Matthew 4:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After the devil sinned against God the Father by claiming ownership of the universe that rightfully belongs to Him and by attempting to assume the role of God as if he were the creator of all, Christ finally commanded him to depart. This instruction was given not in anger, but rather with authority: "Go, Satan." This directive was more of an edict than a mere refusal, for at the moment Christ uttered, "Go, devil," the devil instantly retreated and no longer dared to tempt Him. See Matthew 4:9.

The Lord felt displeasure towards him upon witnessing his taking possession of the divine things, declaring, ‘I will give all these things to you,’ as if they belonged to him alone. Observe the value of the Scriptures, for through them the Lord brought the adversary to a halt.

One who can withstand the cravings of the flesh might still be tempted by the empty pursuit of earthly power. As a result, he was presented with all the kingdoms of the world, and it was proclaimed to him, "All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me." In response, he declared, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:9-10). In this way, arrogance was rejected!

Satan and the Apostle Peter face different judgments, contrary to common belief. To Peter, it is communicated, “Follow Me,” whereas to Satan, the command is “Get behind Me, Satan” (also: Mk. 8:33), indicating that he who opposes My will is to follow Me. In contrast, Satan is told to depart, but the instruction does not include a call to follow, which implies that he is directed toward the everlasting fire prepared for him and his fallen angels. When the devil tempts the Savior, saying, “If you fall and worship me,” he receives the response that he, too, should worship Christ, who is his Lord and God.

This is noted in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 6:13). It is important to observe that during the initial temptations, He responded with patience; however, upon realizing that the tempter audaciously sought divine worship and demanded celestial honor, He rebuked him firmly, stating, "Get behind me, Satan," meaning to depart, adversary. Luke records: "Follow me, Satan" (Luke 4:8), indicating to the enemy to remove himself from His sight, as one who is behind is not seen. Christ boldly confronted the one who falsely claims dominion over the entire world, countering with Scripture. His scorn for the wicked became a source of reproach, for He would tolerate no more (ελαρτερησε). There is a reason Matthew recorded the temptation of coveting last, while Luke recorded the temptation of pride first.

The third stratagem of the adversary was now in play—temptation through authority. Taking the Lord to a lofty mountain, he presented Him with all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. Nevertheless, the Lord's decisive response shattered the devil's aspirations. He had previously enticed Adam with food, leading him from the splendor of paradise to the realm of sin at the forbidden tree, instilling in him a desire for divine status with the assurance of becoming like the gods. In this way, the devil confronted the Lord wielding all worldly dominion, tempting His Creator with the allure of universal possession. Through this ancient deception, he sought to ensnare the One who remained untouched by his previous temptations of nourishment and distraction.

No sin stemming from the devil’s influence could approach the sacred body of the Lord, as stated in Psalm 90:10. Therefore, the Lord resisted the enemy's temptations, allowing humanity to attain victory and bringing shame upon the devil, as David prophesied, declaring, “This leviathan whom Thou hast made to play in him” (Psalm 103:26). Additionally, it is written, “Thou wilt humble the oppressor” (Psalm 71:4), and once more, “Thou hast crushed the head of the leviathan in the water” (Psalm 73:13-14). In the Book of Job, the Lord indicated that this leviathan, when faced with temptation, would be deceived and brought to disgrace: “Canst thou bring out the leviathan?” (Job 40:20).

The Lord brought an end to the devil's temptation by declaring, "Depart from Me, Satan," to prevent him from continuing his allure. However, the devil left not out of obedience to the command but rather because he was forced away either by Christ's Divine nature or by the Holy Spirit dwelling within Him. This offers us special consolation; the devil cannot entice God's children whenever he desires, but only insofar as Christ or the Holy Spirit present within them allows it.

The Lord Jesus could no longer endure such appalling blasphemy. He addressed him with a calm yet divine authority, saying, "Depart from me, leave me, Satan, the enemy of God!" He reinforced His Divine decree with the words of Scripture: "For it is written, Thou shalt bow down to the LORD thy God, and to Him only shalt thou serve" (Deuteronomy 6:13).

"Depart from me, Satan; you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone will you serve." In quoting this passage from Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 6:13), Jesus Christ not only dismisses the foolish temptation presented by the adversary but also emphasizes His refusal to acknowledge Satan's dominion over the world and its earthly kingdoms and glory. The entire creation belongs to the Lord, and it is He alone who deserves our worship.

During this trial, the audacity of Satan exceeded all limitations, and Christ responded triumphantly, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.”

In this passage, the Lord encounters a more audacious temptation than the previous two, responding with the Scriptures. Before doing so, He uses His divine authority to command the tempter, “Get behind Me, Satan!” This declaration is rooted in the sacred text: “It is written” as found in Deuteronomy 6:13. Here, Moses urges the Israelites, as they prepare to enter the Promised Land, to avoid following the deities of the surrounding nations, the false gods, emphasizing that only Jehovah, the one true God, deserves worship and adoration.