(1) First Scene. The first scene was proba tionary, serving to try the present turn and temper of the Savior's mind; and also prophetical, having reference to his future ministry, through the whole course of which he was pressed with the same kind of temptations, and resisted them upon the same principles. This part of the vision con veyed this general instruction, that Christ, though the Son of God, was to struggle with hunger and thirst, and all other evils incidental to the lowest of the sons of men, and that he was never to exert his miraculous power for his own personal relief, but with resignation and faith wait for the interposition of God in his favor.
(2) Second Scene. The second scene, in which he was tempted to cast himself from the Temple, though dazzling as a proposal to demonstrate his Messiahship by a mode corresponding to the no tions of the Jewish people, was intended to teach him not to prescribe to God in what instances he shall exert his power, nor rush into danger un called in dependence upon divine aid, nor to dic tate to divine wisdom what miracles shall be wrought for men's conviction. Upon these prin ciples he resisted this suggestion, and accordingly we find him ever after exemplifying the same principles. He never needlessly exposed himself to danger in reliance upon miraculous interposi tion, he cautiously declined hazards, avoided whatever might exasperate his enemies, enjoined silence with regard to his miracles, when the pub lication of them would have excited envy or com motion.
(3) Third Scene. The third scene presignified the temptation to which he would be subject dur ing the whole course of his ministry to prostitute all his miraculous endowments to the service of Satan, for the sake of worldly ambition or honor, or for the gratification of a holy ambition, but on the ground of doing evil that good might come.
4. Literature. Monod, Temfitation of Our Lord; Krummacher, Christ in the Wilderness; Hall, Our Lord's Temptation (sermon) ; Lives of Christ, by Farrar, Geikie, and Edersheim.
J. F. D.
TEN. Sce NUMBER.
Figurative. (i) "Ten times" means often (Gen.
x :7; Job x ix :31. ( 2 ) "Ten Ammo's," or "talents," denotes many gifts and opportunities (Luke xix: 13; Matt. xxv :28) ; but "ten days of tribulation," denote a short space; or perhaps is an allusion to the "ten years'" persecution of Diocletian (Rev. ii :to). (See HORN; CROWN; TITHE, TITHES.) (3) A "tenth part," may signify one kingdom, or a considerable part of the Roman territory (Rev. xi :13) ; but in Is. vi :13, a "tenth" or "tenth part," may denote a few persons consecrated to the service of God.