Luke 4:3

KJV

And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} the devil {G1228} said {G2036} unto him {G846}, If {G1487} thou be {G1488} the Son {G5207} of God {G2316}, command {G2036} this {G5129} stone {G3037} that {G2443} it be made {G1096} bread {G740}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The Adversary said to him, "If you are the Son of God, order this stone to become bread."

Berean Standard Bible

The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

American Standard Version

And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 4:3 records the initial and pivotal temptation of Jesus by the devil in the wilderness, immediately following his baptism and the divine affirmation of his identity as the Son of God. The devil challenges Jesus, who is physically weakened by a forty-day fast, to use his divine power for personal gratification by miraculously transforming a stone into bread. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus' public ministry, demonstrating his perfect obedience and reliance on God's Word in the face of direct assault from the enemy.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated at the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry in Luke's Gospel, directly following his baptism and the descent of the Holy Spirit, where a voice from heaven declared, "[Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased](/luke/3-22 "Luke 3:22 - The Baptism of Jesus")" ([Luke 3:22](/luke/3-22 "Luke 3:22 - God's Affirmation of Jesus")). Immediately after this divine affirmation, Jesus is "[full of the Holy Spirit](/luke/4-1 "Luke 4:1 - Jesus Led by the Spirit")" and "[led by the Spirit into the wilderness](/luke/4-1 "Luke 4:1 - Jesus Led by the Spirit")" for forty days, where he "[was tempted of the devil](/luke/4-2 "Luke 4:2 - Jesus' Temptation in the Wilderness")" and "[did eat nothing](/luke/4-2 "Luke 4:2 - Jesus' Fasting")" during that time. The temptation in Luke 4:3 is the first of three direct confrontations, strategically occurring when Jesus is at his most physically vulnerable, thereby testing his identity and mission. His responses, rooted in Scripture, establish a pattern of perfect obedience that contrasts with Israel's failures in the wilderness.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The wilderness (ἔρημος, _erēmos_) in biblical tradition is often a place of testing, purification, and divine encounter. Israel's forty years in the wilderness, for instance, were a period of testing their obedience and dependence on God ([Deuteronomy 8:2-3](/deuteronomy/8-2-3 "Deuteronomy 8:2-3 - God's Testing in the Wilderness")). Moses and Elijah also experienced forty-day fasts in the wilderness, preparing them for significant divine encounters and ministries ([Exodus 34:28](/exodus/34-28 "Exodus 34:28 - Moses' Fast on Sinai") and [1 Kings 19:8](/1_kings/19-8 "1 Kings 19:8 - Elijah's Journey to Horeb")). Jesus' forty-day fast aligns with these precedents, signifying a period of intense spiritual preparation and reliance on God, but also leaving him profoundly hungry and physically weak. This vulnerability makes the devil's temptation to turn stones into bread particularly potent, appealing directly to a basic human need in a desolate environment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Jesus' identity as the Son of God**, which the devil directly challenges. The temptation is not merely about food but about Jesus' willingness to operate outside the Father's will and timing, thereby proving or disproving his divine sonship on the devil's terms. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **obedience and trust in God's provision**. Jesus' refusal to use his power for self-gratification demonstrates perfect reliance on God, even in extreme hunger, contrasting with humanity's historical tendency to succumb to immediate desires. Lastly, it introduces the theme of **spiritual warfare**, portraying the devil as a real, active adversary who seeks to derail God's redemptive plan by tempting Jesus to misuse his power and abandon his mission. Jesus' victory here foreshadows his ultimate triumph over evil ([Luke 10:18](/luke/10-18 "Luke 10:18 - Jesus Sees Satan Fall")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **devil (Greek, _diábolos'_):** From G1228, this term means "a traducer," "false accuser," or "slanderer." It is specifically used to refer to Satan. This name powerfully describes his character and method: he is not merely an opposing force but one who seeks to undermine, discredit, and accuse, often through deception and questioning God's truth or intentions. Here, he slanders God's provision and challenges Jesus' integrity.
* **If (Greek, _ei'_):** From G1487, this is a primary particle of conditionality, meaning "if" or "whether." While seemingly a simple conditional, in this context, it functions less as a genuine question of Jesus' identity and more as an insinuation or a challenge. The devil isn't seeking information; he's attempting to provoke Jesus into an action that would demonstrate a lack of trust in the Father or a misuse of his divine power. It's a test designed to elicit a response that deviates from God's perfect will.
* **be made (Greek, _gínomai'_):** From G1096, this verb means "to cause to be," "to become," or "to come into being." In this command, the devil urges Jesus to actively "make" or "cause" the stone to "become" bread. This highlights the temptation to use divine power for an immediate, self-serving purpose rather than for the Father's ordained plan. The emphasis is on Jesus' agency in bringing about a transformation for personal comfort, bypassing the path of suffering and divine provision.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the devil said unto him,"**: This clause establishes the direct confrontation between Jesus and the devil, emphasizing the personal nature of the temptation. The devil is not merely a force of evil but a sentient, malevolent being who engages in direct communication and strategic assault.
* **"If thou be the Son of God,"**: This is the core of the devil's challenge. It's not a genuine inquiry into Jesus' identity, which was just affirmed by God at his baptism. Instead, it's a taunt designed to sow doubt and provoke Jesus to "prove" his sonship on the devil's terms, by acting independently of the Father's will and timing. It's an attempt to shift Jesus' reliance from God's word and plan to his own immediate power and gratification.
* **"command this stone that it be made bread."**: This is the specific action the devil proposes. It appeals directly to Jesus' physical hunger after forty days of fasting. The temptation is to use divine power (to "command" a miracle) for personal comfort and immediate relief, rather than enduring the trial and waiting for God's provision. This act would signify a departure from the path of humble obedience and self-denial that characterized Jesus' mission.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 4:3 employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is evident in the devil's challenge; he addresses Jesus as "Son of God," a title affirmed by God himself just prior to this encounter, yet he simultaneously tempts Jesus to act in a way that would undermine the very nature of that sonship—one of perfect obedience and dependence. The devil's words are a perversion of truth. **Symbolism** is also at play, where "bread" symbolizes not just physical sustenance but also the means of life and provision. The temptation is to secure life on one's own terms, rather than through God's Word and will, which Jesus later affirms as true sustenance ([Luke 4:4](/luke/4-4 "Luke 4:4 - Jesus' Response to Temptation")). Finally, there is a clear **antithesis** between the devil's proposal and Jesus' divine mission. The devil offers a path of immediate gratification and self-reliance, directly opposing Jesus' path of humble obedience, self-sacrifice, and reliance on the Father for the redemption of humanity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The temptation of Jesus in Luke 4:3 profoundly connects to the broader biblical narrative of humanity's relationship with God, particularly the themes of obedience, trust, and the nature of true sustenance. Just as Adam and Eve were tempted in the Garden to disobey God's command and seek knowledge/life on their own terms, and Israel repeatedly failed in the wilderness to trust God's provision, Jesus perfectly models faithful obedience. His refusal to turn stones into bread underscores that human life is not sustained by physical means alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. This highlights a fundamental theological truth: true life and fulfillment come from aligning with God's will and trusting His timing and methods, rather than succumbing to immediate desires or misusing divine power for selfish ends. Jesus' victory over this temptation foreshadows his ultimate triumph over sin and death, establishing him as the obedient Son who fulfills what humanity failed to do.

* [Deuteronomy 8:3](/deuteronomy/8-3 "Deuteronomy 8:3 - Man Lives by God's Word")
* [Matthew 4:4](/matthew/4-4 "Matthew 4:4 - Jesus' Response to the First Temptation")
* [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 4:3 offers profound insights into the nature of temptation and the pathway to spiritual victory for believers today. The devil often attacks when we are most vulnerable, whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually, seeking to exploit our weaknesses and sow doubt about our identity in Christ. He challenges us to prove our worth or secure our comfort by means that bypass God's will or timing. Just as Jesus was tempted to use his divine power for personal gain, we are often tempted to rely on our own strength, resources, or cleverness instead of trusting God's provision and perfect plan. This verse calls us to examine where we seek our sustenance and security. Do we look to immediate gratification, worldly solutions, or our own abilities, or do we, like Jesus, anchor ourselves in the Word of God and trust in the Father's unfailing care? Our identity as children of God is not contingent on our performance or our ability to manipulate circumstances, but on God's gracious declaration.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you most vulnerable to temptation, and how might the devil exploit those weaknesses?**
* **How does the devil's challenge, "If thou be the Son of God," resonate with the doubts or insecurities you sometimes face about your identity in Christ?**
* **What "stones" are you tempted to turn into "bread" in your life—that is, what immediate solutions or comforts do you seek instead of waiting on God's provision and trusting His timing?**

### FAQ
**Why did the devil begin with "If thou be the Son of God" instead of just directly tempting Jesus with food?**

Answer: The devil's opening phrase, "If thou be the Son of God," is highly strategic and deeply significant. It's not a genuine question about Jesus' identity, which had just been powerfully affirmed by God at his baptism ([Luke 3:22](/luke/3-22 "Luke 3:22 - God's Affirmation of Jesus")). Instead, it serves as a challenge and an insinuation, aiming to undermine Jesus' confidence in his divine sonship or to provoke him into an act of disobedience. By prefacing the command with this conditional statement, the devil attempts to:
1. **Sow Doubt:** Despite the divine affirmation, the devil tries to introduce a sliver of doubt, forcing Jesus to "prove" his identity on the devil's terms.
2. **Challenge Authority/Trust:** It implies that if Jesus truly is the Son of God, he should be able to alleviate his suffering immediately, without relying on the Father's timing or method. This challenges Jesus' trust in God's provision and the path of humble obedience.
3. **Misdirect Power:** The temptation is not just to eat, but to use his divine power for self-gratification rather than for the Father's will and the kingdom's purposes. The "if" clause is a psychological manipulation, urging Jesus to act out of a need to validate himself, rather than out of perfect submission to God. This sets the stage for the subsequent temptations, all of which revolve around Jesus' identity and the proper use of his divine authority.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 4:3 reveals Jesus as the perfect Son who fulfills what Adam failed to do in the Garden and what Israel failed to do in the wilderness. Where humanity succumbed to temptation, seeking autonomy and immediate gratification, Jesus perfectly obeyed the Father, even in extreme physical weakness. His refusal to turn stones into bread demonstrates his complete reliance on God's Word as the true source of life and sustenance, establishing him as the obedient "last Adam" ([1 Corinthians 15:45](/1_corinthians/15-45 "1 Corinthians 15:45 - The Last Adam")). This victory in the wilderness is a foundational moment, demonstrating Jesus' qualification to be our High Priest, one who "[was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")" ([Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest")). His perfect obedience in the face of temptation is not merely an example for us to follow, but a redemptive act. Through his sinless life and ultimate sacrifice, Jesus earned the righteousness that is imputed to believers, reversing the curse of Adam's disobedience ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Obedience of the One")). He is the one who has "[destroyed the works of the devil](/1_john/3-8 "1 John 3:8 - Jesus Destroys the Devil's Works")" ([1 John 3:8](/1_john/3-8 "1 John 3:8 - Jesus Destroys the Devil's Works")), beginning with this decisive victory in the wilderness, paving the way for our deliverance from sin and the power of the enemy.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 4:3

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Luke 3:22

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.