DO NOT TEST GOD

Passage: Luke 4:1-13

Key verse: 12

NIV

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness(A)

4 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,(B) left the Jordan(C) and was led by the Spirit(D) into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days(E) he was tempted[a] by the devil.(F) He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God,(G) tell this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[b]”(H)

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.(I) 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me,(J) and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[c]”(K)

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[d]”(L)

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[e]”(M)

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting,(N) he left him(O) until an opportune time.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 4:2 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
  2. Luke 4:4 Deut. 8:3
  3. Luke 4:8 Deut. 6:13
  4. Luke 4:11 Psalm 91:11,12
  5. Luke 4:12 Deut. 6:16
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Temptation of Jesus

4 (A)And Jesus, (B)full of the Holy Spirit, (C)returned from the Jordan and was led (D)by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for (E)forty days, (F)being tempted by the devil. (G)And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, (H)he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are (I)the Son of God, command (J)this stone to become bread.” 4 And Jesus answered him, (K)“It is written, (L)‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” 5 (M)And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6 and said to him, “To you (N)I will give all this authority and their glory, (O)for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 And Jesus answered him, (P)“It is written,

(Q)“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
    and (R)him only shall you serve.’”

9 (S)And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are (T)the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,

(U)“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    to guard you,’

11 and

(V)“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

12 And Jesus answered him, “It is said, (W)‘You shall not (X)put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him (Y)until an opportune time.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

After being baptized, Jesus faced the devil. The Spirit led him into the wilderness. Jesus was tempted or tested for 4

days. Three temptations are told to us. The first test was a hungry Jesus to turn stone to bread to prove his power. Jesus replied, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone’” (Dt 8:3). Jesus didn’t deny his physical need; he knew he needed God even more.

The second test was for authority and splendor if Jesus worshiped the devil. Jesus didn’t argue whether the devil had such authority or not. Jesus said, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only’” (Dt 6:13).

The third test was to test God’s protective, saving power from harm if Jesus jumped off the temple. The devil even misused Psalm 91:11-12 to try to trick Jesus. Jesus replied, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test’” (Dt 6:16). Jesus defeated the devil by his perfect submission to God’s word and perfect love for God. Adam failed, but Jesus succeeded, to the end.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, in my sins I have failed. You triumphed as our Champion and Victor. I trust in you for my salvation and victory.

One Word: The victory over the devil is in Jesus