The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 67

he. is malignant and murderous, took advantage of the moment at which appetite, after bemg so long whetted, bad become keenest, and urged the changf, of stones into bread to meet the wants of noture. Bnt the place as well as the time appeared to second the speciousness and seeming propriety of this suggestion. It was just such a place as that; .of which the Psalmist say&, "They wandered in a v.ildemess in a solitary way . . . Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them." Nothing ea.table could he obtained• no esculent of any kind was to be met with. The circumstances also added to th; speciousness of Satan's suggestion, and seemed to render the working of a miracle as proper as it was plausible. The Saviour had been declared and openly acknowledged as the Son of God. He is alone in a desert, hungry, without any possibility of supply, and yet " the Son of God with power." In such a case it was natural enough and reasonable enough to all human seeming for Satan to say, "If you really possess the power, why not exert it at a time when it is so much needed, and in a place where it is so indispensable no suitable supply being otherwise procurable? If the Son of God, and in want, why not utter a creative word and relieve that want? If invested with sufficient ability, why not speak an omnific word and display that ability? If capable, why not work a miracle when it is so necessary, and when there can be nothing wrong in the act; for to turn stones into loaves of bread is in itself no more amiss than to turn water into wine?" Thus tempted Satan. Thus by plausible and powerful reasonings he backed his temp- tations. (b) To shwn those snares i,s the next practical use to be made of this temptation. However specious and subtle, it is our interest as well as our duty to shun them ; and the more specious and subtle they are, the more needful it is to be ua our guard against them. Oh, bow subtle the tempter is I He takes advantage of our circumstances, be takes occasion from our wants, he adapts bis assaults to our weaknesses. The poor and needy be tempts to discontent, sometimes even to dishonesty. Are you poor'[ Then, says Satan, scruple not to supply the necessities of nature. Are you unable to rise in the world by fair means? Then use foul. Are you in low circumstances? Then try the tricks of trade. Are yon necessitous? Then employ dishonesty in your dealings, or resort to fraud in some shape, or even have recourse to force. Are you given to appe- ·tite? Then Sa.tan will tempt to excess in food, or drink, or both. "Use the world," says God. " Abuse it," says Satan. "Be temperate in all things," says God. "Never mind,'' says Satan," live while live you can, 'eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow you die.'" His temptations too, as we have seen, are most plausible. He often seems to be urging us to what is good and proper, or even to wbat tends to promote the glory and honour of God. But the more plausible a temptation is, and the more appearance of good there -is in it, the more dangerous generally it is, and the more destructive it may prove. In the temptation we are considering, had the Son of God yielded, and by miracle turned stones into bread, however justifiable the act at first ~ight appears, besides betraying distrust in Providence and disregard of the Divine will, he would have failed in the exercise of submission, and so in setting an example to bis followers. God will have bis children, when they are in want, to wait on him and wait for him; Sa.tan tempts them to do neither. God assures bis people tba.t he is merciful and gracious-that be knows -our frame, and will supply our wants in his own good time and way; Satan tempts to hard thoughts of God, and to doubt or distrust his paternal care. God witnessetb with our spirits that we are bis children, just as he bod done to the eternal Son ; Satan strives to weaken that testimony, and tempts us to question our sonsbip. God tells us that -~ffiictions not only consist with, but come from, bis fatherly hand, for "whom he loveth be cbasteneth ; " Satan tempts us to regard them as evidences that God bas forgutten or forsaken us. (c) Scripture is the sword of the Spirit we m1,st wield. Now consider the Saviour's reply to this first temptation. He might have met the tempter with a positive declaration, " I am the Son of God." He might have asserted his lordsbip over him. He might have subdued him instantly by Almighty power. But in so doing he would only have left us an exhibition of omnipotence to astonish us, not an example to attract us. On the contrary, be takes away the ground of the temptation by nppealing to the Divine Word. His answer was," It is written [stands written], Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," or more 1;imply, as in St. Luke," by every word of God." Thus he put honour on the Divine Word, and o.t the same time put iuto our hand a weapon of greatest power for our ,individual defence. He shuws, moreover, that, though man ordinarily lives by bread, 64 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [on. L 1-411.