Jesus does not reason with Satan. A single text silences when used in the power of the Spirit. The whole secret of strength in conflict is using the Word of God in the right way. One may say, I am not like this perfect Man: It might be so with Christ, but how can I expect the same result? True, we are ignorant, and the flesh is in us, but God is always behind, and He is faithful. He will not suffer us to be tempted above that we are able. Temptation may be simply a trial of our obedience, as in Abraham’s case, not a snare to lead us astray. Satan presents what has no appearance of evil. The evil would be doing one’s own will. Now it solves every difficulty to ask — not, what harm is there in doing this or that, but — why am I doing it? Is it for God or myself? What, am I to be always under this restraint? Ah! There the secret of our nature comes out: We do not like the restraint of doing what God will approve of. It is restraint to do God’s will! We want to do our own will. To act merely because one must is law and not the guidance of the Spirit. The Word of God was the motive of Christ and such is Christ’s guidance. Not fencing the old man, but the new man living on the word is our defense against Satan.
The Remembrancer, 1897