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Matthew 4:7
Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Luke 4:12
And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

tempted him

Exodus 17:2,7
Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? …

Numbers 20:3,4,13
And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! …

Numbers 21:4,5
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way…

as you tested Him at Massah
Massah refers to an event recorded inExodus 17:1-7, where the Israelites, during their wilderness journey, quarreled and tested God by demanding water, doubting His presence and care. The name "Massah" itself means "testing," and it serves as a historical reminder of Israel's failure to trust God despite witnessing His miraculous works. This incident highlights the human tendency to doubt in times of need and serves as a warning against repeating such behavior. The reference to Massah underscores the importance of learning from past mistakes and maintaining faith in God's provision and guidance.

“Do not test the LORD your God…” (Deuteronomy 6:16a)

• “Testing” God means pressuring Him to prove Himself on our terms—demanding signs, questioning His care, or insisting He meet grievances before we obey (Exodus 17:2;Psalm 78:18).

• Scripture calls this attitude sin because it flips the Creator–creature order; instead of trusting His revealed character, we set ourselves up as judges (Numbers 14:22;1 Corinthians 10:9).

• Jesus answers Satan with this very verse, refusing to manipulate the Father for spectacular proof (Matthew 4:7), confirming that the command still stands for every believer.

“…the LORD your God…” (v. 16b)

• The personal name “LORD” (YHWH) reminds Israel of the One who freed them (Exodus 20:2). Testing Him questions that salvation.

• “Your God” underscores covenant intimacy. To distrust Him is to wound the relationship He graciously established (Deuteronomy 7:9;Hosea 13:4).

• The appropriate response to such a God is wholehearted love, laid out just a few verses earlier in the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5), not suspicion or bargaining.

“…as you tested Him…” (v. 16c)

• Moses connects past failure with present warning: the earlier generation’s attitude can resurface if memory fades (Psalm 95:8-9;Hebrews 3:8-9).

• Testing can take subtle forms today—grumbling when provision arrives differently than expected, withholding obedience until circumstances change, or treating prayer like a contract instead of communion (James 1:6-7).

• God’s prior faithfulness should end all demands for new proofs (Joshua 23:14).

“…at Massah.” (v. 16d)

• Massah (“testing”) refers toExodus 17:1-7. Thirsty Israelites quarreled with Moses, saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”—despite fresh memories of the Red Sea and manna.

• Their doubt questioned God’s presence and goodness, yet He graciously provided water from the rock. Still, the place kept the name as a perpetual cautionary tale (Psalm 106:14).

• The lesson: God may meet needs despite complaints, but the complaining heart forfeits joy, invites discipline, and dishonors His glory (Numbers 20:12).

• Trust instead of test: take God at His Word even when feelings lag (Proverbs 3:5-6).

• Recall His past deeds: gratitude is the antidote to demanding spirits (Psalm 103:2).

• Obey promptly: faith proves itself by action, not by setting conditions (John 14:15;James 2:22).

• Encourage one another daily so that unbelief does not harden hearts, echoing Massah’s tragedy (Hebrews 3:12-13).

Deuteronomy 6:16 calls God’s people to refuse every impulse to make the Lord “prove Himself.” The command rests on His covenant name, recalls the disastrous example at Massah, and urges a life of humble trust. Because Scripture records God’s flawless faithfulness, believers honor Him not by setting tests but by obediently resting in the certainty that He is forever true.

As ye tempted him in Massah.--How did they tempt Him in Massah? By raising the unbelieving question, "Is the Lord among us, or not?" (Exodus 17:7). Even by the side of Satan upon the giddy pinnacle of the Temple, our Saviour refused to doubt the care of Jehovah. He would not throw Himself from thence into the arms of the angels to escape Satan, but "He endured as seeing Him who is invisible." To this standard of action Israel was called in face of the powers of evil. But it was not always realised.

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