Berean Standard Bible
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
King James Bible
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
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This verse is the climax of the wilderness temptation narrative and contains Jesus’ decisive rejection of Satan’s final offer. With clarity, force, and unwavering authority, Jesus dismantles the entire structure of the tempter’s strategy, not through spectacle or supernatural display, but through fidelity to the Word of God and resolute devotion to the Father. In a single sentence, Jesus not only defeats the third temptation but reveals the very heart of his mission and character. This verse marks the turning point, where temptation is met not only with resistance but with rebuke, and the enemy’s presence is dismissed under the authority of divine truth.
The opening words, “Be gone, Satan,” signal a shift in tone. Until now, Jesus has responded to the devil’s provocations with calm and measured scriptural quotations, allowing the weight of God’s Word to answer each test. But here, Jesus speaks with open rebuke. The subtlety of the earlier engagements gives way to a forceful dismissal. It is no longer merely a theological contest; it is a direct command. The imperative, “Be gone,” demonstrates Jesus’ authority not only over the temptation itself, but over the tempter. The veil of civility is torn away. The confrontation between good and evil, truth and falsehood, now comes into full light. The mask of manipulation is removed, and Jesus identifies the deceiver not as a neutral tester or a clever opponent, but as Satan—the adversary, the accuser, the one who opposes God and seeks to subvert His plan.
This authoritative command, “Be gone,” recalls the very power by which Jesus will later cast out demons and rebuke storms. It is not spoken with fear or doubt, but with the confident certainty of one who knows his place in the will of God. Jesus does not negotiate with evil, nor does he entertain it any longer than necessary. His command is not merely personal but cosmic. It is the voice of the true Son of God silencing the one who has falsely claimed dominion over the world. In commanding Satan to leave, Jesus does more than reject temptation—he asserts the sovereignty of righteousness over deceit.
Following the rebuke, Jesus once again appeals to Scripture, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” This final scriptural citation is more than a moral maxim; it is a declaration of loyalty, a statement of theological conviction that undergirds the entire narrative. The command to worship and serve God alone is the central heartbeat of biblical faith. It is the first and greatest commandment in every age and context. Jesus’ response reminds us that worship is not a private or optional matter—it is the defining orientation of the heart and life. To worship is to ascribe ultimate worth, to place one’s trust and obedience in another. Therefore, the object of worship cannot be neutral or peripheral—it must be God and God alone.
In this moment, Jesus reaffirms the exclusive devotion that true faith demands. He refuses to divide his loyalty or to compromise his mission for worldly gain. The devil’s offer, though tempting in its appeal to authority and splendor, is ultimately a demand for idolatry. And idolatry, in any form, is a rejection of the Creator. Jesus recognizes that to bow to Satan—even once, even inwardly—is to dethrone God in the soul. But Jesus will not bow. His allegiance to the Father is total. He has not come to serve his own ambition or to secure acclaim; he has come to do the will of the One who sent him. In quoting Deuteronomy, Jesus anchors himself once again in the story of Israel—a people called to worship God alone but who repeatedly failed in that calling. Where Israel worshipped the golden calf, Jesus refuses to worship the false god of power and pride. He is the faithful Israelite, the obedient Son, the Second Adam who resists where the first fell.
The dual language of “worship” and “serve” is significant. Worship refers to the heart’s adoration; service refers to the hands’ devotion. Jesus does not divide love for God from obedience to God. True worship is always embodied in action. It is not an abstract sentiment but a lived allegiance. To worship God is to serve Him with one’s whole life—to align desire, thought, and behavior with His purposes. Thus, in declaring that only God is to be worshiped and served, Jesus is rejecting not only idolatry in the abstract, but every path of discipleship that leads away from the cross. He will not be a Messiah who rules by coercion or spectacle. He will be a servant who suffers, obeys, and trusts in God to exalt Him in due time.
This verse also demonstrates the supreme importance of Scripture in spiritual warfare. Each temptation Jesus faces is met with the words, “It is written.” And now, in this final encounter, he once again draws from the well of God’s Word—not as a magical charm, but as the living truth that shapes his identity and mission. The Word is not used defensively, but decisively. It becomes a sword that cuts through the illusion of Satan’s offer and lays bare the lie at its core. Jesus does not argue with Satan on his terms. He stands on the eternal, unchanging truth of God’s self-revelation. This is a model for all who face temptation: we are not called to outwit evil, but to stand firm in the truth, to know God’s Word, and to submit ourselves to it without compromise.
Finally, this moment is not merely an isolated victory; it is a foreshadowing of the ultimate triumph to come. By resisting Satan here, Jesus begins to undo the damage done in Eden. He breaks the cycle of failure that has haunted humanity since the fall. He establishes himself as the one who can overcome the tempter, not through violence or spectacle, but through faithfulness and truth. His victory in the wilderness points forward to the greater victory of the cross, where he will disarm the powers and principalities not by avoiding suffering, but by embracing it. In this light, Matthew 4:10 is not just a response to temptation—it is a declaration of war. Jesus is not merely surviving the devil’s tests; he is inaugurating the downfall of the kingdom of darkness.
In Matthew 4:10, we see the moral clarity, spiritual authority, and unwavering obedience of the Son of God. He speaks, and Satan is silenced. He commands, and the lie is unmasked. He refuses the glittering kingdoms of the world for the sake of the eternal kingdom of his Father. And in doing so, he sets the pattern for all true discipleship—not the pursuit of power, but the worship of God; not the grasping of glory, but the service of love; not the compromise of integrity, but the fidelity of heart, soul, mind, and strength to the One who alone is worthy. This is the path of Jesus, and this is the path he calls us to follow.
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Dearly beloved in the Lord, grace and peace be multiplied to you from God our Father and from His Son, our Savior, who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. I write to you, brothers and sisters, scattered across the cities and fields, bound together by the eternal bond of faith, to exhort you in the truth that has set us free. With hearts united, let us bow before the One who alone is worthy of our worship, for He has declared that we shall serve Him and Him alone, turning from all that seeks to rival His rightful place in our lives. In this sacred calling, we find our strength, our purpose, and our everlasting hope.
To all who bear the name of Christ, I urge you to stand firm in the face of the tempter’s schemes, for the world around us is filled with voices that entice and idols that allure, each vying for the devotion that belongs solely to our God. The Evil One, cunning and persistent, offers fleeting treasures—wealth, power, and the praise of men—but these are shadows that fade before the eternal glory of our Creator. Let us, therefore, fix our hearts on the Lord, whose throne is unshakable, whose love is unending, and whose commands are life itself. In every trial, may we echo the resolve of our Savior, choosing to worship only the One who made the heavens and the earth, and to serve Him with unwavering fidelity.
O beloved, consider the weight of this truth: our God is a jealous God, not for His own lack but for our eternal good, desiring that we find our joy in Him alone. The idols of this age—whether carved from stone, woven from ambition, or fashioned from the fleeting pleasures of the flesh—promise much but deliver only chains. They cannot satisfy the soul, nor can they redeem the broken. Yet our God, who spoke the stars into being, calls us to worship Him in spirit and truth, to offer our lives as a sacrifice of praise, holy and acceptable in His sight. Let us, therefore, cast aside every false god, every distraction that pulls us from His presence, and cling to the One who is faithful through all generations.
To the church, the bride of Christ, I appeal: let your worship be pure, your service steadfast, and your love fervent. In a world that bows to lesser things, be a radiant witness to the supremacy of our God. Teach your children to seek Him first, guide the wayward to His mercy, and strengthen the weary with the hope of His promises. Let your gatherings be filled with songs of adoration, your prayers with the fire of faith, and your deeds with the compassion that flows from His heart. As you proclaim His name, let it be with boldness, knowing that the One we serve has overcome the world and holds the keys to life eternal.
To those who govern and lead among the nations, I pray that you may recognize the One who holds all authority. Turn from the fleeting allure of power and seek the wisdom that comes from above, for only in serving the true God will your leadership bring justice and peace. To the broken, the lost, and those who wander in the shadow of false hopes, I extend the invitation of grace: come to the Lord, who alone can heal your wounds and satisfy your deepest longings. Repent of all that has drawn you away, and find rest in the arms of the One who loves you with an everlasting love.
Beloved, let us live as those who know the cost of our redemption, purchased not with gold or silver but with the precious blood of the Son. In every choice, let us choose to honor Him; in every trial, let us trust His strength; in every moment, let us worship Him alone. May our lives be a testament to His glory, a light to those in darkness, and a song of praise that echoes into eternity. Stand firm, therefore, and let no temptation sway you, for the One we serve is faithful, and His kingdom shall have no end.
I commend you to the grace of our Lord, who walks with you through every valley and leads you to the heights of His glory. May His Spirit empower you, His truth guide you, and His love sustain you, now and forevermore. With all affection in Christ, I remain your servant for His sake.
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O Almighty and Everlasting God, Creator of heaven and earth, whose glory fills the cosmos and whose name alone is worthy of all adoration, we come before Your throne with hearts bowed in reverence and awe. You, O Lord, have called us to worship You alone, to serve You with undivided devotion, and to cast aside every rival that seeks to claim our allegiance. In Your presence, we find our strength, our purpose, and the eternal hope that anchors our souls. We lift our voices in fervent prayer, seeking Your grace for all who dwell under the canopy of Your creation, that we may honor You with lives wholly devoted to Your service.
Sovereign Father, we stand in the light of Your truth, knowing that You alone are God, and there is no other. In a world filled with temptations, where the lures of power, wealth, and fleeting pleasures call out to ensnare the heart, we beseech You to guard us from the deceptions of the Evil One. Grant us the resolve of Your Son, who in the wilderness stood firm, proclaiming that worship belongs to You alone. Strengthen us, O Lord, to turn from every false idol, whether crafted by human hands or born of our own desires, and to fix our gaze upon You, the source of all life and goodness.
We pray for Your church, the body of Your beloved Son, scattered across the nations yet united by Your Spirit. Purify our worship, that it may rise as a pleasing offering, free from the stain of hypocrisy or the weight of divided loyalties. Embolden Your people to serve You with courage, to proclaim Your name with boldness, and to live as witnesses to Your unrivaled glory. May our gatherings be filled with the fire of true devotion, our prayers with the fervor of faith, and our actions with the love that reflects Your heart. Let us be a light to those who wander in darkness, drawing them to the One who alone deserves all praise.
O God of mercy, we lift up those who are entangled by the temptations of this age, who bow to idols of ambition, pride, or pleasure. Soften their hearts, O Lord, and open their eyes to see the emptiness of all that is not You. Draw them by Your grace to the foot of Your throne, where they may find forgiveness, restoration, and the joy of serving You alone. For the weary and the broken, who have sought satisfaction in fleeting things, grant the peace that comes from knowing You, the One who satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry with good things.
We intercede for the nations, O Lord, where rulers and peoples alike are swayed by the allure of false gods. Grant wisdom to those in authority, that they may govern with justice and humility, recognizing that all power flows from You. Let Your Spirit move in places of strife and corruption, turning hearts toward Your truth and hands toward deeds of righteousness. May the leaders of the earth hear Your call to serve You, and may their decisions reflect the honor due Your name. For the oppressed, the marginalized, and those who suffer under the weight of injustice, we plead Your intervention, asking that You raise up advocates who will bear Your compassion and bring relief.
O Eternal One, whose kingdom endures forever, teach us to walk as Your faithful servants, offering our lives as a living sacrifice to Your glory. In every trial, let us stand firm, rejecting the tempter’s lies and clinging to Your truth. In every moment, let our hearts sing Your praise, our hands do Your work, and our feet follow Your path. Unite us as Your people, that we may be one in purpose, one in love, and one in our devotion to You. May our worship be a testimony to the world, a beacon that points to Your unmatched majesty and a song that silences the voices of falsehood.
We offer this prayer in the name of Your Son, our Savior, who triumphed over every temptation and opened the way to Your presence, and through the power of Your Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth and empowers us to serve You alone, now and forevermore. Amen.
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