Chapter
Verse

Matthew 4:10

ESV Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
NIV Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.''
NASB Then Jesus *said to him, 'Go away, Satan! For it is written: ‘YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE Lord YOUR God, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.’?'
CSB Then Jesus told him, "Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him."
NLT Get out of here, Satan,' Jesus told him. 'For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ '
KJV 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.

What does Matthew 4:10 mean?

Satan's third temptation to Jesus was enormous. As the "ruler of the world" (John 12:31), Satan had offered to give all the kingdoms of the earth to Jesus in exchange for Jesus falling down before Satan in worship. It's an audacious offer. The Devil's intent was to tear at the natural human desire for power and glory. It also would have meant Jesus attaining kingship without the suffering of the cross. It would mean rebelling against God the Father's will for Christ's life.

In this response, Jesus sounds righteously angry. He tells Satan to "be gone" and quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13. This sin of worshiping false gods—which in practice is often worshiping Satan in disguise—is the exact rebellion that brought God's wrath and judgment down on Israel many times. It's not surprising Jesus sounds angry with the Devil.

Matthew 4:9 is the only time in Scripture where an individual is offered worldly prosperity as payment for their worship. That offer does not come from God; it comes from Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44). Any person claiming worship, faith, or the Christian life are meant to result in health, wealth, or power is a liar (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). The so-called "prosperity gospel," or "prosperity preaching" is wholly and entirely false. God calls us to obedience which may result in hardship (John 16:32–33); promises of wealth and health are literally satanic.
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