IT IS WRITTEN / MATTHEW 4:6-7

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Matthew 4:6-7

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. ⁷Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

The Weaponized Word: Standing on What is Truly Written

In the depths of the wilderness, a fierce battle of words took place between Jesus and the tempter. In Matthew 4:6-7, we witness one of the enemy’s most dangerous tactics: weaponizing the very words of God to lead us astray. Satan tells Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'” Jesus immediately counters with the ultimate defense: “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'”

The Power of Gegraptai

When Jesus responds to temptation throughout this battle, He relies on a foundational truth captured in the Greek verb gegraptai—translated as “it is written.” In the Greek language, this verb is in the perfect tense. This specific tense is incredibly profound because it reflects an action that is both a completed past event and a continuing, permanent state.

When we read gegraptai, the full force of the statement is: “It has been written, and it still stands written.”

This linguistic detail reveals that God’s commands are not temporary suggestions. They carry an ongoing, unchanging authority. What God spoke thousands of years ago remains completely active, binding, and true for our lives today.

When Truth is Twisted

What makes this specific temptation in Matthew 4 so alarming is that Satan actually quotes Scripture. He pulls promises out of Psalms 91, attempting to misuse God’s Word to persuade Jesus to sin through presumption and pride.

This is a sobering reminder for modern believers. At times, people who oppose God—or even well-meaning people caught up in deception—will misuse the Bible. They pluck passages out of context to justify choices they know are wrong or unwise. Taken in isolation, certain verses can be twisted to support almost any selfish desire, making it seem as though God allows or even encourages sinful behavior (1 Corinthians 6:12).

The apostle Peter warned us strictly about this reality. He noted that there are ignorant and unstable people who twist the Scriptures to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

Knowing the Full Counsel of God

How do we guard ourselves against the subtle twisting of truth? We must follow the example Jesus set in the wilderness.

Jesus did not let a single, isolated verse determine His actions. Instead, He answered with the full scope of truth, saying, “It is also written.” He balanced the enemy’s distorted application of a promise with the unchanging command of God’s law.

Followers of Christ must know God’s Word thoroughly. We cannot rely on second-hand knowledge or cherry-picked verses that simply satisfy our opinions. To stand firm against temptation, we must study Scripture deeply, understand its context, and compare different parts of God’s Word to see the complete picture of His will. When we anchor ourselves in the totality of Scripture, we gain a discernment that cannot be easily deceived.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the gift of Your holy, unchanging Word. We praise You that what You have spoken has been written and still stands written today, carrying absolute authority over our lives.

Lord, give us a deep hunger to know Your Scriptures thoroughly. Grant us the discernment and wisdom to recognize when truth is being twisted or taken out of context. Guard our hearts against using Your Word to justify our own selfish desires or opinions. Instead, let Your Holy Spirit guide us into all truth, so that we may use Scripture rightly as an effective shield against temptation. May our lives always honor the full counsel of Your Word.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

Guided By Grace

Summary

Article Name

IT IS WRITTEN / MATTHEW 4:6

Description

The Greek verb gegraptai (meaning “it is written”) is in the perfect tense. This tense reflects that God’s command is both a completed action and a continuing state that results from that action.

Author

Margarita Crews

Publisher Name