Why Did Satan Cite the Psalms?

Michael Collum said:

To show that the devil was not allergic to quoting scripture passages.

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Michael Collum said:

It's just to say, just because a human is quoting scripture .. it doesn't mean they speak for God.

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Divide said:

I think satan used the Psalm 91 scripture because it is a powerful scripture and with the stakes high, he needed to nudge a response from Jesus. It didn't work of course and Jesus just quoted more scripture back at him. That was a no lose situation because Jesus handled it like that.

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Israel Bible Center​

Satan’s Use of Scripture ​

“He will command his angels concerning you... lest you strike your foot against a stone” (91:11-12). This quote from the Prince of Demons is ironic since Jews in Jesus’ day used Psalm 91 as a prayer against demonic forces!

Psalm 91 in Jewish Translations ​

In Hebrew, the psalm says not to fear “the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noon” (91:5-6). The Greek Septuagint teaches not to fear “the thing that walks in darkness… and the demon (δαιμονίον; daimonion) at noon.” (90:5-6 LXX). The later Aramaic translators added even more demons: “You shall not fear the terror of the demon that goes about in the night… nor the company of demons that destroy at noon…. No plague or demons shall come near your tent.” (PsTargum 91:5-6, 10-11).

Satan’s Silly Mistake ​

So, it turns out that the devil’s decision to cite Psalm 91 was the worst possible choice to make. Since Psalm 91 was a prayer that guarded against demons, Satan chooses verses that were meant to drive him away! This comedy of satanic errors would have elicited a hearty laugh from Matthew’s original readers, and it shows that, according to evangelist, the devil is a bit of a dunce!

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The Devil is a Master Scripture Twister (Think EVE and the apple)​

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” (Psalms 91:11–12)

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" devil's temptation has in reality two objects: Christ should demonstrate His divine Sonship; He should, in this manner, gain a great number of disciples, probably the entire populace, at one bold stroke. The devil even quoted Scripture to accomplish his purpose, Ps. 91:11-12, omitting, however, the very essential words "to keep thee in all thy ways," which are practically a norm for the proper understanding of the entire passage. But Jesus was fully equal to the occasion. Without going into the matter of falsifying Scripture in his own interest, He tells the devil that there is a passage which reads: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord, thy God, Deut. 6:16. Any attempt to reach the ground below by any means outside of those suggested by a correct understanding of nature's laws would be a challenging of God's protective care, for which there is no promise in the Bible. Note: In a similar way, the devil is always attempting to make us presumptuous, daring, foolhardy, without the promise and command of God. It is the pride of our hearts which he intends to incite, together with the feeling that we are in no need of God's protective care. But the one effective way of meeting all the attacks of the Evil One and vanquishing him quickly and surely is to use the words of Scripture as weapons of defense and offense. Before these powerful onslaughts the devil must give way and be routed completely. - Kretzmann, Popular Commentary

This Gospel passage has faithfully served the church as a warning against the agents of the evil one who skillfully twist and misinterpret the Bible and it is also a sign post that points us to the sixth and seventh petitions of the Lord's Prayer:

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