Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written: ‘YOU SHALL NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST.’” (Matthew 4:7)

In John 8:1-11, we read that the scribes and the Pharisees try to test Christ. Christ is the exact representation of God. He is God.

Now they were saying this to test Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. (v.6)

God is known to His people, and we do not test God. God does not need to prove Himself before His own people. Even when God showed many signs when He brought the Israelites out of Egypt, most of them did not believe in Him. Only Joshua and Caleb trusted God and entered the promised land.

But as for My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring him into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. (Numbers 14:24)

… not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun–because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly. (Numbers 32:12)

Faith is not from our own initiatives. Seeing miracles and signs do not make us believe in God. We live by faith given by God. Testing comes from the pride of Adam and Eve because they thought they could judge God by their own wisdom. They trusted the devil. They tested God.

When your fathers put Me to the test, They tested Me, though they had seen My work. (Psalm 95:9)

Throughout the Bible, we learn that faith in God is the most important for us to live forever. Indeed, “the righteous will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:24) Knowing God is knowing Christ (Word and Truth). Through Christ and His works, we understand God and believe in Him. Christ made us know the Father and saved us from the eternal damnation. Obedience that does not come from faith is only false piety. It does not benefit anyone. The reprobate are satisfied with their false piety and are praised by many. They love darkness more than light.

Those who hate the Lord would pretend to obey Him,
And their time of punishment would be forever. (Psalm 81:15)

In this passage, we see a woman caught in adultery. According to the law, she had to be put to death. But Christ forgave her. The law is not above God. We judge people by their deeds and appearances. Most people will judge that the scribes and the Pharisees are righteous, and the woman is sinful. But God judges differently. Only He can judge righteously because He is God. And only He can forgive.

When they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (v. 7)

And God gives a different righteousness to His people. It is not from the law.

For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

We suffer because of our sins. The law exists for us to know it. Those who do not know the law, their conscience acts as the law. Whether born under the Jewish law or not, we know that we suffer because of our sins. Therefore, salvation is for all. I do not mean God saves everyone. God saves His elect from all mankind regardless of their backgrounds. Not only God sent His Son to redeem the elect, He gave us His Spirit to overcome the temptations. When we continue to sin, God will discipline us. God does not let us dwell in agony. God’s words strengthen us.

She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on do not sin any longer.” (v. 11)