In these verses, we witness a dramatic encounter between Jesus and Satan in the wilderness. Satan takes Jesus to a high mountain and presents Him with a tempting offer. He shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offers Him authority and glory, claiming that these have been delivered to him.
The offer made by Satan is an attempt to lure Jesus into compromising His mission and to tempt Him with immediate power and dominion. Satan promises Jesus the opportunity to rule over all the kingdoms of the world if only He would worship him. It is an appeal to Jesus' human nature, tempting Him with the desire for worldly recognition and authority.
However, Jesus responds with unwavering conviction and steadfast faith. He immediately rebukes Satan and firmly rejects the offer, saying, "Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'" In this response, Jesus affirms the supreme and exclusive worship due to God alone.
Jesus' response is grounded in the truth of Scripture. He quotes from Deuteronomy 6:13, which emphasizes the commandment to worship and serve God alone. By quoting Scripture, Jesus demonstrates His complete reliance on the Word of God and His obedience to God's commands.
This passage reveals the resilience and unwavering devotion of Jesus to His Father's will. He resists the temptations of worldly power and refuses to compromise His mission or His relationship with God. Jesus' response serves as a model for believers, highlighting the importance of prioritizing worship and service to God above all else.
Furthermore, this passage underscores the spiritual battle between good and evil. Satan, as the ruler of this fallen world, seeks to deceive and entice people away from God. He offers temporary pleasures and worldly gain, attempting to divert them from the path of righteousness. Jesus' resistance to Satan's temptation demonstrates His victory over the powers of darkness and serves as an example for believers to stand firm in the face of temptation.
In a broader context, this passage also foreshadows Jesus' ultimate victory over sin and the kingdoms of this world. While Satan falsely claims authority over the kingdoms, Jesus, through His death and resurrection, secures the ultimate victory and establishes His kingdom that will never end.
In summary, Luke 4:5-8 recounts the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, where Satan offers Him authority over the kingdoms of the world in exchange for worship. Jesus firmly rejects the offer, affirming His devotion to God and refusing to compromise His mission. This passage underscores the importance of prioritizing worship and service to God above all worldly temptations. It also highlights the spiritual battle between good and evil and foreshadows Jesus' ultimate victory over sin and the kingdoms of this world. Through this passage, we are encouraged to remain steadfast in our devotion to God and resist the allure of temporary worldly gain.
Luke 4:5-8. The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want. If you therefore will worship before me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”