The Bait of Worldly Prosperity
G. T. Coster. Luke 4:6-7 And the devil said to him, All this power will I give you, and the glory of them: for that is delivered to me… A literary angler in the lochs of Scotland was wont to catch trout in a singularly suggestive fashion. The bait consisted of a pellet made of chloroform paste. No sooner had a trout taken one of these pellets into his mouth, than it fell into a sweet sleep. All efforts at escape were prevented; it could instantly be drawn to the shore. Prosperity acts similarly upon many. They are lulled to spiritual slumber, and easily become Satan's prey. If that is a man's peril, what worse can happen to him than so-called success? (G. T. Coster.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. WEB: The devil said to him, "I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want.