The Ancient Witnesses

Chapter 6: The Fullness of Time • 193

Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” 45 “He showed Christ the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,” explained Origen, “because compared with eternity, the present age lasts only a moment. Moreover, Christ would permit only a brief glance of what the devil was offering: what our Savior saw was sin reigning, all the people ruled by sin, and the ruler of this world reveling in their destruction!” 46 “This temptation, “Origen continued, “shows us two rival kings striving to reign—the devil is king of sin over sinners; Christ is King of Justice over the just! 47 “Amen!” said Joseph, and Origen prompted Preacher to read the next passage. And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’ And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 48 The elder witness launched into his next point with greater passion than before.

45 Luke 4:5-8. (NKJV)

46 Adapted from Joseph T. Lienhard, Origen Homilies on Luke , Homily 29:3 in The Fathers of the Church, vol. 94, 123-124; and Patrologia Graeca 13, 1878).

47 Same as previous note.

48 Luke 4:9-12. (NKJV)