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Homilies on St. Matthew, the Third Temptation of Christ

By St. John Chrysostom

Homily XIII

Mat. IV.1

5. "And he leads Him up into a high mountain, and shows Him all the

   kingdoms, and said, All these things will I give You, if You will

   fall down and worship me. Then said He, Get you behind me, Satan, for

   it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall

   you serve." [548]

   For since he was now come to sinning against the Father, saying, that

   all that is the Father's was his, and was endeavoring to make himself

   out to be God, as artificer of the universe; He then rebuked him: but

   not even then with vehemence, but simply, "Get you here, Satan;"

   which itself had in it something of command rather than of rebuke. For

   as soon as He had said to him, "Get you here," He caused him to take

   to flight; since he brought not against Him any other temptations.

   And how said Luke, that "he ended all temptation." [549] To me it

   seems that in mentioning the chief of the temptations, he had spoken of

   all, as though the rest too were included in these. For the things that

   form the substance of innumerable evils are these: to be a slave to the

   belly, to do anything for vainglory, to be in subjection to the madness

   of riches. Which accordingly that accursed one considering, set last

   the most powerful of all, I mean the desire of more: and though

   originally, and from the beginning, he was travailing to come to this,

   yet he kept it for the last, as being of more force than the rest. For

   in fact this is the manner of his wrestling, to apply those things

   last, which seem more likely to overthrow. And this sort of thing he

   did with respect to Job likewise. Wherefore in this instance too,

   having begun with the motives which seem to be viler and weaker, he

   goes on to the more prevailing.

   How then are we to get the better of him? In the way which Christ that

   taught us, by fleeing to God for refuge; and neither to be depressed in

   famine, as believing in God who is able to feed even with a word; nor

   amidst whatever good things we may receive to tempt Him who gave them,

   but to be content with the glory which is from above, making no account

   of that which is of men, and on every occasion to despise what is

   beyond our need. For nothing does so make us fall under the power of

   the devil, as longing for more, and loving covetousness. And this we

   may see even by what is done now. For now also there are those who say,

   "All these things will we give you, if you will fall down and

   worship;" who are indeed men by nature, but have become his

   instruments. Since at that time too he approached Him, not by himself

   only, but also by others. Which Luke also was declaring, when he said,

   that "he departed from Him for a season;" [550] showing that hereafter

   he approached Him by his proper instruments.

   "And, behold, angels came and ministered unto Him." [551] For when the

   assault was going on, He suffered them not to appear, that He might not

   thereby drive away the prey; but after He had convicted him in all

   points, and caused him to take to flight, then they appear: that you

   also may learn, that after your victories which are copied from His,

   angels will receive you also, applauding you, and waiting as guards

   on you in all things. Thus, for example, angels take Lazarus [552]

   away with them, after the furnace of poverty and of famine and of all

   distress. For as I have already said, Christ on this occasion exhibits

   many things, which we ourselves are to enjoy.

May you be Blessed,

+William

Monk Michael

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Saturday, December 6, 2014