Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.

Jesus was tested by God to prove His perfect character to the world. The first temptation revealed that Christ was satisfied with God alone. The second proved He trusted in God the Father alone.

And then Satan took Jesus to a mountain top, showed him all the glittering kingdoms of this world…

“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” (Matthew 4:9)

All their wealth. All their armies. All their pleasures. All their worship…in exchange for worshiping Satan.

The word “worship” used in this passage is proskuneo. Pros means “toward.” Kuneo is from a more primitive word – kuon – meaning “dog.”

Proskuneo is often defined as “to kiss the hand out of reverence.” But you can see that this form of worship is a more humbling debasing act than that.

Proskuneo worship happens when we see ourselves as dogs and someone else as our Master. The Master reaches toward us and we roll over, lick his hand, hold still while he attaches His leash, and then we do whatever he commands. Total submission.

Satan wanted Jesus on his leash. He wanted God to roll over for him. He was offering power in exchange for powerlessness.

And Jesus said, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Christ’s only leader is God the Father. The only one He abandoned Himself in total trust to was God the Father. The only one He followed was God the Father. Only One is worthy of worship.

The final temptation proved Christ’s allegiance.

Our Prayer

Master, lead me today and I will follow. You are God. I am not. Amen.