The second temptation...

of Jesus proceeds directly from the first. Satan uses the truth Jesus has spoken to refute him in manipulation and twisting of Scripture for the second.

Here's the text:

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'he will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"
Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Some key points to notice are: first, the devil has to take Jesus to the holy city and place Him on the pinnacle showing that even here Jesus does not use His divine power to manifest Himself there. Second, the devil uses that humongous word again of "if" to imply mountains of doubt as to whether this is a true belief on anyone's part, let alone Jesus' part.

Third, taken that Jesus in the first temptation resisted by demonstrating a trust in God's purposes and will, particularly God's protection in His state of extreme hunger, the devil picks up on this by tempting Jesus to test the credibility and integrity of God's protection. The test the devil proposes is to throw Himself down in a spectacular event so that everyone can witness God's miraculous divine intervention. In studying this, I came across the Malachi 3:1 reference about how the Messiah would come in a sudden event at the temple. This commentary said that it was reasonable to understand that the Jews believed Messiah would come in a spectacle of power at the temple in Jerusalem. The devil offers this way to Jesus as a proof of His Messiahship.

Fourth, Satan uses Scripture out of context to make it say what he wants it to say to suit his deception. He doesn't quote the Scripture for any of its intended purposes such as to edify the body, to grow faith, to convict of sin, to instruct the saints, or for the glory of God. (Do not misunderstand this list as exhaustive, but a sampling of purposes). More pointedly, the devil does not use the verses from Psalm 91 within the whole counsel of God. He twists the Scripture to force his presumption.

All of Satan's presumptive techniques are to tempt Jesus to be presumptive before His Father--to require of God a spectacular protection that was clearly outside of God's will for the proof of His Messiahship. God's will was to demonstrate Jesus as Messiah in His preaching, His healing, His death, burial and resurrection--which is exactly what happened.

Jesus' reply proves three significant points. First, Jesus uses the word "Again" to clarify the devil's misuse of Scripture. He redirects the quoting of Scripture to its intended purpose. In this case, the Scripture Jesus quotes is a warning. Secondly, Jesus uses the words "it is written" to demonstrate the inherent integrity of Scripture. Thirdly, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 within its context as a solid Biblical principle of how man is to relate to and stand in submission to a Holy God, with reverent fear and not arrogance. Jesus does not use His position as the Son of God to exercise prideful license, He uses His position to prove obedience.

I think the lesson that most directed my thoughts in studying this temptation is that of obedience. My position as a child of God is not to have a reckless attitude toward the promises of God, not to presume upon His will, and not to misapply Scripture to suit my purposes. My position as a child of God is to prove my obedience in how I trust God's will, in how I read His word, in how I exalt only Him as Lord and Savior.