From this position [a lofty mountain… the adversary] showed Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world… and the glory of them”. He knew that Jesus was destined to possess them all; but that he was also to obtain them through suffering. Jesus knew this, too. Now, as the flesh dislikes suffering, the tempter proposed to gratify the desire of his eyes by giving him all he saw, on the easy condition of doing homage to him as the god of the world. “All this power”, said he, “will I give thee, and the glory of them; for that is delivered to me, and to whomsoever I will, I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine” (Luke 4:6,7). But Jesus resisted the enticement, and said, “Get thee hence, adversary: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve”. “Having ended all the temptation he departed from him for a season.” And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee.
In this manner, then, was he put to the proof in all things… He preferred the grace of God with suffering, to the gratification of his flesh with all the pomp and pageantry of this vain and transitory world… If those who possess it, such as kings, priests, nobles, etc., were what they pretended to be, they would follow Jesus’ example, and renounce them all… What fellowship hath Christ with Belial? Certainly none.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One