Tempting God: A Reminder

Introduction:

In Malachi 3:10, the Lord calls upon Israel to “put me to the test.”

Should we test the Lord?

How does this square with Dt. 6:16?

What does it mean to test Him?

Acts 15 raises more than issues about a meeting of the apostles, elders, and church at Jerusalem.

It provides another setting where two things get explored:

A reminder about tempting God.

A reminder about the true nature of the message of salvation.

The Meeting

Paul, Barnabas, and group received an initial welcome from the apostles, elders, and church at Jerusalem.

Now, they meet to “see about this account.”

Perhaps “Logos” plays a neutral role initially.

But, by Acts 15:10-15, he makes it clear that he speaks of Christ and the message about salvation for both the Jews and the non-Jews.

This meeting, like the one mentioned at Antioch in Syria, also results in a great “question.”

Rather than a resolution, this gathering has resulted in “much argument.”

Peter’s Final Address

In Acts, Peter now speaks for the last time.

He does what he often does in Acts: he gives a discourse.

He uses language patterns.

We should note that the dispute provides the necessary background for the writer and audience.

Introduction (Part 2):

He raises the following points:

It was common knowledge that God chose for the Gentile to hear the word of the gospel and to believe through Peter.

God testified to them when he gave the Holy Spirit just as He had to “us.”

This is the second time in Acts that Peter raises this point. He did so earlier when he returned to Jerusalem and had to account for his actions in Cornelius’s house.

God did not differentiate between “us and them” in anyway having cleansed their hearts by faith.

Therefore, he asks, “why are you testing God to place a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we are sufficient to bear”?

This recalls the incident of Massah and Meribah which plays such a key role in OT and NT teaching about God.

Dt. 6:16

Ex. 17:1-7: Note especially the importance of Ex. 17:7 for understanding the event.

Ps. 78

Ps. 95

With the clear, divine evidence, in the house of Cornelius, that the Lord had cleansed the Gentiles by faith too, then why is this group now saying the Gentiles still need circumcision and to live by the law to be save. The Lord is among them!

The latter reference, also, indicates the awareness that Jews, historically, had proven incapable of keeping the law of Moses. Why place that burden, now, upon the Gentiles when God had already demonstrated that He cleansed them by faith?

The Full List

1. Deuteronomy 6:16

2. Matthew 4:7

3. Luke 4:12

Allusions and related passages describing testing God:

4. Exodus 17:2—Moses confronts Israel’s complaint about water with the question, “Why do you test the LORD?”

5. Exodus 17:7—The incident at Massah and Meribah, where Israel tested God by questioning his presence

6. Psalm 78:18—Israel tested God by demanding specific food

7. Psalm 78:41—Israel tested God repeatedly and provoked the Holy One

8. Psalm 78:56—Israel tested and rebelled against God

9. Psalm 95:9—Reference to the fathers putting God to the test despite witnessing his works

10. Psalm 106:14—Israel put God to the test in the desert

11. Hebrews 3:9—Echoes Psalm 95, referencing the fathers’ testing over forty years

12. 1 Corinthians 10:9—Paul warns against putting Christ to the test

13. Numbers 14:22—God references Israel putting him to the test ten times

14. Malachi 3:15—The wicked put God to the test

15. Acts 5:9—Peter accuses Ananias and Sapphira of testing the Spirit of the Lord

16. Acts 15:10—Peter questions why the Jerusalem council would put God to the test by imposing the law

17. Isaiah 7:12—Ahaz refuses to put the LORD to the test

Equality of Persons

Peter’s final address reminds us of the unity of the message between Peter and Paul.

It also teaches us how to think about the events that took place in Cornelius’ house in Acts 9.

Why do we need to know about that event?

That moment provided clear, divine evidence of the equality between Jews and Gentiles.

God sees both equal in sin.

He has provided Jesus for both.

Both receive cleansing of sins by faith (see Acts 15:9).

It was common Jewish idiom to refer to the Law as a yoke.

Silence

Peter’s account, so it seems, calmed the situation, and the group grew quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul recount the signs and wonders God did through them.

This builds on Peter’s evidence.

It also links to James’ contribution to the discussion.

Notice how the rely on objective, knowable evidence.

No one says, “I feel” or “I think.”

They do not rely on position or rank.

They match the physical evidence with the biblical evidence.

James adds the consistency of Peter’s evidence with the scriptures.

He quotes from Amos 9:11-12 which he interprets as harmonious with Peter’s explanation.