Christians like to say that Satan quoted the Scriptures out of context when he tempted Christ, but he didn't. To say this completely misses the point of the temptation. Satan quoted the Scriptures 100% in context. In fact, I would go so far as to say this misunderstanding is at the root of the modern mania of false "prophecy fulfillment" which has seduced Christians into supporting an antichrist agenda. I'll explain below:
"Then the devil took Jesus 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 angels concerning you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (Matthew 4)
Satan is not tempting Christ to perform a daredevil stunt, and this is not what it means to "test the Lord," except perhaps by extension.
Rather, Satan is actually tempting Christ to fulfill biblical prophecy...
...but to do so prematurely, by his own hand, and to receive his promised inheritance without delay, without longsuffering. What Satan is saying is, "Reveal your divine glory now, descend from the pinnacle of the temple on the clouds as described of the Power of God in the prophets, so that all may see and know that you are the Messiah, the Divine King." Satan wants Jesus to reveal his true nature, which was veiled in flesh, and to descend as Judge, to bring the fullness of his kingdom upon men. Why would Satan want that? Because if Jesus did that before suffering for sin, wrath would pour out upon the enemies of God, condemning all mankind. The issue was not one of context, but of proper order, and of timing: exaltation now, or exaltation later? Take the inheritance of God's promise now, or surrender first to God's order of humiliation, obedience, penance, and suffering? Bring his kingdom now—and suddenly, and in glory—or plant it like a seed in hiding, and be patient about its revealing, and wait for God's exaltation?
This is the true meaning of the third temptation of Christ. It has to do with bypassing the order of God's covenant to establish the promised kingdom and the inheritance of Sabbath rest in the flesh, without the humility of repentance, of long-suffering, of obedience. To do so bears fruit only unto violence, wrath, and death.
Can anyone who considers the last century of history say that this does not sound familiar?
If Christians had understood this, we might have avoided a multitude of modern woes.
It's extremely lucrative and thriving, especially in liberal areas like here in SoCal which require translators at company meetings, events, conferences, etc. I just did an event for a well-known company where we rigged an entire AV show with cameras *just* for the translators in the next room to have a video feed of the speakers to aid in translating. When I found out how much the translators and the company charges/makes it knocked my socks off.
@MateyYanakiev@AngloVarangian They should have simply called it "Facilities Rental/Fee" rather than "Baptism Fee." Just a really unfortunate PR mistake.
Few things more disheartening than constructing the tissue barrier on the public toilet seat only to have the auto flush trigger and suck it all down before you sit down.
Absolutely tickled by the happy coincidence that the modern expression "cope and seethe" maps so perfectly onto Jesus' "weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The same way the apostles did, showing the transience of this world and the promise of the world to come, and that to truly love another often means to be "against" them, as your kid might sometimes think you are doing to him when he does not get his way.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
-1 John 2:15-17
"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
-James 4:4-10