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. The third response is the only one accompanied by a direct dismissal: Be gone, Satan! The Deuteronomy 6:13 citation — you shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve — is the Shema's application to the exclusive claims of covenant loyalty. No divided worship, no additional allegiances, no matter what is offered. Jesus has passed through the three areas where Israel failed in the wilderness — provision (the manna test), protection (the Massah test), and exclusive loyalty (the golden calf test) — and succeeded where Israel failed. He is the true Israel, the faithful son, the one who emerges from the wilderness qualified to begin the ministry the Father has prepared.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a note on this verse