Luke 4:3

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

This verse captures the first of the three temptations Jesus faced from the devil in the wilderness, immediately following his baptism and the affirmation of his divine sonship.

Context

Following his baptism in the Jordan River, where the Holy Spirit descended upon him and a voice from heaven declared, "Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased" (Luke 3:22), Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. He fasted forty days and forty nights, leaving him physically vulnerable and hungry. This intense period of spiritual preparation and physical deprivation set the stage for the devil's direct assault.

Key Themes

  • Temptation of Physical Needs: The devil attacks Jesus at a point of extreme physical weakness, suggesting he use his divine power to satisfy his immediate hunger. This highlights the devil's strategy of exploiting human vulnerability.
  • Challenging Jesus' Identity: The phrase "If thou be the Son of God" is not necessarily a question of fact, but a challenge to Jesus to prove his identity and trust in God by acting independently of the Father's timing and method. It echoes the doubt often sown by the enemy.
  • Misusing Power: The temptation is to use divine power for personal comfort and immediate gratification, rather than for the Father's will and kingdom purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The term "devil" comes from the Greek word diabolos, meaning "slanderer" or "accuser." This name reflects his nature and tactics in seeking to undermine God's plan and relationship with humanity. The title "Son of God" is crucial, acknowledging Jesus' unique divine nature, which the devil seeks to subvert or redirect.

Reflection

This temptation reveals the devil's subtle tactics: attacking when we are weak, questioning our identity in Christ, and urging us to seek immediate, self-serving solutions instead of trusting God's provision and timing. Jesus' response, found in the next verse (Luke 4:4), demonstrates the power of relying on God's Word as our true sustenance and guide, showing us how to stand firm against the enemy's schemes.

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Cross-References

  • Matthew 4:3 (5 votes)

    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 (1 votes)

    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.