A few days ago, while my father-in-law and I were working on the roof, I was reminded of one of the temptations Jesus faced during His time on earth. As I stood there, the image came to mind of the devil urging Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple—a temptation rooted in Scripture, yet subtly distorted.
In Matthew 4:6, the devil quoted Scripture in an attempt to deceive Jesus:
“If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (KJV)
This passage references Psalm 91:11–12:
“For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” (KJV)
When comparing the two, it becomes clear that Satan deliberately omitted a key phrase: “to keep thee in all thy ways.”This omission is significant. It highlights how the enemy, though deeply knowledgeable of Scripture, uses it selectively and deceptively. As the former covering cherub and bearer of light, Satan possessed an unparalleled depth of insight among the angelic host. His familiarity with God’s Word makes his distortions even more dangerous.
This reflection is not merely a theological observation but a solemn reminder. The enemy can and does manipulate Scripture to lead believers astray. Therefore, it is vital that God’s remnant people are thoroughly grounded in the Bible. A deep and faithful understanding of the Word is essential in discerning truth from subtle deception and standing firm against the schemes of the adversary.
