Satan tempted Jesus to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple to prove He was the Son of God by performing a spectacular miracle.
According to the transcript evidence, Satan took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in the holy city and challenged Him, saying 'If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down.' Satan quoted Scripture, claiming God would command angels to protect Jesus. Les Feldick teaches this was a temptation appealing to the lust of the eye, as it was a showmanship event to draw attention from the crowds below.
Matthew 4:5-6 — This passage directly describes Satan taking Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and tempting Him to jump.
In Matthew 4, we read that after Jesus had fasted forty days and nights, the tempter came to Him. The devil took Jesus to the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said, "If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone." Jesus responded, "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." The Bible records this as one of the three temptations Jesus faced in the wilderness.
Les Feldick explains that after Jesus turned down bread, Satan took Him to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem. The pinnacle was high enough for people below to see easily. Satan encouraged Jesus to jump, promising angels would catch Him, to create a spectacular show for the crowds. Les sees this as appealing to the 'lust of the eye,' not just Jesus's own, but others' — drawing eyes to Him. It was a temptation to seek public attention and prove His identity dramatically. Jesus refused, quoting Scripture: 'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'
Satan challenged Jesus to cast Himself down from the temple's pinnacle, claiming angels would protect Him. The temptation was to perform a public spectacle that would draw attention and prove His divine sonship. This appealed to the lust of the eye, as people would be amazed by the visible miracle.
Jesus answered by quoting Scripture: 'It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.' He refused to test God or submit to Satan's challenge.
The temple was in the holy city, Jerusalem, and its pinnacle was high enough for the crowds below to see clearly. This made it an ideal place for a public display.
Did Adam Sin Out of Love? The Hebrew Servant Explained
need anything that God has to give them. I can make it on my own, and to submit to a sovereign God and admit that He is what I need, no thanks, is what most of the world says. All right, so look at them again. It's the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. All right, now I said the Lord Jesus faced those same three set of circumstances.
Pinnacle Temptation and Lust of the Eye
Les explains that Satan set Jesus on the temple pinnacle and tempted Him to jump, interpreting this as the 'lust of the eye'—a showmanship event appealing to others' eyes.
Showmanship and Public Attention
Les describes the temptation as appealing to the eyes of the multitudes who would witness the angels catching Jesus, making it a 'show of shows.'
Pinnacle Visibility
Les notes the temple pinnacle was easily within eyesight of the crowds, emphasizing the public nature of the temptation.
Satan's Scripture Quoting
Les points out that Satan quoted Scripture, promising angelic protection, and that the temptation was to jump and prove His identity before the temple crowds.
Public Spectacle and Refusal
Les vividly portrays Satan's tempting Jesus to sail off the temple and be caught by angels, and notes Jesus' refusal to tempt God.
What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2? (The Genesis Gap Explained)
All right, now if you'll come with me to Matthew chapter 4, as Christ begins His earthly ministry. And He's been 40 days and 40 nights out there in the desert, and the first thing Satan comes up with is the temptation to satisfy His hunger. All right, but I want you to come with me for sake of our speaking of ruling and reigning and so forth, to come up to verse 8 in Matthew 4.
What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2? (The Genesis Gap Explained)
And so from that high preeminent area, not only could they look physically all four directions, but spirit beings that they were, they could look all the way back to the Garden of Eden, they could look way up to the very end of time. And all of the empires and the kingdoms that had come on the scene, and look what old Satan has the audacity to offer.
Matthew 4:5-7: Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
This is the direct account of the temptation at the temple pinnacle and Jesus' response.
Satan said, 'If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down,' quoting that angels would protect Him. He challenged Jesus to prove His identity by jumping.
The temple pinnacle was a high, public location where crowds could see Jesus. Les Feldick says it was a showmanship event to draw attention to Jesus.
Watch the Teaching: Did Adam Sin Out of Love? The Hebrew Servant Explained