It is true that in some version of the NKJV, "LORD" is fully capitalized in Matt 4:10, but only because the OT source, Deut 6:13, translated the tetragrammaton.
- Deut 6:13 (from Hebrew) - Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
- Deut 6:13 (from LXX) - Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve; and thou shalt cleave to him, and by his name thou shalt swear.
This is consistent with other OT teaching including the first commandment, Ex 20:3, Deut 5:7, as repeated in other places such as Ex 34:14, Deut 8:19, 1 Kings 17:35-38, etc).
The matter at issue here is the intent of the verb προσκυνέω (proskuneó) and how it should be translated. Most English versions simply translate it "worship". BDAG offers a single meaning for this word:
to express in attitude or gesture one's complete dependence on or submission to a high authority figure, (fall down and) worship, do
obeisance to, prostrate oneself before, do reverence to, welcome
respectfully
There are several cases in the the NT where such behavior, with this specific verb, is forbidden to anyone by God, namely:
- Matt 4:10 - “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ”
- Luke 4:8 - But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
- Acts 10:25, 26 - As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. But Peter helped him up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
- Rev 19:10 - So I fell at his feet to worship him [the angel]. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
- Rev 22:8, 9 - And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown me these things. But he said to me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
Thus, there is ample support for the OT passages that declare that only the LORD God is worthy of our worship:
- Ex 34:14 - Do not worship [προσκυνέω LXX] any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
- Deut 8:19 - If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship [προσκυνέω LXX] and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.
In the NT we often find this same verb used of people worshiping Jesus such as: Matt 2:2, 8, 11, 8:2, 14:33, 15:25, 18:26, 20:20, 28:9, 17, 5:6, 15:19, Luke 24:52, John 9:38, Heb 1:6, Rev 5:14,
In fact, the largest portion of the occurrences of προσκυνέω are used to denote worship of Jesus, but some are used of worshiping the Father, such as John 4:23, 24, 1 Cor 14:25, Rev 11:16, etc.
Occasionally, it is used of someone offering false (illegal) worship of a false deity such as: Acts 7:23, Rev 9:20, 13:4, 8, 12, 15, 14:11, 16:2, etc. In all these contexts, the worship of such false deities is condemned by the context.