Don't Test God

Model of the Temple - Jerusalem 

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, 'He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone.' Jesus responded, "The Scriptures also say, 'You must not test the LORD your God.' Matthew 4:5-7

Jesus was being confronted by the devil at the tallest point in Jerusalem. Remember that they were in the Judean desert and now immediately in Jerusalem. Did the devil just whisk Jesus away from the desert to the Holy city...or did Jesus walk? We don't know. It might be interesting to see how someone would depict that scene if they were to make a movie of the temptations. Note that the devil is misquoting scripture. Matthew Henry, a minister and author in the 1600's, has given a thorough and comprehensive review of this chapter, just like his evaluation of all the other books of the entire Bible in his commentary. See that in the Blue Letter Bible web site. Matthew Henry points out that the evil, cunning devil wanted Jesus to throw Himself down from the Temple so that He would die--but then used the promises that God gave in Psalms...
     - For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won't even hurt your foot on a stone. Psalm 91:11-12
Even satan knows God's word...and uses or misuses it. He didn't use the entire verse, leaving out  wherever you go. By leaving out those words he infered that God's angels will not protect Jesus or us  everywhere. Not true. As long as we are following God's will--His direction--then we are assured ofHis promise to be under His protection. Additionally, we must be very careful that we handle God's word correctly not misusing it.

The devil was tempting Jesus, thus tempting God. Jesus retort was that we are not to tempt God. Jesus quote from the Old Testament...
     - You must not test the LORD your God as you did when you complained at Massah. Deuteronomy 6:16
Since Jesus didn't get caught up in the issue of angel's protection, but addressed the testing God issue,   I preceive the greatest lesson we learn from Jesus' second temptation is that we are not to test God. How often do we do that? Do we say...Lord, if You will do this or that for me...I'll follow Your way. Actually that is backwards. It should be...Lord, I am following Your way, please...send Your angels to protect me...or whatever.

Prayer ~ Lord, You are awesome and wise above all. Thank You for this lesson on temptation that we can learn more about You and Your plan for each of us...for mankind that we would be able to live to please You...day by day...moment by moment.   

Daily Bible Reading: Job 29-31

© 2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
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