When the devil wanted to play God, he laid down a pattern for worship. Satan did this because he saw that God always set forth a pattern for worship. What we read in the Bible, the devil witnessed in real time - God's dealings with His covenant people. One aspect of being God is being worshipped. But how should the creatures worship their Creator? The devil saw that God always instructed His people how to worship Him by His word.

From the first worship account recorded in Genesis (Gen. 4:3-7), the devil could see that God will not accept everything men offer as worship. Indeed, not every work or deed a man calls "worship" actually pleases God. Abel worshipped God by faith but Cain did not (Heb. 11:4). Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). In order to worship by faith, Abel worshipped according to God's word (Rom. 10:17). He followed God's pattern. Cain was angry that God neither accepted his sacrifice nor was He pleased. But instead of patting Cain on the head as a sweet little child just trying his best, or applauding Cain's creativity to contrive some variation of God's desired worship service, God simply asked, "If you do well, will you not be accepted?" (Gen. 4:7).

The devil saw that the worship that pleased God is the worship that God prescribed.

Later, Satan saw how God used Moses to instruct Israel in acceptable worship service - there was a pattern. God was very specific about constructing the Tabernacle with all its furnishings and repeatedly told Moses to do this according to the pattern (Ex. 25:9, 40; 26:30; 27:8). God also revealed the pattern for the Jerusalem Temple with its attendant services to King David (1 Chron. 28:11-12). Solomon was instructed to build it according to the pattern (1 Kings 6:11-12). The Old Testament regulated Tabernacle/Temple worship to minutia. There was a definite pattern for worship practices.

This is not to say that God wanted mindless, rote activity. Religious service was only meaningful in the context of a proper lifestyle. After all, the same God desired broken spirits and contrite hearts (Psalm 51:17). Obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22). But the specific religious service truly mattered. For example, God designated some animals as clean and others as unclean. Regardless of how sincerely an Israelite wept over his sins, that could not make an unclean animal clean; his contrite heart could not make that animal an acceptable animal for sacrifice. If an Israelite attempted to offer an unclean animal, it would not be accepted and God would not be pleased, no matter how earnest the worshipper appeared.

Satan brought this knowledge of God's worship to his third temptation for Jesus. The devil wanted to play God and be worshipped according to God's very own principles for worship.

The devil expressed his desire for worship using a word - proskuneo. In English, "worship" simply means to ascribe worth to something. But proskuneo means, "to kiss (social ritual); 'recognize another's prestige by offering special honor', ordinarily through a gesture of prostration, do obeisance (to), pay homage (to); worship." He craved Jesus' homage. Furthermore he told Jesus how to do it - bow down. The devil thought himself worthy of worship and, like God, dictated the very act(s) that would be acceptable worship.

Yes, Satan wanted Jesus to bow down - prostration is the acceptable act that would communicate the worship. Jesus answered by saying you shall only "serve" (latreuo) God. By definition, Latreuo refers to "the cultic worship of praise and prayer which all may offer, or else the word is used in an extended, loose and almost figurative or spiritualized sense to include every form of divine worship." Jesus' answer to the devil's temptation showed that Jesus understood "bowing in worship" as religious service and religious service is reserved for God.

Depending on the context, latreuo can mean religious service, that is, worship practices (e.g. the devil saying, "bow down"). Such as in Philippians 3:3, Paul shows that Christianity practices a spiritual worship (latreuo). Paul contrasts the Jewish practice of physical circumcision and other religious rites with the spiritual worship of Christians. This text shows that Christians do perform special worship service.

But latreuo can also mean the service of life - being living sacrifices for God (Rom. 12:1-2). The point is that for Christians, all worship is service but not all service is worship service.

Jesus' words set the devil to flight. But how many people fail to accept what the devil so well understood about worship? It seems men are often obstinate about things which even demons believe and tremble. God alone is worthy to be worshipped (proskuneo) by the worship service (latreuo) He prescribes and accepts.

Following the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a new covenant was established wherein the church is the people of God, called and prepared to proclaim His praises and offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet. 2:5, 9-10). Just as God used Moses to set forth the pattern of worship for the Israelites, so the Lord used His apostles to instruct the church how to worship God in the Christian age. From the first century through today, Christians should follow the New Testament pattern for worship shown through the inspired record of the apostolic church (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 11:2; Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Pet. 3:2). As one reads the commands and examples pertaining to the church at worship, he cannot help but be struck by the simple, spiritual, and collective nature of Christian worship.

New Testament churches assembled on the first day of the week for singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:18-19); prayer (Acts 2:42; Rom. 15:30; 1 Thess. 5:17-18); eating the Lord's Supper (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23-26); giving a free-will offering (2 Cor. 8:5; 9:6-7); preaching, teaching, and reading God's Word (1 Tim. 4:13, 16; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:2).

Lest one is troubled that the Christian worship pattern is seemingly pieced together from Scriptures all over the New Testament, note that all these worship practices were present in the assemblies of the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 11:17-34; 14:15, 26, 29, 37; 16:1-2). Furthermore, the apostles taught the same commandments from the Lord everywhere and in every church (1 Cor. 4:17; 14:37). Worshipping God through Christ was part of the Faith that the apostles delivered. The young church was not left to her own devices. The apostles taught the Christians how to worship and directed them to "remember," "keep," "stand fast," "hold," and "teach others" this order and way of worship - God's pattern for worship (1 Cor. 11:2; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:13; 2:2).

All this corporate worship service (latreuo) is only meaningful in the context of a faithful Christian life. God desires worship in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24) not empty words and going through the motions. Yet, just like Cain and the Israelites, if Christians won't respect God's wishes, He will not accept their worship service.

It is easy to balk at the devil's gall to play God and even dare to ask Jesus Christ to prostrate Himself. How could any being be so brazen? But at least on that occasion Satan was honest. He said, "I want to be worshipped, so worship me the way I want."

Many people today prefer self-delusion. They contrive religious rites and worship services that they are pleased to perform (or at least attend) and call it God's worship. But when one adds to or takes from God's pattern for worship - it is not really for God anymore. Such will-worshippers may not ask Jesus to "bow down" but they certainly ask Him to take a back seat. Humanly devised doctrines of worship (i.e. without New Testament authority) are futile at best. But those who appreciate the greatness of God are eager to assemble and offer their sacrifice of praise. Their heart's most pressing desire is it to please God and God is pleased when He is worshipped according to His pattern.

- Truth Magazine, April, 2014