What does "lest you dash your foot against a stone" mean?
Matthew 4:6
ESV - 6 And said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,' and "'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'
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Asked February 27 2016
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peggy goldston
Supporter
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JD Abshire
Supporter
Question: "What does "lest you dash your foot against a stone" mean?" "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." (Matthew 4:6) The Devil was stating if and it is so you are the Son of God jump off the cliff, no harm will come to you. The angels wouldn't allow you to strike your foot or even stub your toe. The devil was quoting from Psalms 91:10-12. and certainly knew who he was speaking to. (Mark 5; Luke 8; James 2:19). After all, the Lord created him. Often the word tempt means to test, to prove the character of God which I believe is the case here. Who was present, who was involved in the exchange? Look at V. 7. Only the Lord and Satan. "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God." I.E. "Do not test me". The devil's test was not about Christ's divine power or the providential protection of the Father and angels. This was a test to determine "if" he would submit his will to that of the devil.
Shirley H.
Supporter
Satan is partially quoting scripture here. Psalm 91:11-13, "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.You shall tread upon the lion and the snake, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot." The creatures in this verse are images of evil. Of course Jesus knew this and He knew that Satan was challenging Him to prove who He was. Satan was also threatening Him with his power. Go ahead see if your God will keep you from even getting a scratch! I double dare you! Jesus had no concern. Hence His answer in Matthew4:7, "...You shall not tempt the Lord your God."
Aurel Gheorghe
Supporter
In Matthew 4:1-6, Satan tempted Jesus with three temptations that encompass every temptation possible: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Satan doesn't change, and always uses the same methods; he tempted Adam and Eve in the same three areas, but unfortunately they fell. Christ however, was victorious and overcame in all those three areas. We are also all tempted by Satan daily in the same way. In Matthew 4:6, the devil was misquoting Psalm 91:12, tempting Jesus with pride of life that would have lead to self-destruction. Christ was being tempted to prove He was the Son of God by harming Himself. We are also tempted with pride and self-destruction daily. Jesus defeated Satan with "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, worship the Lord your God, and serve only him" (Matthew 4:10). We can also use the same method to defeat the devil when tempted (Psalm 119:11).
Vincent S
Supporter
Hi friend. I am not here to dispute any other answers but to only give you my sincere response to your question. While Moses was with God in the mount, the Lord chiseled out pieces of the mountain, which he referred to as "stone" tablets, which the Lord inscribed the 10 commandments into. This verse eludes to the protection of the Lord in the first part; then in the second part states, "lest"(unless) you cast your foot against a "stone"(or, the commandments). (Full Interpretation) The Lord will protect you unless you rebel against his commandments; and there are many scriptures that validate my interpretation.
Ольга Некоркина
Supporter
The devil invites Jesus to come into conflict with the will of Heavenly Father. So he says, “Make the stones into bread. The Father made the stones, and You make of the stones what You need.” The power and glory of the kingdoms is given to Satan by God. Satan is trying to turn Jesus against the Father when he tells Jesus that: "The Father did not give you this power and glory." The third temptation: Satan invites Jesus to do his own thing. I think God's protection is prescribed for us only within the framework of the fulfillment of His will. Дьявол предлагает Иисусу войти в конфликт с волей Небесного Отца. Так он говорит: сделай камни хлебами. Отец сделал камни, а Ты сделай из камней то, что нужно Тебе. Власть и слава царств передана сатане Богом. Сатана пытается настроить Иисуса против Отца, когда говорит Иисусу о том, что: "Отец Тебе не дал этой власти и славы". Третье искушение: сатана предлагает Иисусу поступать своевольно. Думаю Божья защита прописана для нас только в рамках исполнения Его воли.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
It's a quotation from Ps 91:11. This was not so much an incorrect citation as a use in a wrong context (a misapplication of the passage). bible.org But the promise of Psalm 91:11 is certainly a legitimate and comforting divine promise. But it has to be used in the right context. I know that I am comforted by it, and thousands, maybe millions, of U.S. soldiers have been comforted by it, in the past and in the present. "From the sword at noonday wasting, from the noisome pestilence, In the depth of midnight blasting, God shall be thy sure defense. He shall charge His angel legions watch and ward over thee to keep. Though thou walk through hostile regions, though in desert wilds thou sleep." --Author: James Montgomery
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