February 16

Tempted of the Devil.—Matthew 4:1.

IMMEDIATELY after the glorious events connected with the baptism and anointing of Jesus, his arduous work commences, the powers of darkness come forth against him, and in the next sentence to that where we read of the Father's approving voice, we meet with the passage which heads this exercise, that, "Jesus was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the Devil." Several very striking circumstances were connected with this event. I.—There was the dreariness of the scene. He was tempted in the wilderness, a place which afforded an affecting representation of that world which he came to redeem. For by reason of sin, our earth has connected with it all the sterility and dangers of the dreary desert. It was in Eden that man was overcome by the enemy, and by which Paradise became a wilderness. It is in the wilderness that the Adversary is first met by the conquering seed of the woman, by whose completed conquests the wilderness shall be glad, bud, and blossom as the rose, and again become paradise regained—the paradise of the Lord. We learn from this also, that in the deepest solitude, we are still exposed to the temptations of the Enemy of Souls. Observe, II.—The Time of the temptation. It was immediately after his heavenly recognition and anointing with the Holy Ghost. This should teach us that, after peculiar scenes of joy and elevation, Satan may be expected to use his utmost power to bring us into sin, darkness, and condemnation. The time also of Christ's temptation was immediately connected with the holy duties of retirement, meditation, and prayer. After enjoying the closest converse with his heavenly Father, after fasting for forty days and forty nights, Satan commences his terrific and fierce assaults. Need we wonder, then, that in the secluded scenes of domestic life, or in the still more silent retirement of our closets, Satan should direct his fiery darts at the people of God. Wherever we may be, we are exposed to this common foe of God and man. How necessary that we should watch his movements, that we be not ignorant of his devices. The gospel armour is essential to the christian's safety.