Study of Matthew 4:6. Can you help with any relevant scriptures or comments ?

Question

Matthew 4:6...."If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

" 'He will command his angels concerning you,

and they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'

See Ps 91:11&12..... 11 For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Luke 4:9-11 back up Matt:4:6

Studying up to ask about this scripture i came across these comments...

1.Jesus had expressed his trust in the word of God. The devil now asks him to go from the extreme of distrust to that of rashly tempting God

2.It was, perhaps, the demand so often repeated and always refused, to show a sign from heaven (Mt 16:1 Mr 8:11 Lu 11:16), to make a display of his power to secure popular applause. Perhaps the evil spirit whispered to him to perform one stupendous miracle in Jerusalem, in the presence of all people, and to secure such fame

3.He shall give his angels charge concerning thee. The enemy, like a false adviser, quotes from Ps 91:11 to justify his request, but he garbled the Scripture, leaving out to keep thee in all thy ways, which follows the first clause. The promise is limited to those who walk in the way appointed to them.

Is comment 2 an assumption ? compare Matt 16:1

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

Do you agree with the comments, why /why not ?

Any comments about Ps 91:11&12 ?

Have i missed any important points ?

Can you add any relevent scriptures or comments ?

What do you think about Matthew 4:6 ?

Answer 1

The Gospel account at Matthew 4:1-11 tells of Jesus’ being tempted by “the Devil,” a Greek term meaning “false accuser, misrepresenter, slanderer.” This threefold temptation of Jesus involved conversation between Jesus and the Devil in which Satan employed clever arguments, including a wrong application of Psalm 91:11, 12, to induce Jesus to sin against God. (Matt. 4:6) Jesus later called the Devil a “father” (in a figurative sense), a “manslayer” and a “liar.” (John 8:44) The apostle Paul, at 2 Corinthians 2:11, spoke of evil “designs” that Satan schemes up against Christians.

Only an intelligent, reasoning person could think, speak to God and Jesus Christ and ‘design’ tactics against people. It is worthy of note, too, that the majority of mankind throughout history have attributed the ultimate cause of evil to a person or persons in the spirit realm.

Trustworthy Under Test

Jesus was tested by Satan the Devil in an effort to break his integrity. He had to maintain his integrity through hardships and suffering, in contrast with Adam, whose obedience as a perfect man was tested simply by his being instructed to obey a divine law. In addition, Jesus had the pressure of knowing that upon his integrity rested the redemption of the human family.—Hebrews 5:8, 9.

Satan, determined to break Jesus’ integrity, approached him when Jesus was at his weakest—after he had spent 40 days meditating and fasting in the wilderness. Three times he tempted Jesus—to turn stones into bread; to jump off the temple battlement, presuming that angelic intervention would save him and thus give a miraculous sign to prove his Messiahship; and to accept rulership of all the kingdoms of this world in exchange for just one “act of worship” toward Satan. But Jesus rejected each temptation, maintaining his integrity to Jehovah.—Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13.

Answer 2

Satan must have know the scriptures because as you show he quoted Ps 91:11-12 .

re comment 2 Perhaps the evil spirit whispered did misquote Psalms

Reminds me of 2 Co 11:4

For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

By the way , it appears you put quite some effort into your questions , well done. I don't think you miss too much .

Answer 3

In regard to his hatred of sin, Jesus was tested early in his ministry. After his baptism, he spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness without food. At the end of that period, Satan came to tempt him. Note how crafty the Devil was.—Matthew 4:1-11.

Satan first said: “If you are a son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” (Matthew 4:3) How did Jesus feel after his long fast? The Bible plainly says: “He felt hungry.” (Matthew 4:2) So Satan played on the natural desire for food, no doubt deliberately waiting until Jesus was in a physically weakened state. Notice, too, Satan’s taunting phrase: “If you are a son of God.” Satan knew that Jesus was “the firstborn of all creation.” (Colossians 1:15) Still, Jesus did not allow Satan to provoke him into disobedience. Jesus knew that it was not God’s will that he use his power for selfish ends. He refused to do so, showing that he humbly relied on Jehovah for sustenance and direction.—Matthew 4:4.

For his second temptation, Satan took Jesus to a lofty spot on the temple battlement. Cleverly twisting God’s Word, Satan tempted Jesus to make a showy display by hurling himself down from that height so that angels would have to rescue him. If the crowds at the temple saw such a miracle, would anyone thereafter dare raise a doubt that Jesus was the promised Messiah? And if the crowds accepted Jesus as the Messiah on the basis of such showmanship, might Jesus not avoid a lot of hardship and trouble? Perhaps. But Jesus knew that it was Jehovah’s will for the Messiah to carry out his work in a humble manner, not to influence people to believe in him by means of spectacular displays. (Isaiah 42:1, 2) Again, Jesus refused to disobey Jehovah. Fame held no lure for him.

What, though, about the lure of power? In his third attempt, Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would perform a single act of worship to Satan. Did he seriously consider Satan’s offer? “Go away, Satan!” was his reply. He added: “For it is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’” (Matthew 4:10) Nothing would ever induce Jesus to worship another god. No offer of power or influence in this world would sway him to commit any act of disobedience.

Did Satan give up? He did leave at Jesus’ command. However, Luke’s Gospel states that the Devil “retired from him until another convenient time.” (Luke 4:13) Indeed, Satan would find other occasions to test and to tempt Jesus, right down to the end. The Bible tells us that Jesus was “tested in all respects.” (Hebrews 4:15) So Jesus was never able to let down his guard; nor are we.

Satan continues to tempt God’s servants today. Sadly, our imperfections often make us easy targets. Satan craftily appeals to selfishness, pride, and greed for power. Using the lure of materialism, Satan may even appeal to all of these at once! It is vital that we pause, at times, for honest self-examination. We do well to meditate on the words of 1 John 2:15-17. As we do, we might ask ourselves if the fleshly desires of this system of things, the yearning for material possessions, and the desire to impress others have to some extent eroded our love for our heavenly Father. We need to remember that this world is on its way out, as is its ruler, Satan. Let us reject his crafty efforts to lure us into sin! May we be inspired by our Master, for “he committed no sin.”—1 Peter 2:22.

(Psalm 91:11-12) For he will give his own angels a command concerning you(Psalms 34:7), To guard you in all your ways (Ex 23:20). 12 Upon their hands they will carry you (Isaiah 63:9), That you may not strike your foot against any stone.(1 Peter 2:8)