Luke 4:8

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} answered {G611} and said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Get thee {G5217} behind {G3694} me {G3450}, Satan {G4567}: for {G1063} it is written {G1125}, Thou shalt worship {G4352} the Lord {G2962} thy {G4675} God {G2316}, and {G2532} him {G846} only {G3441} shalt thou serve {G3000}.

Yeshua answered him, "The Tanakh says, `Worship ADONAI your God and serve him only.'"

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Luke 4:8 captures a pivotal moment in the life of Jesus, where He definitively rejects the devil's third and final temptation in the wilderness. This verse powerfully asserts God’s exclusive right to worship and service, providing a foundational principle for all believers.

Context

This verse is part of the narrative of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, which immediately followed His baptism and the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22). After forty days of fasting, Jesus was confronted by the devil with three specific temptations designed to challenge His identity as the Son of God and His mission. In this third temptation, recorded in Luke 4:5-7, Satan offered Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory if Jesus would simply bow down and worship him. Jesus' response in Luke 4:8 is a firm and absolute rejection, drawing directly from Old Testament scripture.

Key Themes

  • Exclusive Worship of God: The most prominent theme is the non-negotiable principle that worship and service belong to God alone. Jesus' quotation underscores the singularity of God's sovereignty and worthiness of adoration.
  • Resistance to Temptation: Jesus provides the ultimate example of how to stand firm against the devil's schemes. He did not yield to the allure of worldly power or glory, even when it seemed to offer a shortcut to His messianic mission.
  • Authority of Scripture: Jesus' repeated use of "it is written" (found also in Luke 4:4 and Luke 4:12) highlights the power and authority of God's Word as a weapon against spiritual attack. He defeats temptation not by His own power alone, but by wielding the truth of God's commands.
  • Satan's True Nature: The devil is exposed as an adversary (`Satan` from Hebrew meaning "adversary") who seeks to usurp God's position and draw humanity away from true devotion. Jesus' direct command, "Get thee behind me, Satan," reveals His divine authority over evil.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "Get thee behind me, Satan" is a powerful rebuke. The Greek word for "worship" is proskyneo (προσκυνέω), which literally means "to prostrate oneself before," indicating deep reverence, adoration, and submission. The word for "serve" is latreuo (λατρεύω), which refers specifically to religious service, devotion, or worship. Together, these terms emphasize a total, exclusive allegiance to God. Jesus' quote is primarily from Deuteronomy 6:13 and Deuteronomy 10:20, reinforcing the timelessness of this divine command.

Practical Application

Luke 4:8 offers vital lessons for believers today. We are constantly faced with temptations to compromise our faith, to seek worldly success over spiritual integrity, or to give our ultimate loyalty to things other than God—be it money, power, relationships, or personal ambition. Jesus' response teaches us:

  • The Need for Exclusive Devotion: Our worship, our service, and our ultimate allegiance must be directed solely to the Lord our God. There can be no divided loyalties.
  • The Power of God's Word: Knowing and applying scripture is essential for standing firm against temptation. Just as Jesus used the written Word, we too can wield the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17) to resist evil.
  • Identifying the Enemy: Temptations often come disguised, but Jesus exposes the true source as Satan, the adversary. Recognizing the spiritual battle helps us to respond with divine truth and authority.
  • No Shortcuts to God's Plan: Jesus refused to achieve His mission through ungodly means. Similarly, we must trust God's timing and methods, rather than seeking unholy shortcuts to success or fulfillment.

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that true freedom and victory come from unwavering obedience and worship of the One true God.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Deuteronomy 6:13

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.

  • Deuteronomy 10:20

    Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.

  • Matthew 4:10

    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

  • Psalms 83:18

    That [men] may know that thou, whose name alone [is] JEHOVAH, [art] the most high over all the earth.

  • Revelation 19:10

    And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

  • Revelation 22:9

    Then saith he unto me, See [thou do it] not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.

  • James 4:7

    Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

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