Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

Satan offers the kingdoms of the world and their “splendor” without showing their sin. Jesus, however, came to remove sin. Here was a temptation to achieve power by taking a shortcut to fullest messianic authority, sidestepping the Cross and introducing idolatry (see comment on Lk 4:5–8).

Jesus recognized that Satan’s suggestion entailed depriving God of his exclusive claim to worship: neither God’s “son” Israel nor God’s “Son” Jesus may swerve from undivided allegiance to God himself (cf. Exodus 23:20–33). So Jesus responded with a third “it is written” and banished Satan from his presence. In other words, Jesus had in mind from the very beginning of his earthly ministry the combination of royal kingship and suffering servanthood attested at his baptism (see comments on 3:15, 17).