Matthew 4 10

Matthew 4:10 kjv

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 4:10 nkjv

Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

Matthew 4:10 niv

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Matthew 4:10 esv

Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"

Matthew 4:10 nlt

"Get out of here, Satan," Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God
and serve only him.' "

Matthew 4 verses

Matthew 4 10 Meaning

Matthew 4:10 marks the climactic moment of Jesus' wilderness temptations. It reveals Jesus’ definitive rejection of Satan’s final offer – worldly dominion in exchange for worship. Jesus decisively rebukes Satan, expelling him by quoting and explicitly emphasizing the foundational biblical truth that worship and exclusive service are due to God alone. This affirms His unwavering obedience and allegiance to the Father and highlights the essential boundary between loyalty to God and compromise with evil.

Matthew 4 10 Context

Matthew 4:10 is the culminating point of Jesus' temptation by Satan in the wilderness. After His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days and forty nights (Matt 4:1-2). Satan presented three distinct temptations, each targeting different aspects of Jesus' identity and mission: the temptation to satisfy physical hunger by illicit means (turning stones into bread), the temptation to gain popularity or test God by spectacular display (jumping from the temple), and finally, the temptation to bypass the suffering of the cross and gain worldly power through worshiping Satan.

This final temptation in Matt 4:8-9 saw Satan explicitly offering Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory if He would "fall down and worship me." This challenge struck at the very heart of Jewish monotheism and the expectation of a Messiah who would reign. For the original Jewish audience, who knew the stern prohibition against idolatry from the Torah, the proposal was an absolute abomination. It was a direct polemic against any form of polytheism or syncretism common in the Greco-Roman world, asserting the exclusive claim of God on one's worship and service. Jesus' strong rejection reaffirmed His allegiance to the God of Israel and highlighted the spiritual nature of His kingdom, distinct from earthly power obtained through compromise with evil.

Matthew 4 10 Word Analysis

• Then Jesus said to him: This indicates a decisive response, a firm command spoken with authority to Satan.

• 'Go away,' (Greek: Ὕπαγε - Hypage): A strong, imperative command meaning "depart," "get behind me," or "begone." It's not a request but a dismissal, signifying Jesus' divine authority to banish the evil one. This exact phrase is used elsewhere when Jesus dismisses demons.

• Satan! (Greek: Σατανᾶς - Satanas, from Hebrew śāṭān meaning "adversary," "accuser"): Jesus directly addresses His tempter by his proper name, revealing his true identity as the arch-enemy of God and humanity. This direct confrontation emphasizes the personal nature of the spiritual conflict.

• For it is written: (Greek: γέγραπται - gegraptai): This phrase uses the perfect passive indicative of the verb graphō ("to write"), meaning "it stands written" or "it has been written and remains in effect." This highlights the enduring, authoritative, and unchanging nature of God's Word. Jesus consistently counters Satan's deceptions with Scripture, demonstrating its power and sufficiency.

• "You shall worship" (Greek: προσκυνήσεις - proskynēseis): This future active indicative verb means "you shall prostrate yourself before," "show profound reverence for," "do homage to," or "adore." It implies an act of physical submission and spiritual devotion.

• the Lord (Greek: Κύριον - Kyrion): In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), this typically translates the divine name YHWH (Yahweh), indicating the absolute sovereign and covenant-making God of Israel. It denotes supreme authority and ownership.

• your God, (Greek: τὸν Θεόν σου - ton Theon sou): Emphasizes the personal and covenantal relationship. God is "your" God, implying a belonging and commitment.

• and Him only (Greek: καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ - kai autō monō): This phrase, though implicitly understood in Deut 6:13, is an explicit addition by Jesus. It directly confronts Satan's demand for worship by emphasizing absolute exclusivity. It makes plain that there is no room for dual loyalty or divided devotion; all worship must be directed to God alone. This is a profound polemic against any form of idolatry or worship of worldly power.

• you shall serve." (Greek: λατρεύσεις - latreuseis): This future active indicative verb means "you shall render sacred service" or "worship with obedience." It denotes a deep, devoted service to God, often involving priestly or liturgical service, but here signifying all actions performed in worship and obedience to God. It goes beyond mere belief to active, exclusive devotion to God’s will and purposes. This contrasts sharply with serving earthly powers or even the self.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Go away, Satan! For it is written:": This pairing illustrates Jesus' authoritative action based on the unchanging truth of Scripture. He doesn't debate, but dismisses and corrects using the divine Word as His weapon.
  • "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.": This entire clause is the theological core of Jesus' argument and victory. It perfectly articulates the absolute and exclusive allegiance owed to God. It defines the boundaries of true discipleship, leaving no room for syncretism or compromise, and stands as the bedrock of monotheism.

Matthew 4 10 Bonus Section

• The wilderness temptations collectively illustrate how Jesus perfectly models human obedience in the face of temptation, succeeding where the first Adam failed and where Israel often stumbled.
• Jesus’ resolute “Go away, Satan!” echoes later authoritative encounters where He casts out demons and confronts evil. It foreshadows His ultimate victory over Satan on the cross and resurrection.
• The phrase "and Him only you shall serve" explicitly distinguishes sacred service (latreia) to God from any other form of service. This unique form of service, deeply rooted in Old Testament sacrificial and worship practices, signifies absolute, devoted worship that can only be directed towards the one true God.
• Satan’s proposal to give Jesus the world’s kingdoms hints at his temporary "ruler of this world" status (Jn 12:31) but highlights that even such power is delegated and under ultimate divine sovereignty, which Satan seeks to subvert. Jesus’ rejection firmly reasserts God’s rightful universal dominion.

Matthew 4 10 Commentary

Matthew 4:10 is a foundational statement demonstrating Jesus' unyielding devotion to God and the authoritative power of His Word. In this final temptation, Satan offers Jesus a shortcut to universal dominion, bypassing the suffering of the cross, but demanding worship in return. This offer represented the ultimate test of Jesus' allegiance and the nature of His kingdom. Jesus unequivocally rejects this proposal, not through personal power displays, but by appealing to and proclaiming a clear commandment from Scripture (Deut 6:13).

By stating "It is written" and quoting the passage, Jesus reaffirms the supreme authority of God's revealed Word. His added emphasis, "and Him only you shall serve," explicitly declares the exclusiveness of God's claim on humanity's worship and devotion. There is no legitimate substitute for God; no worldly power, comfort, or shortcut is worth compromising ultimate allegiance. Jesus, as the perfect Israelite and Messiah, upholds the First Commandment, succeeding where humanity so often fails. This verse not only delivers Satan his final defeat in the wilderness but also serves as a critical teaching for believers: temptations are overcome by knowing and applying Scripture, recognizing Satan's tactics (offering seemingly good ends through sinful means), and maintaining undivided loyalty to God above all else. This moment defines the character of Jesus' messianic reign – one established through divine obedience, not worldly compromise.