Luke 4:5

KJV

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} the devil {G1228}, taking {G321} him {G846} up {G321} into {G1519} an high {G5308} mountain {G3735}, shewed {G1166} unto him {G846} all {G3956} the kingdoms {G932} of the world {G3625} in {G1722} a moment {G4743} of time {G5550}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The Adversary took him up, showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world,

Berean Standard Bible

Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

American Standard Version

And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 4:5 details the second major temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, where the devil transports Him to a high mountain and, in an instant, displays all the kingdoms of the world. This audacious offer by Satan was an attempt to divert Jesus from His divine mission and the path of suffering to achieve immediate, worldly dominion, thereby challenging His allegiance and the very nature of His messianic kingship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within Luke's account of Jesus' forty-day temptation in the wilderness, immediately following His baptism and anointing by the Holy Spirit ([Luke 3:21-22](/luke/3-21-22 "Luke 3:21-22 - Jesus' Baptism")). It represents the second of three temptations presented by the devil (in Luke's order), shifting from the physical need for food ([Luke 4:3](/luke/4-3 "Luke 4:3 - First Temptation: Bread")) to the allure of power and glory. The narrative of Jesus' temptations ([Luke 4:1-13](/luke/4-1-13 "Luke 4:1-13 - The Temptation of Jesus")) serves as a foundational account, demonstrating Jesus' perfect obedience and reliance on God's Word at the very outset of His public ministry, setting a precedent for His entire earthly life and mission.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judea was under Roman occupation, and the Jewish people eagerly awaited a Messiah who would liberate them and establish an earthly kingdom. This expectation often included a political and military leader who would restore Israel's sovereignty. Satan's offer of "all the kingdoms of the world" would have resonated with these messianic hopes, presenting a seemingly attractive shortcut to dominion that bypassed the suffering and crucifixion ordained by God. The "high mountain" as a place of revelation or significant encounter is a recurring motif in biblical literature, often associated with divine encounters (e.g., Mount Sinai for Moses, Mount of Transfiguration for Jesus). Here, it is twisted by the adversary for his own deceptive purposes.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 4:5 powerfully contributes to several key themes. It highlights **The Allure of Worldly Power**, demonstrating how legitimate desires (dominion, justice) can be twisted by illegitimate means (worshiping Satan, bypassing the cross). It underscores **Satan's Usurped Authority**, acknowledging his temporary, albeit real, influence over the fallen world system, as he is elsewhere called the "god of this age" ([2 Corinthians 4:4](/2_corinthians/4-4 "2 Corinthians 4:4 - The God of This World")) and the "ruler of this world" ([John 12:31](/john/12-31 "John 12:31 - The Prince of This World")). Crucially, it explores the **Nature of Temptation** as a direct challenge to Jesus' **Messianic Identity** and His commitment to God's sovereign plan, rather than seeking glory through ungodly shortcuts.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **devil (Greek, _diábolos'_):** Derived from _diabállō_, meaning "to slander" or "to accuse falsely." This term emphasizes the character of Satan as a "traducer" or "false accuser." In this context, it highlights his deceptive and adversarial nature, as he attempts to slander God's plan and accuse Jesus of needing to compromise His divine identity to achieve His mission.
* **shewed (Greek, _deiknýō'_):** This verb means "to show," whether literally or figuratively. Here, it implies a vivid, perhaps supernatural, display. The devil wasn't merely describing kingdoms but presenting a compelling, instantaneous vision designed to overwhelm Jesus' senses and appeal directly to His legitimate kingly aspirations, making the temptation more potent and immediate.
* **world (Greek, _oikouménē'_):** While broadly referring to "the (terrene part of the) globe," this term in the New Testament often specifically denotes "the Roman empire" or the inhabited world under Roman rule. This specificity is significant, suggesting that Satan offered Jesus not just abstract dominion but control over the very political and economic systems that oppressed His people, presenting a powerful, tangible alternative to God's ordained path.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain":** This clause establishes the setting and the agent of temptation. The "high mountain" serves as a symbolic vantage point, offering a sweeping perspective, but it is the devil who orchestrates this ascent, signifying his control over the immediate environment and his intent to present a grand, overwhelming display.
* **"shewed unto him":** This highlights the active and direct nature of the devil's temptation. It was not a mere suggestion but a visual, perhaps even experiential, presentation, designed to make the offer of worldly power seem tangible and immediately accessible.
* **"all the kingdoms of the world":** This is the core of the devil's offer. "All" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the dominion promised, while "the kingdoms of the world" refers to the totality of human political, economic, and social structures operating apart from God's righteous rule, often under the influence of the adversary.
* **"in a moment of time":** The Greek word for "moment" (_stigmḗ_) literally means "a point" or "an instant." This phrase emphasizes the instantaneous, fleeting nature of the vision. It was a rapid, perhaps overwhelming, display, designed to impress and entice without allowing for deep consideration of the cost or implications, or the true source of such power.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 4:5 employs several potent literary devices. **Symbolism** is evident in the "high mountain," which, while often a place of divine revelation, is here co-opted by Satan to offer a distorted vision of power. The "kingdoms of the world" symbolize the entire fallen system of human governance and society, operating independently of God's perfect will. **Contrast** is a pervasive element, highlighting the stark difference between the devil's offer of immediate, worldly power and God's true kingdom, which is spiritual, eternal, and achieved through humility and suffering. The phrase "in a moment of time" also introduces an element of **Hyperbole** or **Illusion**, suggesting a grand, perhaps even deceptive, display that could not truly encompass all earthly kingdoms in a single instant, underscoring the devil's deceptive nature.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This temptation reveals the profound cosmic conflict between God's sovereign rule and Satan's usurped dominion over a fallen world. The devil's offer is a direct challenge to God's ultimate authority, attempting to divert Jesus from the path of the cross, which is God's ordained means of reclaiming the world. Jesus' refusal reaffirms that true authority and kingship come through humble obedience to God, not through compromise with evil or seeking power through illegitimate means. This encounter foreshadows Christ's ultimate victory over all earthly powers and principalities, establishing a kingdom that is not of this world's system but transcends it.

* [Matthew 4:8-9](/matthew/4-8-9 "Parallel Temptation Account")
* [Daniel 7:14](/daniel/7-14 "The Son of Man Receives Dominion")
* [1 John 5:19](/1_john/5-19 "The World Lies in the Power of the Evil One")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 4:5 serves as a profound mirror for our own lives, revealing the insidious nature of temptation that seeks to divert us from God's perfect will. The devil continues to offer "shortcuts" to success, influence, or comfort, often disguised as legitimate opportunities that promise immediate gratification or power, bypassing the patient, obedient, and often challenging path of discipleship. We are constantly tempted to compromise our values, seek worldly glory over spiritual integrity, or pursue our goals through means that undermine God's ultimate plan. This verse calls us to cultivate profound discernment, recognizing that not every appealing opportunity aligns with God's kingdom. It compels us to steadfastly resist the allure of worldly power when it demands compromise of our worship or principles, and to trust implicitly in God's perfect timing and method for fulfilling His promises, rather than succumbing to the temptation for immediate, ungodly gain. Jesus' unwavering focus on His divine mission and His subsequent reliance on scripture provide the timeless pattern for overcoming such powerful spiritual attacks.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "high mountains" or vantage points does the world offer me today, tempting me with power, recognition, or shortcuts to success?**
* **How can I discern between God-given opportunities and Satan's counterfeit offers that demand compromise of my faith or values?**
* **In what areas of my life am I most tempted to seek immediate gratification or worldly glory instead of patiently pursuing God's righteous path?**

### FAQ
**Why did the devil offer Jesus the kingdoms of the world?**

Answer: The devil's offer was a multi-faceted temptation designed to divert Jesus from His divine mission. Primarily, he sought to tempt Jesus to achieve His messianic purpose—reigning over creation—through illegitimate means (worshiping Satan) and by bypassing the suffering of the cross. It was an attempt to establish an earthly kingdom on Satan's terms, rather than God's, and to usurp the rightful worship due only to God.

**Did the devil truly have authority over "all the kingdoms of the world" to offer them?**

Answer: The Scriptures indicate that the devil does possess significant, albeit usurped and temporary, authority over the fallen world system. He is referred to as the "god of this world" ([2 Corinthians 4:4](/2_corinthians/4-4 "2 Corinthians 4:4 - The God of This World")) and the "ruler of this world" ([John 12:31](/john/12-31 "John 12:31 - The Prince of This World")). While his authority is real due to humanity's fall and sin, it is always subordinate to God's ultimate sovereignty. Jesus' refusal to accept the offer from Satan was not a denial of Satan's limited influence, but a rejection of his illegitimate claim and a refusal to compromise His divine mission.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 4:5 finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment not in Jesus accepting the devil's offer, but in His resolute rejection of it. By refusing the immediate, worldly dominion offered by Satan, Jesus affirmed that His kingdom is "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Is Not of This World")), and that true kingship would be achieved through obedience, suffering, and sacrifice. Instead of seizing power through compromise, Christ humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")). It is through this ultimate act of self-giving, His death and resurrection, that He disarmed the powers and authorities ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Christ's Triumph Over Powers")) and was given "all authority in heaven and on earth" ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - The Great Commission")). Thus, the kingdoms of the world will ultimately become "the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ" ([Revelation 11:15](/revelation/11-15 "The Seventh Trumpet and Christ's Reign")), not by Satan's hand, but by the sovereign, redemptive work of the Lamb of God.

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

1 John 2:15

Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:16

For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Psalms 73:19

How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

1 Corinthians 15:52

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Job 20:5

That the triumphing of the wicked [is] short, and the joy of the hypocrite [but] for a moment?

Matthew 4:8

Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].