“Jesus said to him, ‘It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Matthew 4:7. Other translations say, “You must not test the Lord your God.”
“You must not test the Lord your God,” was Jesus’ firm reply when Satan tempted Him in the wilderness to throw Himself off a cliff so that God could save Him. It was also written in the Old Testament as one of the commandments that Moses gave to the Israelites. (Deuteronomy 6:16.) But what does it mean to tempt or test God?
What does it mean to tempt or test God?
We are each born with a conscience, an “inner voice” that tells us what is right and wrong. Even as children, we know when we have gone against that inner voice, when we have done something wrong.
But if we do what we know is wrong and go against our conscience on purpose, and we still expect God to bless us and forgive us over and over for things we know to be wrong, then we are testing God.
In the Old Covenant, God promised to bless the Israelites if they kept the commandments, but He also promised that a curse would be over them if they did not follow the laws He gave them. (Deuteronomy 30:19.) The Israelites were free to choose, and they often chose to break His laws, and turned away from God in their hearts. But they still expected to be blessed with earthly blessings!
It is so easy to have this attitude of mind. I want God’s blessing over my life; to have a good life. But I also want to live for myself a little bit, to do things my own way and give in to my sinful desires, to do my own will. Maybe it’s going out with some friends that I know aren’t good for me, or being afraid to speak up against something I know is wrong, or going to places where I know that I shouldn’t be. I allow myself to do things that I know are wrong.
Maybe I think it isn’t so serious, because I am good “most of the time”, and “surely God wants me to be a normal person and enjoy myself”. Or maybe I even go so far as to think, “I will just ask for forgiveness afterwards and everything will be OK.” When I have this attitude, then I am testing God because I want His blessing, and still I continue to choose to sin.
That kind of attitude is actually just pride and arrogance, and it causes God to resist me! What a horrible thought, to have God against you – that’s a true curse! But if I choose to humble myself instead and give up my sinful lusts and desires - so that I am doing His will and not my own will - then He will pour out His grace over me. That is truly to be blessed by Him! (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5.)
Read more here: 4 things everyone should know about humility.
Making the right choice
Jesus says in John 8:12 (NLT), “If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” If I go against what I know is right, then I am wilfully walking in darkness and God cannot bless me, but a curse will come over me.
But if I truly love Jesus and want to please Him in everything I do, then I will walk in the light as He did. This means that when I have a choice to make, I choose to do what I know is right because I don’t want to disappoint Him. It will cost me something to lose my own “life” – my own will, desires, thoughts, etc. – for His sake. But when I do this, I get peace in my heart because I know that even if no one else saw my sacrifice, I am well-pleasing to God and His blessing is over me. (Matthew 10:39.)
It is written about Jesus that He “loved what is right and hated what is wrong.” Hebrews 1:9 (GW). And this is also the way God has always had it. His eyes go over the whole earth, looking for those who long to do what is right even where no one sees them, because they love Him. (2 Chronicles 16:9.)
“Go and sin no more”
Jesus said to the woman who was caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more.” John 8:11. He also made it possible for us to “Go and sin no more.”
When I really want to please God in everything, then He gives me the Holy Spirit, who will give me power so that I can overcome sin! God loves us as much as He hates sin, and He wants us to have His blessing over our lives. He has promised that when we offer everything to Him, then He will pour His blessing over us so much that there will not be room enough to receive it! (Malachi 3:10.) This blessing is not just earthly things, but much more grace and help so that we overcome and become free from sin, and the promise is that we will share in the great and precious promises that God has given us! (2 Peter 1:2-4.)
The Bible is full of promises for those who keep God’s commandments, but there are also consequences for those who choose not to do what they know is right. When He gave the commandments, God gave the Israelites a choice and He also gives us this choice now. “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life …” Deuteronomy 30:19. May we be awake to see the opportunities God gives us, and to humble ourselves before Him so that His blessing can be over our lives!