DO NOT TEST GOD

Luke 4:1-13 / Keywords 4:12

Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

 

4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]”

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you

    to guard you carefully;

11 they will lift you up in their hands,

    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Footnotes

a. Luke 4:2 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.

b. Luke 4:4 Deut. 8:3

c. Luke 4:8 Deut. 6:13

d. Luke 4:11 Psalm 91:11,12

e. Luke 4:12 Deut. 6:16

1. After being baptized, Jesus faced the devil. The Spirit led him into the wilderness. Jesus was tempted or tested for 40 days. Three temptations are told to us. The first test was a hungry Jesus to turn stone to bread to prove his power. Jesus replied, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’” (Dt 8:3). Jesus didn’t deny his physical need; he knew he needed God even more.

2. The second test was for authority and splendor if Jesus worshiped the devil. Jesus didn’t argue whether the devil had such authority or not. Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only’” (Dt 6:13).

3. The third test was to test God’s protective, saving power from harm if Jesus jumped off the temple. The devil even misused Psalm 91:11-12 to try to trick Jesus. Jesus replied, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Dt 6:16). Jesus defeated the devil by his perfect submission to God’s word and perfect love for God. Adam failed, but Jesus succeeded, to the end.

Prayer Lord Jesus, in my sins I have failed. You triumphed as our Champion and Victor. I trust in you for my salvation and victory.

One Word The victory over the devil is in Jesus