Great test: Notes

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1. Ancient writers used symbolic numbers to indicate approximate time periods, usually having some spiritual association. Thus, "40," as Wikipedia notes, is something like "umpteen." It is also associated with a probationary period or time of testing – though this association may stem from the gospel story.

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2. Deuteronomy 8:3

So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.

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3.  Psalm 91: 10-12

9 Because you have made Jehovah -- who is my refuge --  the most High, your dwelling place,
10 no evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near where you reside.
11 For he will have his angels look out for you, to keep you in all your ways.
12 They will lift you up with their hands, should you dash your foot on a stone.

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4. Deuteronomy 6:16

16 You must not test Jehovah your God, as you tested him in Massah.

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5. Deuteronomy 6:13

You are to fear Jehovah your God, and serve him, and you are to swear by his name.

The Septuagint version of the Hebrew Bible, with which Jesus was familiar, specifies that "you are to swear only by his name," which is surely what the Hebrew writer meant. Even though Jesus appears to have paraphrased Deut. 6:13, we may regard his version as giving the true meaning for a spiritual man. In any case, fearing God implies worshiping him and serving no one but him. Later in this book, Jesus teaches that his followers don't need to make promises to God in exchange for favors – even though it had been customary for Jews to make an oath in Jehovah's name to do him some service or make a generous offering to the Temple in exchange for some desired end. Deut. 6:13 is telling people not to hedge their bets by also making a similar pledge to one of the other gods known to the ancient tribes. In any case, Jesus mildly paraphrases Deut. 6:13 and in so doing improves it – and, as it happens, shows that he, in concert with the Spirit and his Father, is the authoritative interpreter of Scripture.