I’m currently reading through Matthew. Chapter a day. Okay, a chapter every few days. Anyways, as I read Matthew 4, “The Temptation of Jesus,” I realized Satan knows his Scripture. Much better than I do. 

“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 angles concerning you.’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”  -Matt 4:5-6

I re-read that and I was stunned. I thought, “did Satan just quote Psalm 91:11,12 without using his smartphone app?” Of course, I needed my iPhone app to find the Psalm 91 reference. 

Satan had used Scripture to provoke Jesus. He twisted God’s words to fit his agenda. How often have I twisted God’s words to fit my agenda? I have to think through it. I know in my heart, I want to justify specific passages that deal with women’s roles in the church to fit my agenda. I’m sure there are many other examples. 

Perhaps wives abuse the line “husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church” to manipulate their hubsters to comply with their selfish agendas. I know I would. 

Another thought: just b/c you know Scripture and can memorize a few verses, does that mean you acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Savior? From what Satan just did, I guess quoting, memorizing, reading Scripture doesn’t always mean you’re a Christian. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” Matt 7:21.

Today’s spin on the passage above, “Lord, Lord, won’t I enter the kingdom of heaven because I was baptized as a baby, attended church, went on a short term missions trip, was the youth group president…?”

Too harsh? Perhaps.