The Jews believed that the Messiah would come from the skies to the Temple (Malachi 3:1). So Satan tempted Jesus to prove His identity by jumping down from its highest turret, letting the people watch Him float to earth supported by angels. It would be an excellent publicity stunt and prove that Jesus was the Son of God. It was a complex temptation: firstly to doubt His true relationship with Father God, secondly to gain applause and thirdly to accept an incorrect interpretation of Scripture.

The devil attempted to persuade Jesus that the evil plan would be Father God's will by misquoting from Psalm 91:11-12. But he left out '… to guard you in all your ways'. That not only meant physical safety - but protection of body, mind and spirit: as when an angel comforted Jesus during His agony of heart in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). The work of angels in the Bible is often to bring God's truth into the situation so that people can make right decisions (Matthew 1:20-25). They are God's servants, not ours, and they only respond to God's righteous authority.

Jesus did not argue with Satan. Correctly using Deuteronomy 6:16, Jesus rebuked the Evil One. Putting Father God to a man-made test is wrong. And to try to tempt Jesus into doing something which is outside His divine character is also wrong. And yet it is astonishing how some people and even leaders try to patronise God by claiming how He responds to their demands. It is also breath-taking how some believers bend the Scripture to suit themselves, following the example of their leaders. Some do so to justify their wrong behaviour, while others are ignorant of the truth, or blindly following a tradition.

Just because we may claim that something is ‘Biblical’ does not mean that it is. The truly Biblical mind is backed by a humble heart and a desire to serve God however He shall choose; and does not use God however they decide. Many seek applause from others; they 'feed off the crowd'. No wonder that Paul wrote to Timothy, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15). Any other approach to the Christian life or service is an invitation for Satan to tempt us to exalt ourselves, manipulate God and chart our course by the opinions of others. Error is easy: repentance is hard, but it is the only way back.