Matthew 4:6 (cf. parallel passage in Luke 4:10,11) is unique in that it is the only place where any part of Psalm 91 is quoted in the New Testament. It is also noteworthy because the one quoting it is none other than Satan himself.

When the devil was tempting the Lord Jesus, he told Him to throw Himself down off the top of the temple, citing Psalm 91:11,12 (“He will command His angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”) Jesus rightly responded to this with another part of Scripture, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” God’s promise of angelic protection is not to be invoked simply for our own amusement. Satan used one part of the Bible in a way that contradicted another part, and completely disregarded the intent of the portion quoted.

This tactic of misapplied Scripture continues to be used today. Sceptics, critics and heretics will misquote and misapply verses to suit their own agenda. For example, they often take some obscure passage out of context, and use it to either dismiss the Bible/Christianity entirely, or to distort God’s message in some way. There can be ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ in churches, who misuse the Scriptures and lead people away from the pure message of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

So how can we be sure that we are getting the truth? By actually knowing the Word! Notice how Jesus was ready to respond to Satan’s misapplication of the Bible because He knew the Bible. While our knowledge cannot compare to His, all who trust in Christ are equipped with God’s written Word and His indwelling Spirit. The more we prayerfully immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, the more understanding the Lord will give us, and the better prepared we will be to deal with any distorted versions of the Bible. May 2026 be a year when we stay close to God and His Word.