Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 4:8-9

"Again, the devil taketh him unto an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; and he said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me." — Matthew 4:8-9 (ASV)

Wretched traitor! None of these kingdoms were really his own. They were in truth the rightful heritage of the Lord to whom he pretended he could give them. How he opened his mouth and said, All these things will I give you! A poor all after all, and it would only have been a stolen gift had he bestowed it.

Yet it would have been to any of us a very dazzling and fascinating sight, for the glories of even one kingdom make hearts beat and eyes glisten and feet slip. The bait is sweet, but the hook lies under it. The glittering glory would be bought too dear by that demand—fall down and worship me.

If Jesus would have adopted carnal means, He would soon have had the kingdoms of the world at His feet. A little tampering with truth and a little flattery of prejudice, and he might have had many men around him, irresistible in their fanaticism. By their enthusiastic effort, He would soon have been able to wield a mighty power, before which Rome would have fallen. Our holy Lord disdained to use the help of evil, though the master of wickedness promised Him success. How could He bow down before the devil?

It was the height of impudence for the false fiend to invite worship from the perfect One. Christ at the devil's feet! It reminds us of religion supported by theatricals and raffles.

What gift of the foul fiend could tempt the Son of God to be the servant of evil? The tempter does not dare to mention Sonship in this case, for that would have laid the blasphemous suggestion too bare. No son of God can worship the devil.

O Lord, grant that if ever we should hunger and be in poverty, like our Lord, we may never yield to the temptation to do wrong to gain wealth and honor or even the supply of pressing need! May Your Church never yield to the world with the idea of setting up the kingdom of Christ in a more easy and rapid manner than by the simple preaching of the Gospel!