All this week on Things Unseen we've been thinking about the temptations of Jesus,

and I pointed out something that you've probably noticed.

The three temptations are described in detail by Matthew and Luke, but they record them

in different orders. In

Matthew, the order is, turn stones into bread, then throw yourself down from the temple, and

then thirdly, I will give you the kingdoms of this world if you'll fall down and worship me.

But in Luke, the order is, stones into bread, fall down and worship, and then

throw yourself down from the temple. And to some Bible readers, that seems very puzzling. But there's

almost certainly a straightforward explanation. What the two gospel writers are doing is recording the three temptations

in terms of what they're wanting to communicate to us about the Lord Jesus.

So today let's take Luke's order.

Luke's climax is with the temptation to Jesus to throw himself down from the temple.

Show you trust God's promise to send angels to save you, says Satan. That's what he promises,

isn't it? He will command his angels to guard you. That's part of Scripture, and they will

bear you up lest you strike your foot against a stone. Interesting, isn't it, that's part of Scripture, and they will bear you up lest you strike your foot against

a stone. Interesting, isn't it, that in this temptation the devil actually quotes from Scripture,

from Psalm 91, verses 11 and 12. In the earlier temptations, it was Jesus who was quoting

from Scripture.

Now it's as if the devil is trying to throw the Bible back in Jesus' face.

He quotes these promises that were given to believers in general, and he challenges Jesus.

If or since you're the Son of God prove that these promises hold good by giving a spectacular

demonstration that they work.

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