"If Jesus was God, why did He tell Satan to worship God and not Himself?"
This question is often asked by atheists trying to disprove Yeshua’s divinity or by Muslims who see Yeshua (Isa) only as a prophet. But it overlooks the very purpose for which Yeshua came — and misunderstands the relationship between Yeshua and the Father.
In Matthew 4:10 (TLV), Yeshua said to Satan:
“Away from Me, satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship ADONAI your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”
At this point, Yeshua was in the wilderness — hungry, alone, and physically weak after 40 days of fasting. He wasn't speaking as God on His throne, but as the Word made flesh (John 1:14), fulfilling His mission as the perfect man who would overcome temptation where Adam failed.
He quoted Deuteronomy 6:13 to show that Satan deserves no worship and that man must submit to the Father. This doesn’t mean He wasn’t divine — it means He chose to humble Himself, taking the role of a servant (Philippians 2:6–8), resisting temptation not with divine power, but with obedience.
This is something both atheists and Muslims often miss: Yeshua didn’t come the first time to be served — He came to serve, to lay down His life, and to obey the Father’s will.
He never said, “I am the Father.” What He did say was: “I and the Father are one.” — John 10:30
That’s not a denial of divinity — it’s a declaration of unity in essence and purpose. And in John 5:23: “…that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
Let that sink in for a minute.
Muslims claim to honor Yeshua, but they deny Him the very honor He claimed was due — equal to the Father.
And atheists question why He didn’t use divine power to stop Satan instantly — but miss the point that Yeshua chose to defeat evil as a man, to show us the way of righteousness. His mission was to reclaim humanity by doing what we could not do — living without sin and becoming the perfect sacrifice.
Later, we see the full picture: “...at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord — to the glory of God the Father.” — Philippians 2:10–11
So no — He didn’t tell Satan to worship Him in that moment. Not because He wasn’t worthy, but because He came to glorify the Father first, and fulfill all righteousness. His glory was coming — and when it does, there will be no doubt left.
