Matthew 4:10

My Notes

What Does Matthew 4:10 Mean?

Jesus dismisses the devil with Scripture and authority: 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.

Get thee hence, Satan — the command is direct, authoritative, and final. Hence (hupage — go away, depart, remove yourself). Jesus does not negotiate. He does not engage further. He dismisses. The three temptations are over (v.3-9), and Jesus ends the encounter not with a counter-argument but with a command: leave. The authority to dismiss Satan is the authority of the Son of God — the one who has the right to command and the power to enforce.

For it is written (gegraptai — it stands written, the perfect tense indicating permanent authority) — Jesus's weapon throughout the temptation is Scripture. All three responses to Satan quote Deuteronomy (8:3, 6:16, 6:13). The written word is the sword that defeats the tempter. Jesus does not rely on his divine nature to resist temptation. He relies on the word of God — the same resource available to every believer. The victory is won through Scripture, not through supernatural advantage unavailable to humans.

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God — the quotation is from Deuteronomy 6:13. Worship (proskuneo — to bow before, to prostrate, to give reverence). The worship belongs exclusively to God. The third temptation (v.8-9: all the kingdoms of the world for one act of worship) is the most direct: Satan asks for worship. Jesus's answer eliminates every alternative: worship belongs to God. Period.

And him only (mono — alone, exclusively, to the exclusion of all others) shalt thou serve (latreuo — to render religious service, to worship through devoted service) — the only intensifies the exclusivity. Not primarily. Not mainly. Only. The worship and the service go to God alone — and the alone eliminates Satan, idols, self, and every other competitor for the devotion that belongs to God exclusively.

The temptation narrative teaches that Satan can be defeated — by a human being, using the word of God, in the power of the Spirit (v.1: led up of the Spirit). The victory is not mystical. It is scriptural: it is written. And the written word, spoken with authority, sends Satan away.

Reflection Questions

• 1.Why does Jesus use Scripture — rather than his divine power — to defeat Satan, and what does that model for you?
• 2.What does 'him only' demand about the exclusivity of worship — and what competitors does the 'only' eliminate?
• 3.How does 'get thee hence' model the dismissal of temptation rather than prolonged engagement with it?
• 4.What temptation are you still negotiating with that this verse says should be dismissed — and what Scripture would you use to dismiss it?

Devotional

Get thee hence, Satan. Three words that end the conversation. No more debate. No more engagement. No more entertaining the offer. Get out. Jesus does not negotiate with temptation. He dismisses it — with the authority of someone who has the right to command and the power to enforce. The conversation is over because the Son of God says it is over.

For it is written. Three times Jesus was tempted. Three times he answered with Scripture. Not with divine power unavailable to you. Not with a mystical ability reserved for the Son of God. With the written word — the same Bible you have access to. The weapon that defeated Satan in the wilderness is on your nightstand. It is written. The victory over temptation is scriptural, not supernatural in a way you cannot access.

Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. The final temptation was the most blatant: bow to Satan and receive the kingdoms of the world. The shortcut to glory without the cross. And Jesus answers with the most fundamental truth in the universe: worship belongs to God alone. Only. Exclusively. No exceptions. No sharing. No bowing to anything or anyone that is not the Lord thy God.

Him only. The word only eliminates every competitor. Not God and your career. Not God and your comfort. Not God and the thing Satan offers in exchange for your worship. Only — one object of worship, one recipient of your devoted service, one God who tolerates no rivals. The only is the line that cannot be crossed. And when Satan asked Jesus to cross it, Jesus drew the line with Scripture and dismissed the devil with authority.

Satan left (v.11: then the devil leaveth him). The Scripture worked. The dismissal held. The temptation ended — not because Satan ran out of ideas but because Jesus used the word of God with the authority of the Son of God. The same word. The same authority — delegated to you through the Spirit. Get thee hence. It is written. And the devil leaves.

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture