Matthew 4:7

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[a]

Matthew 4:7 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
7 Jesus said unto him,It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
English Standard Version (ESV)
7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"
New Living Translation (NLT)
7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’ ”
The Message Bible (MSG)
7 Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't you dare test the Lord your God."
American Standard Version (ASV)
7 Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
7 Jesus said to him, "Again, Scripture says, 'Never tempt the Lord your God.'"
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
7 Jesus told him, "It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God. "
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "(Deuteronomy 6:16)

Matthew 4:7 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 4:7

Jesus saith unto him, it is written again
Christ takes no notice of the false and wrong citation of scripture made by the devil, nor of any misapplication of it; but mildly replies, by opposing another passage of scripture to him, ( Deuteronomy 6:16 )

ye shall not tempt the Lord your God,
thereby tacitly showing, that he had produced scripture to a very wrong purpose, since that could never contradict itself; and also, that for a person to neglect the ordinary means of safety, and to expect, that as God can, so he will, preserve without the use of such means, is a tempting him. The Hebrew word (wont) "tempt", as Manasseh ben F6 Israel observes, is always taken in an ill part, and is to be understood of such who would try the power, goodness, or will of God. And which, as it is not fitting it should be done by any man, so not by himself; and perhaps he hereby intimates too, that he himself was God; and therefore as it was not right in him to tempt God the Father, by taking such a step as Satan solicited him to; nor would it be right in any other; so it was iniquitous in the devil to tempt him who was God over all, blessed for ever.


FOOTNOTES:

F6 Conciliat. in Deut. Quaest. 3. p. 223.

Matthew 4:7 In-Context

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.
6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Cross References 1

  • 1. Deuteronomy 6:16

Footnotes 1

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.