Jesus answers Satan in Luke 4:12 that we are not to test (NASB) the Lord our God. God tells the Israelites in Malachi 3:10 to test Him by bringing their tithes and watching Him provide blessings. If Jesus says not to test God and God says to test Him, what are we to do?
Jesus answers Satan who quoted Psalm 91:11-12 in his challenge to Jesus. The devil took the Psalm out of context, making an application not intended by the author, who was speaking of the security of the one who abides with God-nothing can touch such a one without God’s permission.
Jesus quotes Deut. 6:16 which in turn is a reference to Exodus 12:7 where, after camping at Rephidim according to God’s command (v. 1), the Israelites complained to Moses about a lack of water. Moses rightly pointed out their problem was with God, not him. After he struck the rock according to God’s command and water flowed, he named the place Massah which means “testing”.
The Greek word translated “test” in Luke 4:12 is variously translated “test” or “tempt” in other usages, depending on the translation (Matt. 4:7, Luke 10:25, 1 Cor. 10:9).
The Greek word for “test” used in the Septuagint in Deut. 6:16 is the same as in Luke 4:12. Interestingly, the Septuagint also uses the equivalent Greek word translated as “Temptation” for the place name.
The scene is different in Mal. 3:10. The English translation of the Septuagint reads, “The year is completed, and ye have brought all the produce into the storehouses; but there shall be the plunder thereof in its house: return now on this behalf, saith the Lord Almighty, see if I will not open to you the torrents of heaven, and pour out my blessing upon you, until ye are satisfied”. The NASB translation of the Hebrew text reads, “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven, and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows”.
The Hebrew word for “test” used in Malachi is different from the word used in Deuteronomy and Exodus and carries the meaning of “testing by observation” and this same meaning is associated with the corresponding Greek word used in the Septuagint.
It would seem that the key distinction lies in how the parties in the passages relate to God: in Deuteronomy and Exodus, the Israelites want to relate to God on their terms, and He will have none of it. Though they got the water they desired, God sent leanness into their souls (Psalm 106:14, 15). In Malachi, God dictates the terms of the testing, with the result of overflowing blessing.
I see three applications:
1. I am not to relate to God on my terms.
2. I must be careful what I ask God for, lest He give it to me.
3. I must correctly understand and apply Scripture.
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