Matthew 4:7 kjv
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
Matthew 4:7 nkjv
Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the LORD your God.' "
Matthew 4:7 niv
Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Matthew 4:7 esv
Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
Matthew 4:7 nlt
Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the LORD your God.' "
Matthew 4 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:16 | You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested Him... | The direct source of Jesus' quote. |
| Exod 17:7 | He called the name of the place Massah... because they tested the LORD. | Israel testing God for water in the wilderness. |
| Num 14:22 | ...these men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed... and yet have tested Me these ten times and have not listened to My voice... | Israel's repeated rebellion and testing of God. |
| Ps 78:18-19 | They tested God in their heart by demanding the food they craved... | Israel demanding proof from God, lack of trust. |
| Ps 95:8-9 | Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah... when your fathers tested Me, they tried Me... | Warning against repeating Israel's testing. |
| Mal 3:15 | So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only do evildoers prosper, but they also put God to the test and escape. | Mocking those who disregard God's law. |
| Isa 7:12 | But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!" | Ahaz feigning piety while refusing God's sign. |
| 1 Cor 10:9 | Nor let us put the Lord to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. | Warning against Israel's sin of testing God. |
| Acts 5:9 | Then Peter said to her, "Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test?" | Ananias and Sapphira testing God through deceit. |
| Heb 3:7-9 | ...Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as when they provoked Me... your fathers tried Me by testing Me... | Recalls Israel's testing in the wilderness. |
| Jas 1:13 | Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil... | God is not the source of temptation; distinguishes human testing of God from God testing humans. |
| Deut 8:2 | You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you... | God's righteous testing of humanity vs. human unrighteous testing of God. |
| Matt 4:3 | ...If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread. | The first temptation, also questioning Sonship/trust. |
| Matt 4:5-6 | Then the devil took Him into the holy city... "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down..." | The immediate preceding temptation Jesus refutes. |
| Matt 4:8-10 | Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain... "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God..." | The final temptation, again answered by Scripture. |
| Luke 4:9-12 | And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle... "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test." | Parallel account of this temptation. |
| Deut 4:7-8 | For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God... | Implies the privilege of God's presence, not for testing. |
| Rom 10:9 | ...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead... | True faith relies on God's truth, not demanding signs. |
| 1 Pet 4:12-13 | Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing... | Believers may face tests, but do not initiate them against God. |
| Jude 1:5 | Now I desire to remind you... that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. | Consequences for unbelief and tempting God. |
| Matt 12:38-39 | Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You." But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign..." | People seeking signs rather than trusting. |
| 1 Sam 28:1-20 | Saul consulted a medium... (Implicit) Saul's desperation leads to unholy practices, rather than trusting God in established ways. | An example of seeking answers outside of God's prescribed will. |
Matthew 4 verses
Matthew 4 7 Meaning
Matthew 4:7 presents Jesus' direct counter to the second temptation from the devil. After being challenged to throw himself down from the temple to test God's promise of angelic protection, Jesus quotes Deut 6:16. His response asserts that one must not presume upon God's power or fidelity by creating a situation that necessitates divine intervention for selfish gain or a display of power. It signifies faithful obedience and trust, rather than putting God to an unnecessary test of His protective nature.
Matthew 4 7 Context
Matthew 4:7 occurs during Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. Following His baptism and anointing by the Spirit, Jesus is led into the wilderness for forty days of fasting and confrontation with the devil. This verse specifically addresses the second temptation, where the devil tries to manipulate Jesus into presumptuous behavior by quoting Ps 91:11-12, tempting Him to jump from the temple's highest point, implying God would intervene to save Him. Jesus' reply draws directly from Deuteronomy, highlighting His unwavering reliance on God's written word and His refusal to provoke God by demanding miraculous proof or acting outside of God's revealed will. This stands in stark contrast to ancient Israel, which repeatedly tested God in the wilderness. Jesus, the new Israel, remains obedient.
Matthew 4 7 Word analysis
Again: Greek palin (πάλιν). Signifies continuation or repetition. In this context, it indicates the sequence of the devil's attempts, showing his persistent, calculated approach to wear down Jesus.
It is written: Greek Gegraphthai (γέγραπται). This is a perfect passive indicative of graphō (γράφω), meaning "to write." The perfect tense emphasizes the abiding and settled authority of Scripture. What was written, remains written and authoritative. Jesus consistently uses this phrase (gegraptai) to affirm the divine authority and finality of God's word in resisting temptation.
You shall not: Greek ou prosōpiō (οὐ). A strong negative prohibition. It implies an absolute command not to engage in the action that follows.
put... to the test: Greek ekpeiraseis (ἐκπειράσεις). This is the future active indicative of ekpeirazō (ἐκπειράζω). While peirazō can mean simply "to try" or "to tempt," ekpeirazō is stronger, carrying the nuance of "to try out thoroughly," "to test to the utmost," or "to prove maliciously." It denotes an attempt to put God in a position where He must prove Himself, often implying doubt, defiance, or demanding a sign. It is a presumptive act, bordering on unbelief, forcing God's hand for self-serving purposes.
the Lord your God: Greek Kyrios ho Theos sou (Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου). "Lord" (Kyrios) denotes divine authority and sovereignty. "Your God" (ho Theos sou) emphasizes the covenant relationship that God has with His people. This highlights that tempting God is a violation of that sacred relationship of trust and obedience, disrespecting His sovereignty. It refers specifically to Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "It is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test'": This phrase directly quotes Deut 6:16. In Deuteronomy, Moses reminded Israel about the incident at Massah where they grumbled and demanded water, essentially demanding God to prove His presence and provision despite His prior faithfulness (Exod 17:1-7). By quoting this, Jesus identifies the devil's proposition as a re-enactment of Israel's lack of faith and rebellion, while portraying Himself as the faithful Son who will not fall into that same sin. He appeals to a command that establishes the proper reverent relationship between creature and Creator.
- Significance in context: The devil's temptation involved using Scripture (Ps 91:11-12) against God's will. Jesus' response teaches that Scripture must be interpreted correctly within its full context and intent, not taken out of context to justify ungodly acts of presumption. God's promises are for those who trust Him and walk in obedience, not for those who would presumptuously dare Him or manipulate His power for spectacle.
Matthew 4 7 Bonus section
- Jesus as the New Israel: The wilderness temptation narratives, especially Jesus' reliance on Deuteronomy, typologically present Jesus as the faithful Israel. Where the old Israel failed repeatedly by tempting God (as at Massah/Meribah), complaining, and lacking faith, Jesus perfectly obeys and trusts, setting Himself apart as the true Son of God who fulfills God's will. He demonstrates perfect dependence where Israel demonstrated defiance.
- Satan's Misuse of Scripture: The temptation sequence illustrates Satan's cunning in taking biblical promises out of context to tempt. Jesus' use of Gegraphthai in each response emphasizes not just that Scripture is authoritative, but that it must be understood and applied correctly to God's will. The devil twists scripture; Jesus corrects it with fuller scripture.
- Distinguishing God's Test from Man's Testing of God: It is important to differentiate between God testing man (as seen in Deut 8:2, where God tested Israel to humble them and see what was in their hearts, or Gen 22:1 with Abraham) and man testing God (which implies presumption, demanding proof, or challenging God's sovereignty, as prohibited in this verse). God tests to prove and refine faith; humans testing God stems from a lack of it.
Matthew 4 7 Commentary
Matthew 4:7 serves as a foundational declaration of proper relationship with God: one built on reverent trust, not presumptuous demand. The devil's attempt to entice Jesus into demonstrating His divine power by throwing Himself from the temple's height was a challenge to trust God in an inappropriate way, manipulating God's promise of protection. Jesus' answer, "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test," drawing from Deuteronomy, strikes at the core of this temptation. It clarifies that while God is faithful to His promises, faith does not involve creating a dangerous situation merely to compel God to prove Himself or to showcase power. This is not genuine reliance, but rather a lack of trust disguised as boldness. Jesus, as the Son of God, refuses to exploit His divine prerogative or the Father's power for selfish gain or a dramatic display. His obedience here contrasts sharply with ancient Israel's repeated sin of demanding signs and provision from God, exhibiting unbelief and hardening their hearts. For believers today, this teaches us to walk in obedient faith, not testing God by creating unnecessary risks or demanding proof of His presence beyond His revealed word and work. It highlights the principle that true faith rests in God's faithfulness without demanding spectacle.