Patristics

The Lord Rebuked the Devil

Whenever the demons see men afraid they increase their delusions that men may be terrified the more; and at last attacking they mock them, saying, “Fall down and worship.” Thus they deceived the Greeks, and thus by them they were considered gods, falsely so called. But the Lord did not suffer us to be deceived by the devil, for He rebuked him whenever he framed such delusions against Him, saying: “Get behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” (Mt 4:10) More and more, therefore, let the deceiver be despised by us; for what the Lord hath said, this for our sakes He hath done: that the demons hearing like words from us may be put to flight through the Lord who rebuked them in those words.

 

Life of Antony, 37