The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Matthew 4:5-7, “Then the devil took Him into the holy city; and he had Him stand on the

pinnacle of the temple,

6 and said to Him, ‘If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, “He will give

His angels charge concerning You”; and “On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike

Your foot against a stone.”’”

7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the

test.'”

Did I not previously tell you that Satan is not easily discouraged? Well, here is the proof. When tempted to turn stones into bread, Jesus resisted, resorting to the Word of God and saying “It is written, ‘’Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'”

Having been unsuccessful in tempting Jesus to doubt the care of His Heavenly Father, Satan subsequently returns with a temptation to presume upon God. This event was occasioned under very secure circumstances. They were present in the Holy City, Jerusalem. It was the Father’ chosen place of holiness, safety and security. Surely, nothing adverse would or even could occur there. Further still, they were physically positioned on a high point of the Holy Temple itself.

As if that were not sufficient security, Satan turned to Psalm 91:10-12, which reads,

“No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. 11 For He will

give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. 12 They

will bear you up in their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.”

Now, compare that passage as Satan quoted it to the LORD Jesus as in Matthew 4:

“If You are the Son of God throw Yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give

His angels charge concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up,

lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'”

Do you see Satan’s subtilty? He omitted four salient words: “…in all Thy ways.” Satan’s proposal was not the way of Jesus or of His Father. We must be exceedingly careful in reading Scripture. A small addition or a small omission can alter the original intention and lead us down a weary, disdainful pathway.

Jesus, however, did not directly argue Satan’s misquotation; rather, He quoted Deuteronomy

6:16 saying, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the LORD your God to the test.”

We would certainly do best to resort always to Scripture. Only three times, in more than 60 years of ministry, have I been led to quote Scripture two verses of which I was totally unaware. Don’t count on that happening to you! Get into the Word and memorize it carefully and accurately! As with Jesus, our spiritual security lies within the Holy Scriptures.

Thank Him for His Blessed Word! And thank Him for the security you enjoy in Him!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”