Luke 4 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 4:1-13 – Tempted by the Devil

CHAPTER FOUR:
WILDERNESS TESTS THE NAZARETH TO CAPERNAUM

[“Satanic Tests and Nazarene Anger”]
Key word: Nazarene

Luke 4:1-13 – Tempted by the Devil

|| Matthew 4:1-11;[1] Mark 1:12, 13[2]

LK4:1 Now, Jesus full of holy Pneuma, returning from the Jordan, was guided by the Pneuma into the desert, LK4:2 and throughout forty days he was tempted[3] by the Devil. During those days Jesus had nothing to eat and so at the end he was hungry. LK4:3 So the Devil said to him: “If you are a son of God tell this rock to become a loaf of bread.” LK4:4 Jesus told the Devil: “It is written: ‘Humans do not live on bread alone.’” [Deuteronomy 8:3] LK4:5 And then the Devil took Jesus and showed him in just a moment of time all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth. LK4:6 The Devil told Jesus: “I will give you all of this authority and their glory as it has been given to me and I may give it to anyone I want. LK4:7 So it will all be yours[4] if you bow down before me.” LK4:8 But, Jesus answered him: “It is written: ‘YHWH your God you shall bow down before and Him alone shall you worship.’” [Deuteronomy 6:13] LK4:9 So then the Devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and placed him upon the highest point of the temple area and told him: “If you are a son of God jump off, LK4:10 for it is written: ‘He will give His angels commands regarding you to protect you.’ [Psalm 91:11] LK4:11 And also: ‘They will carry you in their hands lest you strike your foot on a rock.’” [Psalm 91:12] LK4:12 But Jesus responded to the Devil: “It is written: ‘You shall not put YHWH your God to the test.’” [Deuteronomy 6:16] LK4:13 Now after the Devil had finished all his temptation he left Jesus until another opportune moment.[5]

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[1] Matthew 4:1-11: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Matthew.

[2] Mark 1:12, 13: For details see notes in Nazarene Commentary 2000 on Mark.

[3] Throughout forty days he was tempted: The temptation of Christ covered a forty-day period. We are only told about three of the temptations near the end.

[4] It will all be yours: At his parousia, the “kingdom of the world” becomes that of Christ anyway. [Revelation 11:15; Psalm 2:8; Daniel 2:44; 7:13, 27]

[5] Until another opportune moment: Or, NEB: biding his time; RHM: a fitting season; RIE: until a fresh occasion should present itself. This is unique to Luke. It indicates the Devil did not give up on Jesus but continued to tempt him at other times.

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Preceding

Luke 3 – The Nazarene’s Commentary: Luke 3 – Review Questions on Chapter Three