Matthew 4:7
"and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”"
Key Reflection
In Matthew 4:7, Satan presents Jesus with a test based on Psalms 91:11-12, which promises that God will command his angels to protect him and bear him up so he does not strike his foot against a stone. The original audience would have recognized this reference to divine protection, making the temptation all the more challenging for Jesus as it suggested a way to avoid suffering through divine intervention rather than trusting in his own strength and obedience. This scene highlights the contrast between Satan’s desire for instant gratification and God's plan for endurance and faithfulness, setting up the ongoing conflict of Jesus’ earthly mission.
Related Verses
More from Matthew 4
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26Go deeper with Bible.talk - your AI Bible study companion
From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes