The Pinnacle of the Temple

"And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down from hence:"  Luke:4:9

We are told that Jesus had been led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness and there was tempted by Satan himself. It is important to understand that Jesus did not become the Messiah  by defeating Satan but rather demonstrated that He and He alone  is the Messiah by defeating Satan. Jesus only showed what is and eternally  has been true that He is the Son of God.

One, and the last of the Temptation recorded  that our Lord Jesus Christ faced is found in the Gospel of the Physician Luke, who took great care in assembling of his account of the life of Jesus.

The  Pinnacle 

Jesus, we find in Luke's' account is taken by Satan to a high place called the Pinnacle which is at the very Temple of God, the center of the "religious" life of Israel and what was intended to be the focal point of Israels' relationship with their God.The Pinnacle referred to in the Gospel account is thought to be the south west corner of the Temple complex and may have been the location where the shofar (rams horn) was blown to call people to worship on the weekly sabbath and holy days.This spot overlooked the Kindron Valley outside the wall of the city and would have been a fall of three hundred feet or more.

"And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down from hence:" Luke:4:9

Why would satan attempt to goad Jesus into a leap from such a place what  might really  have been  his motive? It is important to remember that the Temple was meant to be the center of the relationship between God and Israel all that took place there was  looking forward to the Messiah, that Jesus who now stood perched on high. This place would have provided a grand audience for Jesus to demonstrate His place as the long awaited Messiah it would have been a spectacle.He is attempting to deceive Jesus into thinking that salvation can be given without sacrifice.

 " If you be the Son of God, cast yourself down from hence: 

For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you:

And in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone.

And Jesus answering said to him, It is said, You will not tempt the Lord your God. 

" Luke:4:9b-12

  
This  would have provided visual evidence of Jesus Messianic credentials, but by doing so Jesus would have lost the very freedom that He came to bring to us all. Satan would have accomplished this  by using the Temple of God itself and a misquote  of  Scripture to get Jesus to prove Himself. As well Satan is attempting to use the these tactics to impose  a religion on Jesus,  a religion where Jesus would not have to die, the cross would have been avoided,  Jesus could fly rather than die.

 "And in their hands they shall bear you up, lest at any time you dash your foot against a stone" (11)


 There would be no ransom for humanity, there would be no sacrifice, no atonement, no forgiveness, there would just be  religion all provided by the Son of God. This is just the opposite of why Jesus came, Jesus came to set free not enslave. Jesus was showing that true freedom is found in a relationship with God through Him alone, not through religion.

Do Not Tempt

Jesus of course saw  the motivation behind Satan temptation and brings forward the word of God to counter Satan and demonstrate all the more His place as the Son of God our Messiah Who would fulfill the very will of God even if that meant His death. The Cross declares for all time and eternity that Jesus would rather die than to be out side of the will of God.

"And Jesus answering said to him, It is said, You will not tempt the Lord your God" Luke:4:12


Jesus quotes the Word of God not just to protect Himself but to reenforce again His ever abiding in the will of His Father.

Not Just a Vantage Point

The Temptation at  the Pinnacle of the Temple was not just a vantage point it was designed to offer humanity a religious spectacle but was to bring enslavement by the One Who had come to truly set them free.

This battle of religious enslavement over the human soul characterizes all the narrative of the New Testament and all of human history even from the very beginning. Where ever the name of Jesus is preached that same religious spirit that filled the religious leaders of the day will lash out at the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus always attempting to add something to the simple grace that our Lord has offered to any and all who will but freely receive it. Jesus came to set us free from such enslavement.

This is why Paul writing to the Church throughout the ages tell each and all .

Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage of religion but true freedom in a loving relationship.

"Behold, I Paul say to you, that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love" Galatians:5:2-6

In Jesus we find true freedom all through His Love and Grace....this is the true Pinnacle  that our Lord stands upon..Amen

Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor

The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion http://www.youtube.com/user/IfItIsNotAboutJesus

Washington, Pennsylvania.   www.gcfountainoflife.org

The Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM  in the Arden Fair Grounds area of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela, Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com