Luke 4:9

KJV

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he brought {G71} him {G846} to {G1519} Jerusalem {G2419}, and {G2532} set {G2476} him {G846} on {G1909} a pinnacle {G4419} of the temple {G2411}, and {G2532} said {G2036} unto him {G846}, If {G1487} thou be {G1488} the Son {G5207} of God {G2316}, cast {G906} thyself {G4572} down {G2736} from hence {G1782}:

Complete Jewish Bible

Then he took him to Yerushalayim, set him on the highest point of the Temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, jump from here!

Berean Standard Bible

Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here.

American Standard Version

And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 4:9 presents the climactic third temptation of Jesus by the devil, where Jesus is brought to the pinnacle of the Jerusalem Temple and challenged to cast Himself down, thereby presumptuously testing God's protection. This encounter is a direct assault on Jesus' divine identity and trust in His Father, forcing Him to confront the devil's manipulative use of Scripture and reaffirm His unwavering obedience to God's will.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the broader narrative of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, immediately following His baptism where He was affirmed as God's Son and filled with the Holy Spirit ([Luke 3:21-22](/luke/3-21-22 "Luke 3:21-22 - Jesus' Baptism and Divine Affirmation")). The preceding temptations involved turning stones into bread to satisfy physical hunger ([Luke 4:3-4](/luke/4-3-4 "Luke 4:3-4 - Temptation to Turn Stones to Bread")) and gaining all earthly kingdoms through an act of worship to the devil ([Luke 4:5-8](/luke/4-5-8 "Luke 4:5-8 - Temptation of Worldly Power")). Luke 4:9 marks a shift in the devil's strategy, moving from physical and worldly desires to a spiritual test of faith and identity, escalating the intensity by placing Jesus in a public and highly symbolic location—the Temple in Jerusalem. The entire account in [Luke 4:1-13](/luke/4-1-13 "Luke 4:1-13 - The Temptation of Jesus") demonstrates Jesus' perfect obedience and reliance on God's Word, setting the stage for His public ministry.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Jerusalem Temple was the spiritual and physical heart of Jewish life, a place of immense sanctity and national pride. Its "pinnacle" (Greek _pterygion_) likely refers to the southeast corner of the Temple complex, a towering height overlooking the Kidron Valley, estimated to be hundreds of feet high. This location would have offered a dramatic and public stage for a miraculous display, appealing to a desire for immediate validation or a sensational sign. The Jewish people of Jesus' time were awaiting a Messiah, often expecting a powerful, miraculous figure who would liberate them politically. The devil's temptation plays into this expectation, suggesting a shortcut to messianic recognition through a spectacular, attention-grabbing act rather than the path of suffering and humble service. The challenge "If thou be the Son of God" harks back to the divine affirmation at Jesus' baptism, a title with profound theological and cultural implications for Jewish identity and expectation.
* **Key Themes:** The temptation account, including [Luke 4:9](/luke/4-9 "Luke 4:9 - The Temptation at the Temple Pinnacle"), powerfully develops several key themes. First, it underscores **the nature of temptation** itself, revealing how the devil targets core identity, trust, and purpose, evolving his tactics from physical needs to spiritual presumption. Second, it highlights the **authority and power of God's Word** as the ultimate defense against deception, as Jesus consistently counters the devil's lies with Scripture ([Luke 4:4](/luke/4-4 "Luke 4:4 - Jesus' Response to Temptation"), [Luke 4:8](/luke/4-8 "Luke 4:8 - Jesus' Response to Temptation"), [Luke 4:12](/luke/4-12 "Luke 4:12 - Jesus' Response to Temptation")). Third, the passage explores the distinction between **true faith and presumption**. The devil's challenge is not to trust God, but to test Him, demanding a miraculous intervention outside of God's intended will. This contrasts with genuine faith, which trusts God's promises without needing to force His hand. Finally, the temptations demonstrate Jesus' **perfect obedience and sinlessness**, establishing Him as the ideal Son who perfectly fulfills God's will, unlike Israel in the wilderness or Adam in Eden.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **If (Greek, _ei'_):** This particle introduces a conditional clause, "If thou be the Son of God." While often translated as a simple "if," in this context, it carries an implied challenge or doubt. It's not necessarily questioning Jesus' identity outright, but rather prompting Him to *prove* it through a specific, presumptuous action. The devil uses this "if" to create a scenario where Jesus' divine sonship is put to the test, demanding a demonstration of power rather than an act of trust.
* **Pinnacle (Greek, _pterýgion'_):** This word literally means "little wing" or "battlement." It refers to the highest point or extremity of a building, specifically the Temple in Jerusalem. The choice of this location is significant, as it provides a dramatic, public, and perilous setting for the temptation. The height emphasizes the danger and the spectacular nature of the proposed act, aiming to appeal to a desire for glory or a miraculous sign that would bypass the path of humility and suffering.
* **Cast (Greek, _bállō'_):** This primary verb means "to throw" or "to cast," often implying a violent or intense action. The command "cast thyself down" is a direct imperative, urging Jesus to intentionally hurl Himself from the immense height. This action would be an act of self-initiated danger, designed to force God's intervention and protection, thereby putting God to the test rather than simply trusting in His providential care.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he brought him to Jerusalem":** This marks a geographical and thematic shift in the temptation narrative. From the desolate wilderness, the devil transports Jesus to the holy city, the center of Jewish religious and national life. This move signifies an escalation, bringing the spiritual battle into a prominent, symbolic, and potentially public arena.
* **"and set him on a pinnacle of the temple":** The specific location, the Temple's highest point, is crucial. It represents the ultimate place of divine presence and protection, yet paradoxically, it becomes the stage for a temptation to presumption. The devil aims to exploit Jesus' identity as the Son of God by challenging Him to perform a spectacular act within the sacred precincts, perhaps to gain immediate recognition or to force God's hand in a public display.
* **"and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God":** This is the core of the temptation. The devil directly challenges Jesus' identity, echoing the divine declaration at His baptism ("Thou art my beloved Son"). It's a manipulative "if," not truly doubting His identity, but rather proposing a specific, presumptuous test to "prove" it. The devil is attempting to provoke Jesus into acting outside of God's will, using His divine status as leverage.
* **"cast thyself down from hence":** This is the devil's specific command, urging Jesus to commit an act of self-destructive presumption. The challenge is to jump from a dizzying height, relying on God's angels to catch Him, as quoted by the devil from Psalm 91. This is a perversion of faith, demanding a miracle as a test of God's faithfulness rather than trusting in His sovereign plan and timing.

#### Literary Devices
Luke's account of this temptation employs several **Literary Devices**. **Symbolism** is prominent, with Jerusalem representing the spiritual heart of Israel and the Temple's pinnacle symbolizing a place of ultimate authority and divine presence, yet also a stage for potential pride and presumption. The devil's use of **Irony** is striking: he quotes Scripture (Psalm 91:11-12) to tempt Jesus to sin, twisting God's protective promises into an invitation for presumptuous testing. This highlights the deceptive nature of evil, which often masquerades as truth. The **Dramatic Setting** of the Temple's height amplifies the tension and the stakes of the temptation, emphasizing the perilous nature of the challenge and the profound trust required of Jesus. The entire narrative functions as an **Allegory** for spiritual warfare, demonstrating the tactics of temptation (challenging identity, twisting Scripture, offering shortcuts to glory) and the power of God's Word as a defense.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 4:9 profoundly illustrates the nature of divine sonship and the proper response to temptation. It reveals that being the "Son of God" does not grant license for presumption or testing God, but rather demands perfect trust and obedience to His will. The devil's tactic of twisting Scripture underscores the importance of interpreting God's Word in its proper context and recognizing that true faith is not about manipulating God for personal gain or sensational display, but about humble submission to His wisdom and timing. Jesus' refusal to yield, even when offered a path to immediate messianic recognition, demonstrates His commitment to God's plan, which involved suffering and sacrifice rather than a spectacular show of power.

* [Deuteronomy 6:16](/deuteronomy/6-16 "Deuteronomy 6:16 - Do Not Test the Lord")
* [Matthew 4:5-7](/matthew/4-5-7 "Matthew 4:5-7 - The Temple Temptation in Matthew")
* [Psalm 91:11-12](/psalms/91-11-12 "Psalm 91:11-12 - God's Angelic Protection")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The temptation of Jesus on the Temple pinnacle serves as a profound lesson for believers today. We, too, are often tempted to "test" God, demanding immediate answers, miraculous interventions, or shortcuts to our desires, especially when our faith or identity is challenged. This passage calls us to examine our motives: are we truly trusting God's sovereignty and timing, or are we seeking to manipulate Him to fit our agenda? It reminds us that God's promises of protection are for those who walk in obedience, not for those who presumptuously jump into danger to force His hand. Furthermore, the devil's misuse of Scripture highlights the critical importance of knowing God's Word deeply and accurately, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our interpretation so we can discern truth from deception. Our identity as children of God is not validated by sensational acts, but by humble, consistent obedience and trust in our Heavenly Father, even when the path is difficult or unseen.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life might you be tempted to "test" God rather than simply trusting His providence?**
* **How does Jesus' response to the devil's twisted use of Scripture challenge you to engage more deeply and accurately with God's Word?**
* **What does this temptation reveal about the true nature of faith versus presumption, and how can you cultivate genuine faith in your daily life?**
* **How do you resist the temptation to seek validation or shortcuts to success outside of God's intended path?**

### FAQ
**Why did the devil choose the Temple for this temptation?**

Answer: The Temple was the most sacred and visible symbol of God's presence and power in Jerusalem. By bringing Jesus to its pinnacle, the devil aimed to make the temptation highly public and dramatic, appealing to a desire for immediate, spectacular messianic recognition. A miraculous jump from such a height, with divine intervention, would have been a sensational sign, potentially bypassing the path of suffering and humble service that was God's true plan for the Messiah. It was an attempt to provoke Jesus into a presumptuous act that would force God's hand and perhaps gain Him instant, worldly glory.

**How does Jesus' response "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" apply to believers today?**

Answer: Jesus' powerful response, quoting [Deuteronomy 6:16](/deuteronomy/6-16 "Deuteronomy 6:16 - Do Not Test the Lord"), teaches us that true faith does not put God to the test. This means we should not intentionally place ourselves in danger or demand miraculous intervention simply to see if God will act. It's about trusting God's character and promises without needing to force Him to prove Himself. For believers today, this applies to situations where we might be tempted to act recklessly, demand signs, or seek shortcuts, expecting God to bail us out. Instead, we are called to walk in humble obedience and trust His sovereign plan and timing, knowing that His protection is for those who live in faith, not for those who presumptuously challenge Him.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 4:9, with Jesus' steadfast refusal to presumptuously test God, is a profound Christ-centered fulfillment of humanity's true calling and Israel's failed obedience. Unlike the first Adam, who succumbed to temptation in a garden, Jesus, the Second Adam, perfectly resisted the tempter in the wilderness and on the Temple's height, demonstrating flawless obedience to God. His refusal to cast Himself down, demanding a spectacular sign, foreshadows His true path to glory: not through a sensational display of power, but through humble obedience, suffering, and ultimately, the cross. The devil's challenge to "prove" His Sonship is met with a deeper understanding of what it means to be God's Son – not to manipulate divine power, but to perfectly trust and obey the Father, even unto death. This sets the stage for Jesus' ministry, where His miracles are acts of compassion and signs of the Kingdom, not proofs of His identity coerced by the enemy. His ultimate "casting down" would be His willing descent into death, not from a Temple pinnacle, but into the tomb, from which He would be raised by the Father's power, fulfilling the true promise of divine protection and demonstrating His rightful Lordship over all creation, as affirmed in [Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8-11 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation") and [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers"). He is the Son who truly trusts His Father, leading to the ultimate victory over sin and death, not through a shortcut, but through the path of perfect submission.

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 4:5

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Matthew 4:6

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Luke 4:3

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

Romans 1:4

And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

2 Chronicles 3:4

And the porch that [was] in the front [of the house], the length [of it was] according to the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and the height [was] an hundred and twenty: and he overlaid it within with pure gold.

Job 2:6

And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he [is] in thine hand; but save his life.

Matthew 8:29

And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?