Matthew 4:10

Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Matthew 4:10 (KJV)

Context

Matthew 4:10 is the climax of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. After fasting for forty days and nights, Jesus was hungry, and Satan approached Him with three temptations. In this final temptation, Satan took Jesus to a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, and offered to give them to Him if He would fall down and worship him. Jesus’ response in this verse is the decisive rejection of that offer.

Meaning

Jesus begins with a direct command: “Get thee hence, Satan.” This is not a mild suggestion but a firm rebuke, expressing indignation at Satan’s impudence and abhorrence of his impiety. Jesus had patiently endured the earlier temptations, answering with Scripture, but this attempt to seduce Him into idolatry was intolerable. The command is parallel to Luke 4:8, where Jesus says, “Get thee behind me,” and it echoes the same rebuke He later gives to Peter in Matthew 16:23, showing that any attempt to turn Him from His Father’s will is satanic in origin.

Jesus then grounds His command in Scripture: “for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” This quotation comes from Deuteronomy 6:13, where the Greek text emphasizes exclusive worship and service to God alone. By quoting Scripture, Jesus reveals His reliance on the Word of God and demonstrates the importance of aligning His actions with God’s commands. The verse teaches that worship and service belong to God alone, and any offer that tempts us to compromise this exclusive allegiance must be rejected.

Biblical connections

The quotation from Deuteronomy 6:13 is part of the Shema, the great confession of Israel’s exclusive devotion to God. Jesus applies this Old Testament command directly to His own situation, showing that the principle of exclusive worship is unchanging. The immediate context of Matthew 4:10 also connects to Matthew 4:11, where the devil leaves Jesus and angels come and minister to Him, demonstrating that faithful resistance to temptation leads to divine care and victory.

Application

This verse carries significant spiritual and practical lessons for believers. First, it calls us to prioritize God above all else, even when faced with appealing temptations. Jesus’ example reminds us to keep God as our primary focus and to resist the distractions and enticements that may divert us from a close relationship with Him. Second, it highlights the importance of knowing and meditating on God’s Word. Scripture equips us to discern truth, resist temptation, and live in alignment with God’s will. Third, it reinforces the principle that worship is to be directed solely towards God, guarding against idolatry and giving God the honor and devotion He deserves.

Reflection

Jesus’ response to Satan models the proper way to face temptation: using Scripture as the authority and refusing to entertain the tempter’s offers. When we are tempted to compromise our allegiance to God, we can follow His example by standing firmly on God’s Word and rejecting anything that would draw us away from exclusive worship and service to Him.