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peal., to Eve:—“ Pleasant to the eyes— the pride of life.” It was a challenge to God to deliver Him from a peril into which He was urged to cast Him self, not in the service of men, but for His own display. To put Himself into Satan’s hands in the field of lying won ders. (2 Thess. 2 :9). To trust God is to abide in His will. To tempt God is to have your own way, yet claim His protection. Jesus immediately met Satan with another thrust of the sword. (Deut. 6:16). (e) The Third Test. ' From a high mountain Satan gives Him a vision of the kingdoms of the earth, and proffers them for His worship. This appeal was to the kingship of Jesus. The world kingdoms belong to Satan. Other wise there is no test here. Jesus rec ognizes Satan’s ownership. This test corresponds with the third appeal of Eve, “ The lust of the eye.” This is the most searching of all. All is Satan’s; all may be Mis, if He will but bow to him. If He refuses, He must set Himself against all the pow ers of these kingdoms and their head; begin a life of warfare and die an ig nominious death. 4 The Lord Jesus proves His real kingship by spurning Satan’s offer with the words, “ Get thee hence,” and a final thrust of the sword. (Deut. 10:20). James 4:7 says “ Sub mit yourselves, therefore, unto God; resist.the devil, and he will flee from you” ; and this tells the story of our Lord’s wonderful victory and points plainly to the path of victorious living for us. PRACTICAL POINTS (1) By prayer the heavens were open ed, God’s presence manifested and the Holy Spirit poured out. (2) Here is the picture, of Christ’s condescension, consecration and commendation. (3) Here is a threefold testimony to His Deity in preparation for a threefold testing by the devil.
(4) By subtilty Satan seeks tu snare the Son of God. His deliverance is through dependence, and delight in doing the will of His Father. (5) It is not harmful to be hungry, but it is hurtful to bake bread from the devil’s dough. (6) Pride will precipitate the prince of this world to the bottomless pit. (7) Humility will raise the Prince of Peace to the highest heaven. (8) The kingdom will be wrested from Satan, and universal sway will be given to King David’s Son. (9) Meet every test with unhesitating obedience to the will of God and unswerving loyalty to the Word 6f God. Subject Illustration. A. jeweler says “ an imitation diamond is never so brilliant as a genuine stone. If you have any doubt about yomv stone being real, put it under water along side a true diamond. LESSON T h e g e n u i n e ILLUSTRATIONS sparkles under the W. H. Pike water while the im itation stone is practically extinguished. This is the water test to reveal the false and the true. Baptism is a good water test to prove whether Christians are genuine or mere professors. Jesus Was Baptized to Fulfill All Right- eusness. Henry Ward Beecher said, “Happi ness is not the end of life; character is. This world is not a platform where you will hear Thalberg piano playing. It is a piano manufactory, w;here are dust and shavings, and boards and saws, and files and rasps, and sand-papers. The perfect instrument and music will be hereafter.” Jesus did the thing down here that wpuld fit into the perfect plan up yonder. Jesus’ Baptism An Example. Jesus never asks others to do what He would not do Himself. A gentle-
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