Scriptures that Shaped Their Author
In Ephesians, Paul speaks about how we are to respond to the the temptations of our spiritual enemy. Paul writes,
"Put on the whole the armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand, therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your wait, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." - Ephesians 6:10-17
Note that the only offensive weapon we are given is the word of God, which Paul calls "the sword of the Spirit." Of course, Jesus has many other weapons and powers at his disposal during his temptation in the desert. Yet he chooses to limit himself to those same tools that have been given to us. His use of the word of God as a defense and offense against the devil reminds us that like Jesus, we too can defeat the powers of evil with nothing more than God's Word and our faith.
Worship the LORD, and Serve Only Him
In this third and final temptation, reported in Matthew 4:8-11, Satan takes Jesus to "a very high mountain" to show him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan offers to give Jesus them all, if Jesus would only fall down and worship him.
Is this a real offer? Are we to believe that Satan has the power to fulfill what he is promising? Scripture suggests that perhaps there is some validity to Satan's claims. In the Gospel of John, Jesus calls Satan "the ruler of the world" (see John 12:31 and 14:30). In 2 Corinthians 4:4, Paul refers to the devil as "the god of this world." In the first letter of John, we are told "that the whole world lies under the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). None of this invalidates God's ultimate authority. For we know that "the most high God has sovereignty over the kingdoms of men" (Daniel 5:21). But God, in his sovereignty, has given us over to our own choices and sins. Thus the world is often contrasted with the church; the church is the family of God, and the world is in rebellion against God and in service to God's enemy.
Understanding the depth of the world's alienation from God and affiliation with Satan is critical if we are to understand what Jesus truly did for us. It is not for just "the good people" that Jesus came. Instead, "God so loved the world" - the world in arms against him - "that he gave his only begotten Son." It is in the depth of our disloyalty that Jesus gives his life for us.
This offer in the final temptation then, is a real one. Satan proposes that he will give up his claim on our allegiance, if Jesus would simply bend the knee. In a way, this is the same exchange that God the Father and God the Son intend; the life of Jesus for the lives of all people. This would allow Jesus to accomplish his purpose without the cross and all it's suffering.
Jesus knows, however, that without the cross there can be no eternal change in the lives of mortals; the sin that lives within us would not disappear even without Satan's direct influence. Moreover, Jesus knows that no kingdom not allied with God could endure. Thus he banishes his enemy and continues his journey to Calvary.
Extras
Jesus' Scripture reference in the third temptation comes from Deuteronomy 6:10-15. It is not a direct quote, like the other two citations, but it is a clear restatement of 6:13. Significantly, this passage is immediately preceded by the Shema, the famous verse from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 which Jesus cited as the greatest commandment, and which we have been using as our call to worship throughout this series. As Satan asks Jesus to worship him, Jesus is certainly reminded of these famous words:
"Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."