Matthew 4:7. Again it is written. Not ‘written again.' In another place; Deuteronomy 6:16. Our Lord corrects the misinterpretation of poetic Scripture by citing a plain statement of the law. The original has ‘ye,' but Jesus answers: Thou shalt not tempt, turning it directly upon the tempter, for every tempting of God is caused by Satan.

The Lord thy God. By such rash confidence God would be tempted. The direct address involves another thought: that Satan in thus tempting Him was tempting the Lord his God. Religious fanaticism is a tempting of God.

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Old Testament