Then
the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
Matthew 4:5-6
Matthew 4 [4.] But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”
Matthew 4 [5.] Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’ and,
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you don’t dash your foot against a stone.’”
Matthew 4 [7.] Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”
Meaning:
After his baptism Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he fasted forty days and was tempted by the devil. In the first temptation the devil urged him to turn stones into bread, and Jesus answered with Scripture (Matthew 4:1-4). Now the devil changes his approach. Mark summarises the temptations briefly (Mark 1:12; Mark 1:13), and Luke places this one last (Luke 4:9-12).
- “the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple”
The holy city is Jerusalem, and the temple was the centre of Israel’s worship. The “pinnacle” was probably a high corner of the temple walls, overlooking the deep Kidron Valley. Here, at the most sacred place in the nation, the devil sets his trap. Temptation does not stay away from holy places; it can come to us even in the middle of worship and religious service.
- “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down”
At his baptism the Father had declared, “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:17). The devil does not openly deny this; he tries to make Jesus prove it on his own terms. A spectacular leap from the temple, with angels catching him, would seem to confirm his identity and might win the crowds instantly. But it would mean forcing God’s hand. The same words, “If you are the Son of God”, would be shouted at Jesus on the cross, daring him to come down (Matthew 27:40). Both times he refused to use his power to serve himself.
- “for it is written, ‘He will put his angels in charge of you.’”
Jesus had answered the first temptation with “It is written”, so now the devil quotes Scripture too. He uses Psalm 91, a psalm of trust in God’s protection: “For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone” (Psalm 91:11-12). The promise is real, but the devil twists it. The psalm describes God’s care for those who trust him as they walk in his ways, not a guarantee for anyone who deliberately puts himself in danger to test God. Paul warns that Satan can appear as “an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14); here he appears as a Bible teacher.
- Jesus’ answer
Jesus replies with another Scripture: “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God’” (Matthew 4:7). Scripture must be read in the light of all Scripture. Trusting God means relying on him in the path of obedience, not demanding that he perform on our command.
The Significance of Matthew 4:5-6
- Know the whole Word
The devil can quote the Bible. A verse taken out of context can be used to justify almost anything. Believers need to know Scripture well, as Paul urges, “properly handling the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).
- Trust is not presumption
Faith rests on God’s promises while walking in his will. Presumption takes reckless risks and expects God to rescue us. Jesus trusted his Father completely, yet he would not test him.
- Strength in temptation
Jesus faced real temptation and overcame it. God promises his people, “God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Cross-References:
Psalm 91:11-12: "For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways." The psalm the devil misused.
Matthew 4:7: "You shall not test the Lord, your God." Jesus’ reply.
2 Corinthians 11:14: Satan disguised as an angel of light.
1 Corinthians 10:13: "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able," God’s help in temptation.
Conclusion: Matthew 4:5-6 describes the second temptation. The devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and challenged him to prove he was the Son of God by throwing himself down, quoting Psalm 91’s promise of angelic protection. Jesus would not twist God’s promises into a test of God. The passage warns against misusing Scripture and against presumption, and shows Jesus as the faithful Son who trusts his Father.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible