Winning the World

Colonel David Guy concludes his four-part series on The Temptations Of Jesus

AS a boy I learnt the old directory passage that asked, ‘Is it honourable to fight as a Salvation Army soldier?’, and also the answer, ‘It is highly honourable to fight as a Salvation Army soldier because The Salvation Army is at war with the world, the flesh and the Devil.’

Had the writers of that last phrase taken note of the order of our Lord’s temptations in Matthew 4:1–11 they might have said ‘the flesh, the world and the Devil’. In those verses we have first the temptation to turn stones into bread and satisfy the legitimate need of the body in an illegitimate way; then the temptation to impress and dazzle and win applause; and thirdly, the temptation in which the Devil demands first place as the price of success.

Luke alters the order by placing the offer of the kingdoms of the world second and the suggestion about jumping off the Temple pinnacle last (4:1–13). Some scholars argue that Luke’s order is the more logical; it is after a man or woman has gained top place that they are tempted to ‘shine’. Others point out that human beings are tempted to show off so that they have a better chance to gain top place.

I love Luke’s Gospel, but in these reflections I follow Matthew’s order – partly because it seems to me that the offer of the kingdoms of the world represents a natural climax to these temptations, and partly because in this ultimate test Satan throws off all disguise.

When suggesting that stones be turned into bread, the Devil poses as the voice of friendly concern. When Jesus counters this by quoting from Deuteronomy 8:3, Satan frames the second temptation in a specious framework of apparent piety. Paul declares that Satan ‘masquerades as an angel of light’ (2 Corinthians 11:14 all quotations from New International Version) by quoting Scripture to suit his own purpose.

But when Jesus quotes Scripture back (Matthew 4:7) Satan appears to throw away religion and make a direct onslaught, with no attempt to justify it from sacred writings. No longer trying to conceal his identity, the tempter talks directly about what ‘I will give you… if you will bow down and worship me’ (4:9). ‘Never mind the Lord your God,’ he seems to almost snarl, ‘I am the one you need to do business with. I can give you power to make the world a better place – for that is what you are dreaming of doing – because I am the one who really runs things in human society. Give first place to me and political power and military might will all be yours.’

This was, perhaps, the greatest temptation because it makes such an overwhelming appeal to human nature. Each temptation was linked with the mission of Jesus, to bring in the Kingdom of God on earth – and this third test was directed towards that very desire, to change the world for the better.

History is studded with examples of gifted men and women who – inspired at the start of their careers by high ideals and humanitarian concern – yielded to this very temptation. And they ended up corrupted or confused, abandoning their earlier ideals and principles. This has happened at top military and political levels, in municipal and business life and even in organised religion. It seems to work, but fails in the end.

You cannot bring in God’s Kingdom using the Devil’s methods. The way that Jesus followed – long, seeming to end in failure but concluding in resurrection – is, in reality, the only way.

Satan made a tactical mistake in throwing off his disguise. Jesus makes a suitably robust reply: ‘Away from me, Satan!’ (Matthew 4:10), and quotes again from Deuteronomy (see 6:13): ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’

And the Devil did as he was told! He cleared off – for a while (Luke 4:13). Having won that great initial victory, Jesus could begin the great saving work that only he could do.

What of you and me, who do not know God as intimately as his only begotten Son did? Can the command to worship and serve God mean anything to us?

I think it can, for in Jesus we see the Father that otherwise we might only doubt or fear (see John 14:9). This makes obedience to the command in Deuteronomy a glorious possibility.

• Colonel Guy worships at Bromley Corps in retirement