Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 4:7

"Jesus said unto him, Again it is written, Thou shalt not make trial of the Lord thy God." — Matthew 4:7 (ASV)

The second temptation (Luke’s third) is set in the “holy city,” on the highest point of the temple complex (see comment on Lk 4:9–12). Satan quoted Ps 91:11–12 from the LXX, omitting the words “to guard you in all your ways.” His deceit lay not in omitting a few words but in misapplying his quotation into a temptation that easily traps the devout mind By apparently giving approval to what might otherwise be thought sinful. According to this passage, the angels will lift anyone who trusts in God (preeminently Jesus) up in their hands. Jesus is thereby tempted to test his sonship against God’s pledge to protect his own.

Jesus replied with Dt 6:16. His hesitation came because Scripture forbids putting God to the test (see Ex 17:2-7, where the Israelites “put the Lord to the test” by demanding water). So Jesus was tempted by Satan to test God; but Jesus recognized Satan’s testing as a sort of manipulative bribery expressly forbidden in the Scriptures. For both Israel and Jesus, demanding miraculous protection as proof of God’s care was wrong; the appropriate attitude is trust and obedience .