The devil again questioned Jesus’ divinity, something cults also do. See comments on the first temptation pertaining to Jesus’ divinity. Then, the devil challenged him to prove his divinity by telling him to throw himself down from the temple’s highest point. He suggested God would protect him if he were God’s son. The devil misquoted Scripture just like he did in the Garden of Eden. If Jesus were to do this, then the people would awe him and make him king, for he would prove to have powers greater than man.
This temptation is saying that success and achievement will satisfy a person. If so, then this teaches not to expect to achieve success and achievement without the cross of the mission. People sometimes try to gain through deceitful channels and means. All want to be a “somebody” in the world, that is, before man’s eyes, and ignore God and his approval. This will never come, and even what one gains, he will lose in the end. Therefore, I should seek God’s approval through Jesus.
People think the ends justify the means. Satan was saying if Jesus did this, he would be glorified by the praise of men. Of course, Jesus wouldn’t be glorified for long; the act’s impact wouldn’t have long glory. As an old hymn goes, “The way of the cross leads home.
