Mattityahu 4:7

7 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to Hasatan, Again, it is written, LO TENASSU ES HASHEM ELOHEICHEM (Do not test Hashem your G-d, DEVARIM 6:16).

Mattityahu 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.

Mattityahu 4:7 In-Context

5 Then Hasatan takes Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach to the Ir Hakodesh (the Holy City) and set him atop the pinnacle of the Beis Hamikdash,
6 and says to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, If you are the Ben HaElohim, then throw yourself down, for katuv (it is written), MALACHAV YTZAV-VEH LACH (His angels he will command concerning you) and upon their hands they will lift you up lest you strike your foot against a stone, TEHILLIM 91:11,12.)
7 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to Hasatan, Again, it is written, LO TENASSU ES HASHEM ELOHEICHEM (Do not test Hashem your G-d, DEVARIM 6:16).
8 Again, Hasatan takes Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach to a very high mountain and shows him all the mamlechot (kingdoms) of the Olam Hazeh and the kavod (glory) of them.
9 And Hasatan said to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, All these things I will give to you, if you will fall down VTISHTACHAVEH (and you will bow down to [DEVARIM 5:9]) me.
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