuturum, vbi non promisit[18]: by the one, he [the Devil] slanders GOD unto us, as if he were a God of straw, of base condition, and subject to our beck; by the other, as if he were a God of iron, that would not incline, though we requested him.

Notes:

As soon as the Devil failed on one temptation, he moved to a second. There are some whose courage fails as soon as they come to fight. But that is not the Devil. He is as reckless and fearless as one might imagine: even if it results in his own loss.

So the Devil being thwarted on one ground, used that very ground as the basis for his attack. First, the Devil tempted Jesus to distrust God: God will starve you to death. You had get your own food: turn these stones into bread.

Jesus thwarts the Devil by (a) quoting Scripture, (b) staking his hope solely upon God. Therefore, the Devil (a) quotes Scripture, and (b) says “you don’t trust God enough!” Why don’t you throw yourself down from this pinnacle and he will save you.

This is how the Devil proceeds with us. If he fails in one direction, he will drag us in the opposite. You trust God, then I’ll give you a real reason to trust. You rely upon some-thing, I will give you even more reason to rely. He is constantly seeking to fit the temptation to occasion. But he also seeks us to either distrust God or presume upon God.  He says that God has a heart of iron. Or, God will also indulge your every whim.

[1] Matthew 4:5–6 (ESV)

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 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

                                    “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ ”

[2] A “foil” is a sword. After one takes up a sword to actually fight, he finds his courage fails.

[3] In a remarkable story, Jacob finds himself set up by a “man” the night before he crosses the Jordan river. Genesis 32:24–26 (ESV)  “24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”” Andrews refers to this remarkable man as an “angel.”

[4] A “patent” here refers to a right to proceed in a certain manner granted to one by the king. Satan received permission to try Job by attacking what Job had. When that failed, Satan requested the right to strike Job in his body, which was also granted. Hence, Satan proceeds by means of a “patent.”

[5] Here “foil” means a repulse, a rejection. The Devil won’t quit just because he loses the first time. In Perlandra, Lewis pictures this as the tempter coming as one who nags insistently: “If the [Un-man’s] attack had been of some more violent kind it might have been easier to resist. What chilled and almost cowed [Ransom] was the union of malice with something nearly childish. For temptation, for blasphemy, for a whole battery of horrors, he was in some sort prepared: but hardly for this petty, indefatigable nagging as of a nasty little boy at a preparatory school.”

[6] It is unclear whom Andrews is referencing here.

[7] Isaiah 3:5–7 (ESV)

                  5                 And the people will oppress one another,

every one his fellow

and every one his neighbor;

                                    the youth will be insolent to the elder,

and the despised to the honorable.

                  6                 For a man will take hold of his brother

in the house of his father, saying:

                                    “You have a cloak;

you shall be our leader,

                                    and this heap of ruins

shall be under your rule”;

                  7                 in that day he will speak out, saying:

                                    “I will not be a healer;

in my house there is neither bread nor cloak;

                                    you shall not make me

leader of the people.”

[8] This paragraph functions as an illustration: There are certain people who have courage than brains. They plunge ahead into danger and just create trouble for themselves. The implication is that the Devil is one who is such a one. He has been bested by Christ and yet he persists.

[9] The Devil has been bested by a “foil”: Jesus’s use of the Word of God. The Devil, however, does not miss a step. He then takes up the Word of God and tries to use it as a weapon back against Jesus.

[10] The Devil’s logic is as follows: Jesus you won’t take my bait because you are trusting God to take care you? I have a test for you: How much do you actually trust God? You say you trust him, but is that right

[11] The first temptation presented Jesus with fear: you can’t trust God. Now the Devil is tempting him to presumption upon God.

[12] As the Israelites fled into the wilderness, they needed water. They came upon a place where there was water, but it was bitter. They complained about that bitter water.

[13] “MASSAH (Măsʹ sah) Place-name meaning “to test, try.” Stopping place during the wilderness wandering near the base of Mount Horeb (Sinai). Moses gave the name in response to the people’s desire to put God to the test by demanding water (Exod. 17:7). Massah became a reminder of Israel’s disobedience or hardness of heart (Deut. 6:16; 9:22; Ps. 95:8). Massah often appears together with Meribah (meaning “to strive with, contend, find fault with”; Exod. 17:7; Deut. 33:8; Ps. 95:8). Deuteronomy 33:8 gives a poetic account of the origin of the Levitical priesthood at Massah.”Chad Brand et al., eds., “Massah,” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), 1089.  He seems to equate Massah also with the incident of the quail:

Numbers 11:31–35 (ESV)  “31 Then a wind from the Lord sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground. 32 And the people rose all that day and all night and all the next day, and gathered the quail. Those who gathered least gathered ten homers. And they spread them out for themselves all around the camp. 33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague. 34 Therefore the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had the craving. 35 From Kibroth-hattaavah the people journeyed to Hazeroth, and they remained at Hazeroth.”

[14] Psalm 78:11–20 (ESV)

                  11               They forgot his works

and the wonders that he had shown them.

                  12               In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders

in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.

                  13               He divided the sea and let them pass through it,

and made the waters stand like a heap.

                  14               In the daytime he led them with a cloud,

and all the night with a fiery light.

                  15               He split rocks in the wilderness

and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.

                  16               He made streams come out of the rock

and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

                  17               Yet they sinned still more against him,

rebelling against the Most High in the desert.

                  18               They tested God in their heart

by demanding the food they craved.

                  19               They spoke against God, saying,

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

                  20               He struck the rock so that water gushed out

and streams overflowed.

                                    Can he also give bread

or provide meat for his people?”

[15] In the first temptation, the Devil sought to force Jesus to distrust God and to seek to solve his problem around God even in disobedience to God.  The lack of faith is the “unlawful means.” In the second temptation, he sought have Jesus misuse something good: (1) a promise of God, and (2) trust in God.

[16] I have been unable to find the source of this quotation (other than in Andrews). It appears that Augustine is referencing the temptation of Jesus and the nature of the Devil’s approach to Jesus: First, the Devil says, You cannot trust God to do what he has promised. Second, you should assume that God will what he has never promised.

[17] God will abandon us, even if he promised [to act].

[18] God will arrive where he did not promise.