But Satan made another attempt. He took our Lord to a very high mountain, and showed Him[1] all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory thereof[2], and said: “All these will I give Thee[3], if, falling down, Thou wilt adore me.” Jesus answered: “Begone, Satan[4]; for it is written[5]: The Lord thy God thou shalt adore, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Then the devil left Jesus[6]: and, behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
COMMENTARY.
Why Jesus let Himself be baptized by John. 1. He did not require to do penance, because He was without sin; but He had taken our sins upon Him to atone for them; therefore He humbled Himself, placed Himself on a level with sinners, and obediently subjected Himself to be baptized, as He had submitted before to be circumcised, and presented in the Temple. 2. He gave us thereby a lesson in humility and obedience, and has taught us that we too must fulfil all justice, i. e. promptly obey all the ordinances of God. 3. By His baptism He sanctified water, and gave to it the power of purifying and sanctifying the soul of man. In other words, He instituted the Sacrament of Baptism by which, under the outward sign of water, we receive remission of our sins.
The testimony of heaven. The opening of heaven, the appearance of the Holy Ghost, and the voice from above all served to place Jesus before the people as the promised Redeemer, and to give them faith in His divine mission.
The opening of heaven signified that Heaven, which had been closed to man since the Fall, was now once more opened by Jesus. The visible apparition of the Holy Ghost proclaimed that in Jesus dwelt the fulness of divine grace and wisdom, and that He it was who would
- ↑ Showed Him. Pointing them out and describing them.
- ↑ Glory thereof. He described to Him the riches and enjoyments of the world.
- ↑ Give Thee. The proud and lying spirit spoke as if he were lord over the world, whereas he had only a certain power over it, namely, the dominion which Adam had lost through sin.
- ↑ Begone, Satan. Full of horror and indignation, Jesus proved by these words that He well knew who the Tempter was, and showed His authority over him by commanding him.
- ↑ Written. Deut. 6, 13.
- ↑ Left Jesus. Satan now knew who it was with whom he had been striving, and was obliged to obey our Lord’s command at once; for, full of spite and rage, he fled before the mighty and holy One who had vanquished him. Then angels appeared and ministered unto Jesus.
