The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 66

thick brushwood along the banks, or among the caves of the nei11;hbourlng hills. In addition, therefore, to the natural horrors of the place, were those wild beasts with hungry jaws and glaring eyes and frightful cries, just waiting to seize him as their prey, Few, if any, human feet had trod this particular portion of that wild; no human habitation stood there; no village, or town, or city was to be found in its immediate vicinage. Consequently no supply of the necessaries of life was obtainable there • no food no refreshment of any kind, was to be had there, Take in conneotion with all thi~ that our Lord had fasted forty days and forty nights, and we must admit that suoh a place and such a time and such circumstances were the best possible for the success of such a temptation as that with which Satan first plied the Saviour. (2) Possibilities, No -doubt it was easy for him who was "declared the Son of God" with power, who could multiply a few loaves and fishes into food for multitudes, who could transform the water- pots of Cana into vessels of wine, to turn the loaf-like stones of the wilderness into actual loaves (lipTbi) of wholesome bread. Further, it was but natural for him to do so when he was suffering such severe privation, when pained with the pangs of want, when distressed by hunger, which., as the old saying has it," will break through stone walls." Moreover,was it not right to do this when no other way of relief appeared accessible, and when ordinary means of sustenance were out of reach? Not so, however. (8) Things ever so plausible not therefore proper, A thing may be ever so plausible in the eyes of man, and yet not proper in the sight of God. Notwithstanding all the plausibility of Satan's suggestion. had the Savionr yielded he would have been forestalling the providence of God; shown distrust in the provisions of that providence; renounced the exercise of patience; doubted the resouret. of that heavenly Father who had commissioned the voracious raven to bring flesh to his prop· et, who long_before had supplied his people's wants without tueir sowing or reaping, and that in a wilderness and for forty years, raining down bread from heaven every morning throughout that period round the camp of Israel. Still more, he would have been renouncing that abnegation of self-that poverty, humility, suffering, and sorrow, which were all, and more, included in the conditions of the cove- nant. He would have put aside the bitter cup of suffering without raising it to his lips, much less draining it to the dregs. He would have faltered at the first step, and so -defeated the whole undertaking. Interests of greatest moment were at stake : the life or death of millions was in the balance ; the weal or woe of countless human beings was depending on the decision of that moment ; souls immortal were to be saved or sacrificed by the action of that hour. (4) The Saviour victorious, Angels, we doubt not, looked to see the issue, perhaps in terrible suspense; but it lasted not an instant. The conflict in this case is scarcely commenced, when the Son of God comes off the conqueror and Satan is repelled. The sword of the Spirit was the instrument of victory. 'l'he tempter is reminded that man is not dependent on bread alone ; there are many other things .called into existence by God for human food, and everything so appointed, be it root, or fruit, or berry, or tuber, or plant, or acorn, will, by the Divine blessing, serve the -end. Besides, while the body is still craving and saying, "Give, give," there is another part of man, which must be supplied with spiritual nourishment, and which it is death to neglect. The soul lacks spiritual food. It feeds on the hidden and heavenly manna, (5) Practical use of this first temptation. (a) To see the subtlety of Satan's snares, We may now look at the practical bearing of this first temptation expressed in the words, '' Speak a word of power in order that these stones may become bread or loaves-speak them by a word of power into bread;" though fv,. with the subjunctive is not for the infinitive after .,,..i in the sense of command, but as Stolz translates, "Sprich ein Machtwort dam.it diese Steine Brod werden." If we reflect on the antecedents and the accompaniments of this temptation, we cannot conceive of anything more specious. The ti= was that moment when he began to be an hungered; when the sinless cravings of appetite began to be felt; when, in instructive parallelism with Moses at the promulgation of the Law from Sinai, and with Elias at its restoration on Carmel, the Saviour at the fulfilment of the Law and the introduction of the gospel fasted forty days and forty nights. By entering in this manner on the activities of his great mediatorial work, he teaches us, by the way, the importance of retiring for fasting, meditation, and prayer before commencing any very important duty in the service of God, The time was thus well chosen; for when the Saviour, being subject to all the sinless infirmities of humanity, began to feel the gnawings of hunger, just then Satan, who is as vigilant as ,~H. I, 1--46,] THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. 63