Did Satan know he was tempting the Christ?

[Antonios]

Dear Paul,

I would just like to comment on the below post if I may:


I don't think Satan knew he was crucifying "The Christ" had he known he would not have done it. By doing so, he voluntarily destroyed his hold on death. On the contrary, I do believe he urged the men of the day to destroy "a Godly man" preaching about God and God's simplicity which the religious leaders of the day were making into stumbling blocks. Had satan realized he was destroying the Christ he would have gone out of his way to keep him alive yet silenced.

My understanding is that Satan knew he was crucifying "The Christ". He knew who He was when he tempted Him in the desert. He knew when he led Herod to kill off all the children in Bethlehem. In fact, his demons knew when the Lord rebuked them and casted them out of the possessed. What he didn't know was what crucifying Him would do. So puffed up in his pride, so eager to destroy God's Word, he led him into the hands of the Romans and unto the cross, not having the discernement to realize that by doing so, Adam would be freed. Cain's curse would be reversed. That the gates of hell and the prison of death would be destroyed. Blinded all because of his pride.

[Paul Cowan]

Hi Antonios,

I agree with you in his blinded pride and all. Here is why I believe he did not know.


Matthew 4:5 Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written: (bold mine)

Had he known for sure, he would not have had to tempt Him nor qualify his dare. As you can see since Christ did not fall for any of his tests, so he remained unsure. Yes the demons knew who He was when He came near. but since they are not omnipresent nor is satan, it is possible satan did not know of these exorcisms.

I can't speak to what satan may or may not have tempted men to do or think, but Herrod was a bad man. His own self insecurity of no longer being king may have caused him to kill all the babies.

I am not disagreeing with whole heartedly, I am just saying there is room for other possibilities.

Paul

[Antonios]

Hi Paul,

When Satan said to the Lord "If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written...", Satan is not testing Him to find out if He is the Son of God, but rather tempting Him to sin (and in this particular temptation, the sin of vainglory). I believe I have read this from one of the Fathers, though I'm not definite which one...

[Paul Cowan]

Hi Antonios,

Thank you for the response. How could it be vainglory? He (Christ) knew He was the son of God. What would have been vain is if He had jumped off the tower. But He didn't. I will submit to you as more knowledgeable, especially since you read it in the Fathers, but you have to admit, I have a case here. Well, I think I do at least. :)

[Antonios]

When Satan said to the Lord "If you are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written...", Satan is not testing Him to find out if He is the Son of God, but rather tempting Him to sin (and in this particular temptation, the sin of vainglory). I believe I have read this from one of the Fathers, though I'm not definite which one...



Hi Antonios,

Thank you for the response. How could it be vainglory? He (Christ) knew He was the son of God. What would have been vain is if He had jumped off the tower. But He didn't.


Hi Paul,

This is taken from The Philokalia, volume 1, page 39 in the chapter called "Texts on Discrimination in respect of Passions and Thoughts" written by Evagrios the Solitary:


Of the demons opposing us in the practice of the ascetic life, there are three groups who fight in the front line: those entrusted with the appetites of gluttony, those who suggest avaricious thoughts, and those who incite us to seek the esteem of men. All the other demons follow behind and in their turn attack those already wounded by the first three groups. For one does not fall into the power of the demon of unchastity, unless one has first fallen because of gluttony; nor is one's anger aroused unless one is fighting for food or material possessions or the esteem of men. And one does not escape the demon of dejection, unless one no longer experiences suffering when deprived of these things. Nor will one escape pride, the first offspring of the devil, unless one has banished avarice, the root of all evil, since poverty makes a man humble, according to Solomon (Prov. 10:4 LXX). In short, no one can fall into the power of any demon, unless he has been wounded by those of the front line. That is why the devil suggested these three thoughts to the Saviour: first he exhorted Him to turn stones into bread; then he promised Him the whole world, if Christ would fall down and worship him; and thirdly he said that, if our Lord would listen to him, He would be glorified and suffer nothing in falling from the pinnacle of the temple. But our Lord, having shown Himself superior to these temptations, commanded the devil to 'get behind Him'. In this way He teaches us that it is not possible to drive away the devil, unless we scornfully reject these three thoughts. (Matt. 4-1-10)

St. Theodorus in his "Century of Spiritual Texts" in volume 2 of the Philokalia states:


It has been said aptly and appositely by one of the ancients that, among the demons opposing us, there are three groups that fight in the front line: those entrusted with the appetites of gluttony, those that suggest avaricious thoughts, and those that incite us to self-esteem. All other demons follow behind and in their turn attack those already wounded by the first three groups...That is why the devil attacked our Saviour with these three thoughts.

The temptations of the devil towards Christ in the wilderness is so instructive, one can spend a lifetime contemplating it.

[Paul Cowan]

Thank you Antonios.

I need to get a copy of the Philokalia. I am already tripped up just on the gluttony demon. Woe is me for the rest follow quickly.

Paul