Matthew 4:7 Meaning Explained

Q: What does Matthew 4:7 mean?

Jesus doesn't just quote Scripture; He uses it to correct the devil's misuse of Scripture. The "again" highlights that the devil's tempting suggestion must be balanced by God's command, showing that God's promises aren't blank checks for us to test Him with our own impulsive ideas.

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Matthew 4:7

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus doesn't just quote Scripture; He uses it to correct the devil's misuse of Scripture. The "again" highlights that the devil's tempting suggestion must be balanced by God's command, showing that God's promises aren't blank checks for us to test Him with our own impulsive ideas.

What Matthew 4:7 means

Satan has just tempted Jesus to prove He is the Son of God by throwing Himself off the temple. Jesus responds by quoting Scripture, reminding Satan that true faith doesn't require God to perform miracles on demand. This exchange highlights how Jesus uses God's Word to counter temptation, showing that Scripture must be understood as a whole, not twisted to serve selfish desires.

The 'Again' of Balanced Truth

Satan twists God's Word, but Jesus meets deception with more Scripture. How does God's Word itself serve as our ultimate defense?

Scripture Interprets Scripture

When Satan quotes Scripture in an attempt to trick Jesus, Jesus doesn't argue or try to outsmart him. Instead, He uses another passage of Scripture to answer. This is the principle of "Scripture interprets Scripture." God's Word is a unified whole, and one passage helps us understand another.

Balancing the Word: Just as one verse can't be used to contradict another, we must be careful not to take isolated verses out of context. Heresies and errors often arise when a truth is ripped from the larger biblical narrative, losing its balance and proportion.
Defense Against Error: By holding all of Scripture together, we’re protected from distorted uses of isolated passages. This ensures our faith and practice are grounded in the full counsel of God, not just a cherry-picked idea.

Testing God vs. Trusting God

Jesus refuses to 'tempt' God. What's the difference between testing God and truly trusting Him, especially when facing difficult situations?

Faith vs. Presumption

The command "You shall not put the Lord your God to the test" is crucial here. When Satan urged Jesus to jump from the temple, he was asking Jesus to create a situation where God would be forced to rescue Him, essentially to prove His power.

Tempting God: This is about presuming upon God's promises or power. It's demanding that God act in a specific way to prove Himself, often by stepping into unnecessary danger or testing His faithfulness without His clear instruction.
Trusting God: True faith, on the other hand, rests on God's promises and His character, not on demanding signs or proofs. It means obeying God even when the path is difficult or unclear, trusting that He will uphold His Word and be present, rather than trying to force His hand.

Understand the original words

Original language

testἐκπειράζω

ekpeirazō · Greek Verb

To challenge or provoke God to prove His presence, power, or faithfulness, often out of unbelief or a desire for self-serving validation.

Historical context

Written: Likely written in the mid-to-late 50s AD.
Author: Matthew the Apostle, one of Jesus' twelve disciples.
Location: Written from Galilee, likely reflecting events that took place in the Judean wilderness.
Genre: Gospel narrative, characterized by its theological purpose and the use of dialogue to convey Jesus' teachings and actions.

Historical background

Jesus' refusal to test God highlights that the ancient Israelites' experience at Massah (testing God by demanding proof of His presence) serves as a perpetual warning against presumptuously demanding God intervene in ways He hasn't commanded, especially when Scripture itself forbids it.

c. 1446 BC
Israelites Reached the Desert of Sin
During their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites grumbled about a lack of water, questioning God's presence and power. This event, known as Massah, led to God providing water through Moses striking a rock.
c. 931 BC
Division of the Kingdom
After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel split into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This division marked a period of increased political instability and spiritual decline.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria
The Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites and scattering them among the nations. This event served as a stark warning about the consequences of disobedience.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire conquered the Southern Kingdom of Judah, destroying Jerusalem and its Temple. Many Judeans were exiled to Babylon, a devastating blow that seemed to end God's covenant promises.

Key themes

01Scripture guards against error
02Obeying God, not testing
03Divine wisdom counters temptation
04Right use of God's Word

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 6:16

This is the direct source of Jesus' quote, showing that 'tempting God' means putting Him to an unnecessary test, particularly by demanding proof of His power or presence in self-created danger.

Exodus 17:1-7

This passage describes the Israelites 'tempting God in Massah' by demanding water and questioning God's presence, providing the historical context for the command Jesus quotes and illustrating what 'tempting God' looks like in practice.

1 Corinthians 10:9

Paul warns believers not to 'grumble' or 'put Christ to the test' as some Israelites did in the wilderness, directly echoing Jesus' refusal to be tempted and showing the ongoing relevance of this prohibition.

Matthew 26:53

Jesus' willingness to suffer arrest and crucifixion without calling on divine legions demonstrates His learned obedience to His Father's will, contrasting with Satan's temptation to force God's hand and reflecting the lesson learned from the wilderness temptations.

Scholarly commentary

Matthew 4:7: "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

Jesus said unto him, It is written again - Again the Saviour replied to Satan by a text of Scripture - a passage which expressly forbade an act like this. Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God - This is quoted literally from Deuteronomy 6:16. The meaning is, thou shalt not try him; or, thou shalt not, by throwing thyself into voluntary and uncommanded dangers, appeal to God for protection, or trifle…
barnes

Matthew 4:7: "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

Again (πάλιν)Emphatic, meaning on the other hand, with reference to Satan's it is written (Matthew 4:6); as if he had said, "the promise which you quote must be explained by another passage of scripture." Archbishop Trench aptly remarks, "In that 'It is written again of Christ, lies a great lesson, quite independent of that particular scripture which, on this occasion, he quotes, or of the use to wh…
vincent

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What Matthew 4:7 means

Historical context

Written: Likely written in the mid-to-late 50s AD.
Author: Matthew the Apostle, one of Jesus' twelve disciples.
Location: Written from Galilee, likely reflecting events that took place in the Judean wilderness.
Genre: Gospel narrative, characterized by its theological purpose and the use of dialogue to convey Jesus' teachings and actions.

Historical background

c. 1446 BC

Israelites Reached the Desert of Sin

During their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites grumbled about a lack of water, questioning God's presence and power. This event, known as Massah, led to God providing water through Moses striking a rock.

c. 931 BC

Division of the Kingdom

After Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel split into two: the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. This division marked a period of increased political instability and spiritual decline.

722 BC

Fall of Samaria

The Assyrian Empire conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many Israelites and scattering them among the nations. This event served as a stark warning about the consequences of disobedience.

586 BC

Fall of Jerusalem

The Babylonian Empire conquered the Southern Kingdom of Judah, destroying Jerusalem and its Temple. Many Judeans were exiled to Babylon, a devastating blow that seemed to end God's covenant promises.