has not taken place; sin is still alive and unremoved, and Satan is fiercer than ever—he has not been bound at all. On the contrary, according to your own narrative, God loosed him against the Messiah, confining him on a mountain for forty days to test him.
During that ordeal he said to him on one occasion,
“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.”
The Messiah replied,
“It is written: Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God.”
Satan then led him to Jerusalem, set him on the pinnacle of the Temple, and said,
“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: He will command His angels concerning you, lest your foot strike a stone.”
Jesus answered,
“It is also written: You shall not test the Lord your God.”
Next he took him to a very high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, and said,
“If you will fall prostrate before me, I will give you all that you see.”
The Messiah declared,
“Away with you, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve none beside Him.”
Thereupon God—Mighty and Majestic—sent an angel who tore the enemy from his place, hurled him into the sea, and cleared the way for the Messiah.