{Then the devil taketh him} (	ote paralambanei auton ho
diabolos). Matthew is very fond of this temporal adverb
(	ote). See already  2:7  3:13  4:1,5 . Note historic present
with vivid picturesqueness. Luke puts this temptation third, the
geographical order. But was the person of Christ allowed to be at
the disposal of the devil during these temptations? Alford so
holds. {On the pinnacle of the temple} (epi to pterugion tou
hierou). Literally "wing:" the English word "pinnacle" is from
the Latin _pinnaculum_, a diminutive of _pinna_ (wing). "_The
temple_" (	ou hierou) here includes the whole temple area, not
just the sanctuary (ho naos), the Holy Place and Most Holy
Place. It is not clear what place is meant by "wing." It may
refer to Herod's royal portico which overhung the Kedron Valley
and looked down some four hundred and fifty feet, a dizzy height
(Josephus, _Ant_. XV. xi. 5). This was on the south of the temple
court. Hegesippus says that James the Lord's brother was later
placed on the wing of the temple and thrown down therefrom.