BA1
We are not to test or tempt God, the Holy Spirit, or Yeshua.
We are not to test or tempt God
We are not to test or tempt the Holy Spirit
We are not to test or tempt Yeshua
Category: God & Yeshua
Type: Negative
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: New Testament
Uniqueness: Not unique
Classical commandment: No
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Not specified
Literal Application: Not specified
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- Acts 5:7-9
- 1 Corinthians 10:9
- Matthew 4:7
Supportive NT Scriptures
- Acts 15:10
- Luke 4:12
Supportive OT Scriptures
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Deuteronomy 6:16
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Exodus 17:7
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Isaiah 7:12
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Malachi 3:15
Bible verses copyright: PUBLIC DOMAIN except in the United Kingdom, where a Crown Copyright applies to printing the KJV. See http://www.cambridge.org/about-us/who-we-are/queens-printers-patent
Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
A question that is sometimes asked is: “What is the difference between ‘testing’ and tempting?’ The answer is that “tempting” is intentionally luring and desiring a person to do something he would not ordinarily do (e.g committing sin), while “testing” makes available to a person the opportunity to do something in order to find out whether he will do it. The two are connected when God tests us through trials ( James 1:2-4 & 12) or by allowing Satan (through our flesh) to tempt us ( James 1:13-14) . We also read in Genesis 3:1-6 of how Satan successfully tempted Eve, and in Matthew 4:1-11 of how he tried (unsuccessfully) to tempt Yeshua. But Scripture (as reflected in this Mitzvah ) commands us not to test God (including Yeshua and the Holy Spirit); why is it wrong to test God? It is wrong because God has revealed Himself and His will for us in Scripture; putting God to the test is therefore saying that we do not believe the Scriptures or that we do not believe God. Why do men sometimes test God? Mostly to determine the limits of sin they can commit without being punished. They typically do it by committing a sin they desire to commit and then wait for God to respond. If they receive no immediate response, they become emboldened, believing that they can repeat the sin with impunity. Note: An apparent exception is Malachi 3:10 in which God invites being tested: 3 “Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so that there will be food in my house, and put me to the test," says ADONAI-Tzva'ot. "See if I won't open for you the floodgates of heaven and pour out for you a blessing far beyond your needs.”
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 3