Deuteronomy 6:16

16 Do not test the Lord your God as you tested [Him] at Massah.^[a]

Deuteronomy 6:16 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 6:16

Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God
By striving with him or against him, by murmuring at or complaining of his providential dealings with them, or by requiring a sign of him, or miracles to be done by him; this is another passage used by Christ to repel the temptations of Satan, ( Matthew 4:7 ) ,

as tempted him in Massah;
a place so called from the Israelites tempting the Lord there, ( Exodus 17:7 ) , the Targum of Jonathan adds, with ten temptations; see ( Numbers 14:21 ) .

Deuteronomy 6:16 In-Context

14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you,

15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God. Otherwise, the Lord your God will become angry with you and wipe you off the face of the earth.

16 Do not test the Lord your God as you tested [Him] at Massah.

17 Carefully observe the commands of the Lord your God, the decrees and statutes He has commanded you.

18 Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that you may prosper and so that you may enter and possess the good land the Lord your God swore to [give] your fathers,

Footnotes

• [a]. Ex 17:1-7; Mt 4:7; Lk 4:12