Friday 16th January
Read Matthew 4:5-7
“Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the highest point of the temple. 6 ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. For it is written:
‘“He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”’
7 Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’” (NIVUK)
The irony of choosing to quote Psalm 91 to Jesus to encourage Him to test whether God truly cares by drawing upon relief from angels is deep. It prompts reflection on how aware the slanderer is of the futility of rebellion? Consider the full passage and the irony becomes clear…
“If you say, ‘The Lord is my refuge,’
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.” (Psalm 91:9-13) (NIVUK)
The foot might not strike a stone, but it will certainly strike the snake…
Matthew though intimates the ongoing nature of this test. Just as there are three temptations in the wilderness, there are three times Jesus goes away to pray in Gethsemane – the ultimate time of testing (Matthew 26:36-46). Immediately after these prayers, when He is betrayed, He observes that relief from angels is entirely within His grasp…
“With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?’” (Matthew 26:51-54) (NIVUK)
To forego relief, for us.
