Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 4:10

"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve." — Matthew 4:10 (ASV)

The Lord spoke strongly to the tempter. Satan had betrayed his own character, and now he gets his proper name and is ordered into his proper place. How that word staggered him—"Get thee hence!" This was the final word which banished him from the Lord's presence. How he slinked away. He hurried off ashamed, like a dog who is sent home.

Our Lord gave him a parting stroke with the sword of the Spirit. Again He said, "It is written." God's command, which demands all worship and service for Jehovah the covenant God only, was a word for Satan to remember when he dived hastily into the lower deep to hide his head in confusion at his complete defeat. He, too, is under law to God and cannot cast away His cords from him.

Oh, that we may recognize the power of this precept and feel that we have nothing to do with winning even the whole world and its glory, but are to give our entire lives to the service of the one Lord!

Idolatry of the creature withers under the scorching heat of this imperative law of the Highest. We must not pay even a shade of deference to evil, though the whole world should be the reward of a single act of sinful submission to it; "Him only shalt thou serve." It is ours to choose Jehovah for our God and then to live alone for His praise and service.

It is noteworthy that all the passages quoted by our Lord are from the Book of Deuteronomy, which has been so grievously assailed by the destructive critics. Thus, our Lord put special honor upon that part of the Old Testament which He foresaw would be most attacked. The past few years have proved that the devil does not like Deuteronomy. He would gladly avenge himself for the wounds it caused him on this most memorable occasion.

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Let the bribe be what it may, you must not worship or serve either yourself or the devil. Your God alone claims your homage; and if the whole earth might be yours through one act of sin, you would not be justified in committing it.