An Examination of the Use of Old Testament Scriptures in the Temptation Narrative in Matthew 4:1–11

Abstract

This study examines the Old Testament quotations in the Temptation of Jesus narrative (Matt 4:1–11). The narrative contains four direct quotations from the Old Testament: Deuteronomy 6:13, 6:16, 8:3, and Psalm 91:11–12. Scholars believe Gospel authors may have used the Masoretic or the Septuagint text for their Old Testament quotations. The sources of Old Testament quotations, their historical context, and appropriation in the temptation narrative of the Gospel according to Matthew have not been adequately explored. This study employs a six-step analysis as a methodological approach to determine the sources of Old Testament quotations and examine how and why the author of the Gospel incorporated them in the way they appear in his account. According to the Matthew account, the paper argues that the Septuagint (LXX) text was the primary source of the Old Testament quotations in the temptation narrative. In using and appropriating the Old Testament quotations, the author freely made omissions, additions, changes, and modifications of the Septuagint texts to suit his narrative purpose.