Luke 4 records Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Satan tempted Jesus with the same three genres of temptation he used against Adam and Eve. (Lust of the flesh, Lust of the eyes; Pride of life).
How did Jesus resist temptation? He fought back with scripture. Satan tempted Jesus, and the Lord responded, “It is written.” Satan tested him again, and again he said “It is written.” Then Satan shifted tactics. The Devil quoted a scripture to Jesus. The Devil said, “It is written.” Satan used the right words but got the wrong meaning. Jesus’ response to Satan’s scripture quoting is interesting: “It is also written.”
2Jesus replied, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to a foolish test.’ “ Luke 4:12
Jesus interpreted scripture with scripture. Satan took scripture out of context. He tortured the scripture until it said what he wanted it to say. Scriptorture!
Cults, demons and deceiver can quote scripture. They can rip them out of their immediate context (the scriptures right around them) and their broader context (the rest of the Bible.) They can make them appear to say what they don’t really say.
If I am going to get the correct meaning of scriptures I must have a good heart and a good means of interpretation. I must want the scriptures to say what God wants them to say even when what they say challenges me. I must interpret scripture with scripture. The Bible says to ‘rightly divide’ the word. (2 Timothy 2:15, King James) The Greek words used here mean to ‘cut precisely with a sharp instrument.’ The Bible is called a sword in several places. We must incise scripture with scripture.
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15