Luke 4:9 · Clearspring

Your notes

Private to you. Anything you write on this verse, here or while reading, shows up here and in My study.

Other translations

WEBBE

He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here,

BSB

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.

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:

ASV

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:

BBE

And he took him to Jerusalem and put him on the highest point of the Temple and said to him, If you are the Son of God, let yourself go down from here; for it is said in the Writings,

Original Greek

Look up a word

Tap a word to see what it means and everywhere else it's used.

Καὶ Kai and G2532 Ἤγαγεν Ēgagen He led G71 δὲ de also G1161 αὐτὸν auton Him G846 εἰς eis to G1519 Ἰερουσαλὴμ Ierousalēm Jerusalem G2419 καὶ kai and G2532 ἔστησεν estēsen set G2476 αὐτὸν auton him G846 ἐπὶ epi upon G1909 τὸ to the G3588 πτερύγιον pterugion pinnacle G4419 τοῦ tou of the G3588 ἱεροῦ hi'erou temple G2411 καὶ kai and G2532 εἶπεν eipen said G2036 αὐτῷ autō to Him G846 εἰ ei If G1487 ὁ ho the G3588 υἱὸς huios Son G5207 εἶ ei You are G1510 τοῦ tou (the) G3588 θεοῦ theou of God G2316 βάλε bale do cast G906 σεαυτὸν seauton Yourself G4771 ἐντεῦθεν enteuthen from here G1782 κάτω katō down G2736

The early church

He followed evidently as a wrestler, gladly setting out to meet the temptation, and saying, as it were, Lead me where you will, and you will find me the stronger in every thing.

Origen of Alexandria · d. 253Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(non occ.) The devil entered not into a contest with God, (for he durst not, and therefore said, If thou art the Son of God,) but he contended with man whom once he had power to deceive.

Athanasius of Alexandria · d. 373Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

The next weapon he uses is that of boasting, which always causes the offender to fall down; for they who love to boast of the glory of their virtue descend from the stand and vantage ground of their good deeds. Hence it is said, And he led him to Jerusalem. It is the fate of boasting, that while a man thinks he is climbing higher, he is by his pretension to lofty deeds brought low. Hence it follows, And he said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, throw thyself down.

Ambrose of Milan · d. 397Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

For it is of the devil to cast one's self into dangers, and try whether God will rescue us.

John Chrysostom · d. 407Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(de con. Ev. lib. ii. c. 6.) The whole of this narrative Matthew relates in a similar manner, but not in the same order. It is uncertain therefore which took place first, whether the kingdoms of the earth were first shown unto Him, and He was afterwards taken up to the pinnacle of the temple; or whether this came first, and the other afterwards. It matters little however which, as long as it is clear that they all took place.

Augustine of Hippo · d. 430Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–13

Christ's being led into the wilderness gave an advantage to the tempter; for there he was alone, none were with him by whose prayers and advice he might be helped in the hour of temptation. He who knew his own strength might give Satan advantage; but we may not, who know our own weakness. Being in all things made like unto his brethren, Jesus would, like the other children of God, live in dependence upon the Divine Providence and promise. The word of God is our sword, and faith in that word is our shield. God has many ways of providing for his people, and therefore is at all times to be depended upon in the way of duty. All Satan's promises are deceitful; and if he is permitted to have any influence in disposing of the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, he uses them as baits to insnare men to destruction. We should reject at once and with abhorrence, every opportunity of sinful gain or advancement, as a price offered for our souls; we should seek riches, honours, and happiness in the worship and service of God only. Christ will not worship Satan; nor, when he has the kingdoms of the world delivered to him by his Father, will he suffer any remains of the worship of the devil to continue in them. Satan also tempted Jesus to be his own murderer, by unfitting confidence in his Father's protection, such as he had no warrant for. Let not any abuse of Scripture by Satan or by men abate our esteem, or cause us to abandon its use; but let us study it still, seek to know it, and seek our defence from it in all kinds of assaults. Let this word dwell richly in us, for it is our life. Our victorious Redeemer conquered, not for himself only, but for us also. The devil ended all the temptation. Christ let him try all his force, and defeated him. Satan saw it was to no purpose to attack Christ, who had nothing in him for his fiery darts to fasten upon. And if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Yet he departed but till the season when he was again to be let loose upon Jesus, not as a tempter, to draw him to sin, and so to strike at his head, at which he now aimed and was wholly defeated in; but as a persecutor, to bring Christ to suffer, and so to bruise his heel, which it was told him, he should have to do, and would do, though it would be the breaking of his own head, Ge 3:15. Though Satan depart for a season, we shall never be out of his reach till removed from this present evil world.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 4 →

Parallel passages

1

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 4:5–6

Cross-references

6

People & places

Jesus Jerusalem

Topics

Jesus, The Christ Temple Presumption Suicide