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Explanation for:
Matthew
4
:
7
Jesus said to him: It is written again: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
9
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He shatters the deceptive darts of the adversary with the genuine defenses found in Scripture. Notably, He drew the essential proof solely from Deuteronomy to illustrate the principles of the New Law."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"What, then, can we understand about Christ? He did not respond with anger or fury, but instead replied to him gently, using the words of Scripture: ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.’ Through this response, Christ instructs us that the adversary cannot be defeated by displays of power, but rather through kindness and perseverance, and that actions should not be driven solely by ambition in a bid to demonstrate one’s worth. Moreover, notice how the folly of the tempter is evident in the very testimony he provides. The two declarations made by the Lord came at the most fitting moments, yet the tempter's assertions were random and lacked relevance, as they misconstrued the truth. The claim that we are not commanded by His angel to cast ourselves into peril, nor was it stated concerning the Lord, illustrates this point. Nonetheless, the Lord did not chastise him for his folly, even though the devil had misused Scripture in a disrespectful and distorted fashion. No one would ask the Son of God to act in such a manner; it is characteristic of the devil and his minions to leap into danger, while it is God’s nature to restore those who are in distress. If the Son of God needed to display His might, it would be through acts of salvation rather than recklessly descending from heights. The devil and his followers rush toward destruction, and this is precisely what the deceiver among them does. Yet, even after these exchanges, Christ did not fully reveal His divine identity, continuing to address him as a human; His statements, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone,’ and ‘Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,’ did not distinctly unveil who He was but portrayed Him simply as a mortal man."},{"author-name":"Isidore of Pelusium","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d94130e668938c9ae9d_Isidore%20of%20Pelusium.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The scripture that states, \\"He will command His angels concerning thee; they shall take thee in their hands, lest thou stumble at a stone with thy foot\\" (Psalm 90:11, 12) refers to a just individual, yet it was misinterpreted by the adversary. He may have either correctly grasped its meaning but sought to derive a negative inference, or he might have completely misunderstood it. Christ clarified this succinctly by asserting, \\"It is written, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God\\" (Matthew 4:7). The Lord has assured protection for those who find themselves in peril, not for those who test Him; His aid is for the needy, not for those who seek to display false bravado or chase after fleeting recognition. While I acknowledge that the Psalmist's words can be applicable to me—implying even angels have their role in relation to me—they primarily speak of a righteous individual."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The final temptation of curiosity was also introduced: the adversary urged Christ to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, solely to test Him. However, Christ remained unbroken and responded in a way that illustrates for us that to understand God, one does not need to seek the divine through visible signs. He said, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matt. 4:7)."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The scripture from Deuteronomy states, \\"You shall not put the Lord your God to the test\\" (Deuteronomy 6:16). It is the individual who tests God that places themselves in evident peril, doing so out of sheer trust in God without any real obligation to act."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the Holy Scriptures, the book of Deuteronomy reminds us in Deuteronomy 6:16, ‘Thou shalt not seek the LORD thy God.’ It is wrong to demand a miracle from the Lord without justification. While it is true that the Lord is willing to perform miracles for those who trust in Him, it should only be in moments of real peril rather than when one arbitrarily seeks a sign. St. John Chrysostom notes that through this response, the Lord teaches us that the adversary must be conquered not through miraculous demonstrations but through kindness and humility, and actions should not be undertaken out of vanity or self-promotion. This serves as a powerful lesson for those afflicted with spiritual arrogance, viewing themselves as God's favorites, and who unnecessarily provoke temptation. It also cautions those who interpret the Scriptures in a manner that suits their own reasoning. The Savior illustrated that one cannot extract verses from the Holy Scriptures without considering the broader context. However, this is often the approach of those who twist God's Word to fit their own insights, including various sects. Would that they reflected on whom they truly resemble... The devil could not sway the Lord with doubt. Yet, he clung to the hope of overcoming Him through power and selfish desires. Perhaps he mused, ‘Am I wrong in believing this man is a miracle worker? He has yet to perform a single miracle for me, and my demands for signs remain unmet; thus he resists me, likely because he cannot work miracles. Now I shall employ the most certain tactic: I will tempt Him with my allure....’ St. John Chrysostom further comments on the devil's approach, saying, ‘Do not be surprised that, in tempting Christ, the devil flits from one tactic to another. Just as combatants, wounded and bloodied, stagger and strike out in every direction, so too does he, having already failed twice, begin to speak haphazardly, drawn by whatever thought comes to him...’"},{"author-name":"Kochomski S.W.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"You shall not test the Lord your God.\\" These words were proclaimed by Moses to the Israelites, further clarified by the phrase ‘as you tempted Him at Massah,’ which also refers to Meribah in Rephidim (Deut. 6:16). This indicates a doubt in His omnipresence and omnipotence, demanding a miracle for affirmation. The instruction may be interpreted in two perspectives: it could be directed towards the devil, prohibiting him from further challenging the endurance of the Son of God, or it may serve as a guideline for action, illustrating that Jesus Christ refrains from challenging the divine power or miraculous nature of God by placing Himself in avoidable peril."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In response to the temptation directed at Him, the Lord employs scripture once more, quoting from Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 6:16): \\"Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.\\" This directive is given by Moses to the Israelites, cautioning them against testing Jehovah, as they did at Massah (Rephidim) when they questioned Him with the words, \\"whether the Lord be surely among us, or not\\" (Ex. 17:7), in their demand for a miracle due to their thirst (Ex. 17:1, et cetera). Thus, the essence of Christ’s response indicates that we should not presumptuously seek a miracle from God. While it is true that God assists those who honor Him and grants miracles for their salvation, such divine intervention is meant to rescue them from peril, not to fulfill their arbitrary wishes. Consequently, the tempter, who misrepresented the intent of the scripture, was countered by another passage that accurately clarifies its true significance."},{"author-name":"Lopuchin A.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c891400ee1341634d2276d_Lopuchin%20A.P..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"This temptation could not prevail against a man without sin. In response to the deceitful allure of wickedness, Christ responded with poise: 'It is written also, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'"}]}
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