Matthew 4
KJV
5+ Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,
Scriptures record a time in Jesus’ life when the Devil organised a sightseeing tour for Him! It was a memorable tour, as it was well-planned, and the sights and sounds of the places and items on display were attractive.
Sightseeing tours are well-organised trips by event planners with the intention to selling or promoting goods, which are often vanity products. Unfortunately, most people fall for them because of the way they are packaged.
This was the same approach the Devil used on Jesus. Read how it went; he packaged evil in a manner as to look good, attractive and desirable.
Matthew 4:3
NIV
[3] The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Matthew 4:5
NIV
[5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple
.
Matthew 4:8
NIV
[8] Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour.
A very impressive sightseeing tour full of grandiose sights and sounds which any man would love to see and experience!
All that glitters is not gold we are told by the Sages, yet most fall for lack of discernment, vigilance and scrutiny.
What can we learn from these, a lot; not all that we see is genuine! Not all that you hear is true! Not all who follow us are sincere! Not all who pledge their loyalty to you are genuine! Not every invitation is an honour. Not every gift comes from a sincere heart!
A tall list of lessons but these suffice to help us identify the dangers inherent in the sightseeing tour we’ve embarked on while here on Earth.
For failure to discern many are living with regrets, the common expression on their lips is “ if only I had known, if only I had listened and taken the advice given; if only! If only! If only! “
It is not everything that organisers and operators present to us that is genuine !!!
On a serious note, we are here on a “ sightseeing tour” not every item/agenda etc presented to us is genuine or helpful. Not every account or story we are told is true or accurate, most are embellished exaggerations! Others are outright lies
We have to examine everything carefully so we do not live to regret later. To recap; not every friend is sincere, not every gift is from a genuine heart, not every invitation is an honour. Not every smile is genuine. Not every handshake or embrace is genuine.
Just as the Lord discerned and rejected what was presented to Him by the devil even so must we. Do not be misled by the applause if in doubt ask the baby mosquito what her mum told her when she returned from her maiden sightseeing tour.
The baby mosquito misread, mistook etc the effort to kill her when her killers clapped their hands when she passed by them! She thought it was admiration and honour. Not until her mum told her what it meant.
Is she alone in this? No! Many living today mistake the applause of their disguised enemies to mean endorsements, only to regret it later. It was Wilson Pickett (late) who sang a song titled “ Don’t Let the green grass fool you, don’t let it change your mind “
Beloved when you read the account of the temptation of Jesus as recorded, see it as a “ sightseeing tour” the Devil gave Jesus. The same way he is taking many today on sightseeing!
Beware not to be deceived by the niceties of life, nor the admirations of insincere people. They are concealed traps waiting to snap you.
A word to the wise