The fundamentalist reading of Ps 91:11-12 in Mt 4:6 and Lk 4:10-11: an exegetical study on the mundane instrumentalization of the word of God

Abstract

In the Gospel texts of Mt 4,6 and Lk 4,10-11, there is a diabolical character, the tempter, quoting Ps 91,11-12, with the purpose of making Christ choose a path of idolatry and corruption, the easiest way to dominate everything and everyone, overcoming any hostile power that wants to prevent this. To support this idea, the devil uses religion and even a distorted reading of the Word of God as an inspired biblical text. It is certainly a misleading theodicy that can be summed up as a representation of vain and/or ideological desires. The diabolical character behaves astutely, supposedly like various leaders representing worldly politics, capable of adulterating the deep meaning of the Holy Scriptures in order to propagate their deadly ideologies. Faced with the complexity of the question of fundamentalism, this study refrains from an exhaustive investigation of this problematic issue, which is so relevant today, focusing its interest on an exegetical, theological and pastoral reading of the pericope of Lk 4,1-14a, without forgetting to emphasize the Matthean account of the temptations. However, the Lukean text offers a chiastic structure capable of highlighting in greater depth the theme of biblical fundamentalism and its causes. In any case, both evangelists present the figure of the devil as an antagonistic being who distorts the meaning of Ps 91,11-12 in order to tempt Jesus of Nazareth, the true Son of God who becomes enigmatic to anyone who decides to read the Word of God dishonestly.