Bridging the Testaments: The Fulfilment of Old Testament Scripture in Matthew 4:7
Matthew 4:7 (NKJV):
“Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'”
- Matthew 4:7 Context:
This verse occurs during Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, shortly after His baptism (around AD 27-30). The audience of this event is Satan, who challenges Jesus to prove His divinity by throwing Himself off the temple, trusting that angels will rescue Him. However, the broader audience includes future readers and followers of Jesus who are learning about His messianic mission and His perfect obedience to God’s word. - Deuteronomy 6:16 (NKJV):
“You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.”
This verse, which Jesus references, takes place during Moses’ final address to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land (around 1406 BC). The original audience was the Israelites, whom Moses warned not to test God as they did in the wilderness at Massah.
Massah (Exodus 17:1-7):
The event referred to at Massah occurred during Israel’s exodus from Egypt. The Israelites, doubting God’s provision and protection, quarrelled with Moses and tested God by demanding water, showing their lack of faith.
Key Themes and Keywords
- Trust in God’s Sovereignty: Both passages emphasise trusting God’s plan rather than testing His protection or provision.
- Faithfulness: Jesus models perfect faith in God’s will, unlike the Israelites who doubted.
- Temptation: The danger of trying to manipulate God into acting on one’s own terms.
Old Testament Scriptures with Similar Themes
- Deuteronomy 6:16:
“You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.”
This verse is directly quoted by Jesus and refers to the Israelites’ rebellion and lack of faith in the wilderness. - Exodus 17:1-7:
This passage describes the events at Massah, where the Israelites tested God by demanding water, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” This reflects the temptation to doubt God’s presence and demand miraculous proof of His care. - Psalm 95:8-9:
“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness, when your fathers tested Me; they tried Me, though they saw My work.”
This psalm recalls the events of Massah and emphasises the importance of faith and obedience over doubt and rebellion.
How Matthew 4:7 Reflects and Fulfils Old Testament Scriptures
In Matthew 4:7, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16 in response to Satan’s temptation to throw Himself off the temple to force God to act. This reflects a fulfilment of the Old Testament by showing that Jesus, as the new Israel, succeeds where the Israelites failed. While the Israelites tested God by doubting His presence and provision, Jesus affirms that God should not be tested.
The connection between Deuteronomy 6:16 and Matthew 4:7 is clear: both emphasise trust in God and the rejection of manipulating circumstances to force God’s hand. Jesus perfectly fulfils the law by demonstrating unwavering faith, contrasting the failure of the Israelites in the wilderness.
From a scholarly perspective, Jesus’ response to Satan in Matthew 4:7 represents a critical moment in redemptive history. Where Israel repeatedly tested God throughout the wilderness journey, Jesus demonstrates the faith and obedience that Israel lacked. Scholars see this as a key moment of typology, where Jesus embodies the role of the true and faithful Israelite.
Jesus’ refusal to test God aligns Him with the covenantal faithfulness required of Israel in Deuteronomy. By referencing this verse, He reaffirms God’s sovereignty and the appropriate human response to divine authority: trust and obedience rather than manipulation and testing. Scholars often highlight the Messianic fulfilment here—Jesus, the perfect Israel, succeeds in every area where God’s people failed.
Meaning of Keywords
- “Tempt” (Greek: ἐκπειράζω – ekpeirazō): To put someone or something to the test, often with an expectation of failure. In this context, it means to challenge or provoke God to act in a certain way.
- “Lord your God”: Refers to the sovereign authority of God over His people, demanding faithfulness, trust, and reverence.
- “Massah”: Meaning “testing,” refers to the event in Exodus where the Israelites tested God by doubting His provision.
Application for Today’s Christians
For modern Christians, Matthew 4:7 provides a powerful lesson on trusting God without demanding signs or proofs. Jesus’ refusal to test God reminds believers to have faith in God’s plan, even when circumstances are challenging or unclear.
Practical applications include:
- Trust in Difficult Times: Like Jesus, believers are called to trust God without testing or doubting His care. This can be particularly relevant during trials, where the temptation is to demand signs of God’s presence or intervention.
- Rejecting Manipulation in Faith: Christians must resist the urge to test God by setting conditions for obedience or faith. Faith in God should be based on His revealed character and promises, not on our own terms or demands.
- Spiritual Discipline in Temptation: Just as Jesus used Scripture to resist temptation, Christians should arm themselves with God’s word to navigate life’s challenges faithfully.
In summary, Matthew 4:7 serves as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, showing how Jesus fulfils Israel’s story by perfectly trusting in God’s provision. His refusal to test God challenges believers to cultivate a deep, unwavering faith, reminding them that true obedience requires trust, not manipulation.