Jesus tested II. (Matt 4:5-7)

In Matthew 4:1-11, Jesus’ relationship to God is extensively tested. While His connection as Son to the Father is unique, we can nevertheless learn something about the nature of our relationship to God as well. In my first post on this incident (read it here), I reflected on the way Jesus refused to use His relationship to God for His own benefit and demonstrated immense trust in the Father’s provision given in God’s time and God’s way. In today’s reading, the issue is still that of trust, but this time, it focuses on God’s protection rather than on provision.

In these days of threat from an invisible viral invasion, many have taken comfort from the words of Psalm 91 that envisage God’s protection in a variety of dangers, including ‘the deadly pestilence’ that ‘stalks in darkness’ (Ps 91:3, 6). In fact, our church read this psalm in our last service on site before the lockdown. Given that God’s protection is so sure, argues Satan, Jesus could stand on a high point of the temple (the place where God is supremely present) and throw Himself down without hurt. Wouldn’t this be the ultimate proof of Jesus’ trust in the Father? Since Satan is making the suggestion, we know that it cannot be right, but what exactly is wrong with this?

We might initially think that the issue is with how we read Psalm 91. After all, the people of God can be persecuted, even martyred and we are not exempt from suffering and hardship. Jesus Himself was going to die on a cross. In other words, Psalm 91 is not a blanket guarantee of immunity from all difficulty. Jesus, however, does not engage with this question and simply accepts the promise of protection in the psalm straightforwardly. What He takes issue with is the scenario Satan suggests, which is to create a situation where God is forced to come to the rescue. Far from demonstrating trust, this is a manipulation of the relationship. Manipulative people are often deeply insecure and feel that others need to be forced to give love and care because otherwise they won’t do so. At the root of such an attitude is fear and a lack of trust. Manipulative behaviour may also be a power-game: the manipulator fears being taken advantage of and steps in first to gain the upper hand. Satan’s suggestion would put Jesus into a power-position over God the Father and this is unacceptable. Knowing that God does not tolerate manipulation also encourages me that He is not manipulative Himself either. He both gives freely and wants to receive love and trust from us without manipulation or force.

Jesus’ reply ‘You shall not put the LORD your God to the test’ (Deut 6:16) evokes again Israel’s wilderness wanderings, where they insisted on proof of God’s presence with them by demanding water (Exod 17:2, 7). The connection highlights that the issue Jesus faced is not unique to Him but is also relevant in our relationship with God. Jesus again demonstrates supreme confidence in God, so much so that it does not need to be tested. Yes, we know that He will suffer and die, but none of this is outside God’s control. In fact, a number of times Jesus will escape arrest (John 7:32, 45-46) and stoning (John 8:59; John 10:31, 39). And when His time comes, God will enable Him to endure death and will carry Him through to a new, resurrected life. Although the future ahead of us is uncertain, we too may have utter confidence in the Lord.