JESUS HIMSELF CONFESSED THAT HE IS GOD
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
Introduction
The divinity of Jesus Christ remains a central pillar of Christian theology. The New Testament contains numerous statements and actions that explicitly affirm Jesus as God incarnate. One of the most profound instances is found in Matthew 4:7, where Jesus, during His temptation in the wilderness, directly identifies Himself with the Lord God of Israel.
Biblical Exegesis: Matthew 4:7
King James Version (KJV):
“Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
In this passage, Satan attempts to tempt Jesus to throw Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, misquoting Psalm 91 to justify his challenge. Jesus responds by citing Deuteronomy 6:16, which commands, “Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God.”
Here lies the theological weight of the statement: Jesus applies a verse referring to Yahweh (יהוה) directly to Himself. The one being tempted was Jesus, yet the verse He uses states, “You shall not tempt the LORD your God.” By identifying Himself as the “Lord thy God,” Jesus unmistakably affirms His divine identity.
This is not a casual linguistic overlap—it is a deliberate self-identification. The temptation narrative, therefore, becomes a revelation of the divine consciousness of Christ. Jesus does not say, “You shall not tempt God,” in the abstract sense, but “the Lord thy God”—a title reserved solely for Yahweh in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Theological Implications
Jesus’ use of this passage demonstrates His awareness of His own divine nature. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently speaks and acts in ways that only God could:
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Authority to Forgive Sins – “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins...” (Matthew 9:6). Only God forgives sins (Isaiah 43:25).
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Eternal Pre-Existence – “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58), invoking the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14.
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Unity with the Father – “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30).
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Acceptance of Worship – Jesus receives worship from His disciples (Matthew 14:33; John 20:28) without rebuke, confirming His divine identity.
Thus, when Jesus says to Satan, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,” He places Himself in the divine position, affirming that to tempt Him is to tempt God.
Scholarly Commentary
Renowned theologians support this interpretation:
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Charles Hodge (Systematic Theology, 1872) notes that “Christ’s citation of Deuteronomy as applying to Himself is an unmistakable claim to deity, for He equates His person with Yahweh of Israel.”
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F.F. Bruce writes, “In resisting temptation, Jesus reveals His true identity not merely as Messiah but as the incarnate God whose word cannot be tested or manipulated.” (The Hard Sayings of Jesus, 1983).
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Wayne Grudem similarly affirms that “Jesus’ application of divine Scripture to Himself in the wilderness temptation narrative shows His self-awareness as God incarnate” (Systematic Theology, 1994).
Conclusion
Matthew 4:7 stands as one of the clearest moments in Scripture where Jesus Christ explicitly confesses His divinity. By declaring, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God,” in response to Satan’s provocation, Jesus identifies Himself as the very Lord whom the Scriptures forbid men to test. This confession from His own mouth solidifies His divine nature as God manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).
References
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The Holy Bible, King James Version.
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Deuteronomy 6:16; Psalm 91:11–12; Matthew 4:7.
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Bruce, F.F. The Hard Sayings of Jesus. InterVarsity Press, 1983.
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Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan, 1994.
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Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology. Eerdmans Publishing, 1872.
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Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology. Baker Academic, 1998.
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Morris, Leon. The Gospel According to Matthew. Eerdmans, 1992.
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Orlando, Florida, USA
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