Matthew 4:7

Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Jesus {G2424} said {G5346} unto him {G846}, It is written {G1125} again {G3825}, Thou shalt {G1598} not {G3756} tempt {G1598} the Lord {G2962} thy {G4675} God {G2316}.

Yeshua replied to him, "But it also says, `Do not put ADONAI your God to the test.'"h

Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.

Commentary

Matthew 4:7 (KJV): "Jesus said unto him, ‹It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.›"

Context

This verse is part of the narrative describing Jesus' forty-day temptation by the devil in the wilderness. Following his baptism (Matthew 3:16-17), Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness (Matthew 4:1). The tempter presented Jesus with three specific challenges. The first involved physical needs (turning stones to bread, Matthew 4:3). The second, to which Jesus responds in verse 7, involved religious presumption: the devil quoted Psalm 91:11-12, suggesting Jesus jump from the pinnacle of the temple, trusting God's angels to catch him (Matthew 4:6). Jesus' reply counters this misuse of Scripture with another pertinent command from the Old Testament.

Key Themes

  • Authority of Scripture: Jesus consistently responds to temptation by quoting Scripture ("It is written"), demonstrating its power and authority as a weapon against the enemy's lies and distortions. This shows the importance of knowing and using God's Word.
  • Not Tempting God: The core message is a prohibition against putting God to the test unnecessarily. This isn't about asking God for help in genuine need, but about deliberately creating a dangerous situation to see if God will perform a miracle to save you from it.
  • True Faith vs. Presumption: Jesus distinguishes between genuine faith that trusts God in times of trial and a reckless presumption that demands God act according to our whims or to satisfy doubt. True faith obeys and trusts; presumption tests and dictates.
  • Jesus' Obedience and Reliance: Jesus, even in his divine nature, chose to rely on and obey the Father and His written Word, setting an example for all believers on how to resist the devil.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "It is written again" signifies that Jesus is citing another specific passage from the Old Testament. The command, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God," comes directly from Deuteronomy 6:16. The Hebrew word behind "tempt" in Deuteronomy implies testing or putting to the proof, often in a rebellious or faithless manner, as the Israelites did at Massah.

Related Scriptures

  • The original quote is found in Deuteronomy 6:16, where the Israelites tested God's provision.
  • Jesus' method of using Scripture against temptation is echoed in Ephesians 6:17, which calls the Word of God the "sword of the Spirit."
  • The broader narrative of the temptation is also recorded in Luke 4:12.
  • The principle of not testing God is seen in other contexts, such as Israel's wilderness wanderings.

Reflection

Matthew 4:7 teaches us a crucial lesson about the nature of faith and how to face temptation. We are called to trust God implicitly and obey His commands, not to manipulate Him or put His promises to a foolish test. Jesus' example shows that true reliance on God means walking in wisdom and obedience, using the solid foundation of Scripture to discern truth from the devil's deceptive twists. We should not jump into danger presuming God will bail us out, but rather walk faithfully, knowing that God is faithful to provide a way of escape from temptation when we seek it.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
An Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew: Jesus the King 10 Key Places in the Life of Jesus The Beatitudes: The Upside-Down Kingdom The 12 Disciples: Who Were They? The Lord's Prayer: A Model for How to Pray

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 6:16

    Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted [him] in Massah.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:9

    Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

  • Psalms 78:18

    And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust.

  • Psalms 78:41

    Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

  • Hebrews 3:9

    When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

  • Exodus 17:7

    And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

  • Exodus 17:2

    Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?
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