February 24

Scripture with Scripture

Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” — Matt 4:7 BSB

Christ is our example in everything, including how He handled temptation. Here, we see how He faced the tempter and conquered him. His primary weapon in this battle was the Word of God. He used the Scriptures like arrows, drawing from them the words that struck down the enemy’s attacks. Notice, too, that Jesus didn’t need to search through a Bible to find the right verses. He had them memorized. This shows us that He had spent time studying and meditating on the Scriptures in His quiet days at Nazareth, so that when temptation came, He was prepared. The lesson for us is clear: if we want to be ready to face temptation, we must fill our hearts with God’s Word. We need to store up Scripture in our minds so that when we’re tempted, we can instantly recall the truth and use it to fight back.

Another important lesson is found in Jesus’ words: “It is written again.” We need to compare Scripture with Scripture to understand God’s full will. One verse, taken out of context, may not give us the whole picture of what God wants. In this passage, the devil quotes a promise from Scripture, but he twists it, leaving out key words that limit its meaning. Yes, it’s true that God commands His angels to guard us, but this protection is promised only when we are walking in obedience to God’s will. The moment we step outside of His path, we forfeit that protection. So when we’re tempted to expect God’s care in a path of disobedience, we must remember Jesus’ words: “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”