Matthew Poole and continuators on Matthew 4:10

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence Satan, for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

As this was of all the three the most impudent Temptation, so our Lord receiveth it with the highest Detestation, saying▪ Get thee hence Satan! By which words, he doth not only shew his Detestation of this Temptation, but also chides him off from any further Tempting him. The Sense is, Satan I know better things. viz. That a Religious Adoration▪ is not to be given unto any, but unto God alone, thou art a Creature, no Worship is due unto thee: To Worship before thee (so Luke Phraseth it, Luk. 4.7.) is to Worship thee. This is expressly contrary to the Command of God. Deut. 6.13. and 10.20. It is also observable, that our Saviour opposeth this to the Devils words, [non-Latin text not transcribed]. If thou falling down will Worship me, and that Christ answers, [non-Latin text not transcribed] which shews the Idleness of the Papists distinction of Doulia, and Latre[illegible: 1 letter]a ▪ the first of which they say may be given to the Creature: The second only unto God, by which they justi[illegible: 2 letters]e their Veneration of Images? The using a posture of Adoration, before the Creature in an Act of Worship; Christ here interpreteth a Worshipping the Creature, if the Creature e[illegible: 1 letter]ther exacts it of us▪ or we purposely set it before us▪ or chuse it as an object exciting, or moving us to such an Act of Adoration, which the Papists do not, that all Prostration before the Creature is an Act of Divine Adoration, there is a Civil, as well as a Divine Worship, and in Divine Worship, the Position of the Creature before us, may be meerly for Conveniency, or Accidental: But all Prostration in an Act of Divine Worship, is a Posture of Adoration, and where a Creature is chosen, and set before us in that Act or Posture, to excite or move us, it partaketh of the Homage. There is some little difference betwixt the words, Deut. 6.13. and 10.20. and those of St. Matthew, but that is said to be written, which is written as to the Substance and Sense, tho not in those Terms. Moses saith, Thou shalt fear, as Matthew quotes it, it is, Thou shalt Worship. The Term Fear applied unto God, signifieth any Act of Religion, whether External or Internal, and tho the last words in Deuteron. [thou sha[illegible: 1 letter]t swear by his Name] be not mentioned in Matthew, yet enough are quoted for our Saviours purpose. Falling down and Worshipping, belongeth only to God (saith our Saviour) not to thee, let me therefore hear of thee no more.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 7.3.