Luke 4:8 kjv

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.

Luke 4:8 nkjv

And Jesus answered and said to him, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.' "

Luke 4:8 niv

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'"

Luke 4:8 esv

And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.'"

Luke 4:8 nlt

Jesus replied, "The Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God
and serve only him.' "

Luke 4 verses

Luke 4 8 Meaning

Luke 4:8 presents Jesus' unwavering declaration of exclusive devotion to God alone. Faced with Satan's temptation to receive worldly power and glory by worshipping him, Jesus firmly rebukes the devil by quoting Scripture, asserting that worship and service are due only to the Lord God. This verse signifies Christ's complete obedience to God's will, His authority over spiritual evil, and the foundational principle of monotheism that there is but one true God worthy of absolute adoration and service. It highlights the direct contrast between divine sovereignty and the empty promises of worldly dominion.

Luke 4 8 Context

Luke 4:8 is found within the account of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness immediately following His baptism and leading into the commencement of His public ministry. Having fasted for forty days, Jesus is hungry and physically vulnerable. Satan confronts Him with three specific temptations designed to divert Jesus from God's intended path: tempting Him to use His divine power for personal gain (turning stones into bread), to gain immediate political dominion without the cross (all the kingdoms of the world), and to presumptuously test God (jumping from the temple). Luke 4:8 is Jesus' response to the second temptation, where Satan explicitly demands worship in exchange for authority over the world's kingdoms. This context demonstrates Jesus' absolute obedience to God even in His humanity and highlights His ultimate authority over Satan. Historically, for a Jewish audience, the temptation narrative recalls Israel's failures in the wilderness. Jesus, as the true Israelite, succeeds where they failed, modeling perfect devotion and reliance on God's Word. The polemic is against any form of compromise with evil or seeking power/glory by means other than God's will.

Luke 4 8 Word analysis

• And Jesus answered him and said: Shows Jesus' deliberate and authoritative response. It's not a reactive outburst but a considered declaration.
• 'Get behind Me, Satan!': While not present in Luke's direct wording of the quote in this verse, it is used by Jesus in the parallel temptation account in Matthew 4:10 before the scriptural quote, and later with Peter (Matt 16:23). It denotes a sharp, imperative dismissal of the evil one, showcasing Jesus' supreme authority and refusal to even consider Satan's proposition.
• for it is written: (Greek: gegraptai) This is a perfect passive indicative verb, meaning "it stands written" or "it has been written and remains written." This grammatical tense emphasizes the abiding, settled, and unchallengeable authority of Scripture. Jesus appeals to the unchanging divine Word as the ultimate standard and weapon against temptation, demonstrating that God's revealed truth is foundational for conduct.
• 'You shall worship': (Greek: proskyneseis) This is a future active indicative verb, conveying a command. Proskyneō literally means "to prostrate oneself before," indicating profound reverence, submission, and adoration, which in this context means full worship and homage due to God.
• the Lord: (Greek: Kyrion) Translates the Hebrew Yahweh or Adonai in the Old Testament Septuagint. It signifies ultimate sovereignty, mastery, and the unique personal name of the covenant God of Israel.
• your God: (Greek: ton Theon sou) Emphasizes the personal and exclusive covenant relationship between God and His people, underscoring God's claim on their singular devotion.
• and Him only: (Greek: kai autō monō) The emphatic adverb monō ("alone," "only") strongly emphasizes exclusivity. This directly refutes Satan's demand for shared worship or worship directed elsewhere. It leaves no room for compromise or divided loyalties, underscoring absolute monotheism.
• you shall serve.': (Greek: latreuseis) Also a future active indicative verb, indicating a command. Latreuō refers specifically to religious service, a devotion that involves practical and dutiful homage to God. It encompasses more than mere prostration; it implies active, obedient service as an act of worship.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• 'for it is written,': This phrase is key. It highlights Jesus' unwavering submission to and reliance upon the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures. For Jesus, "what is written" is decisive, non-negotiable, and sufficient to repel the most profound temptations.
• 'You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve.': This concise yet powerful statement is a summation of fundamental Old Testament commandments, particularly from Deuteronomy 6:13, 10:20, and Exodus 20:3. It unequivocally establishes the two non-negotiable pillars of a relationship with God: exclusive worship (acknowledging His ultimate worth and uniqueness) and exclusive service (devotion and obedience in action), leaving no room for idolatry or competing loyalties.

Luke 4 8 Bonus section

The profound impact of Luke 4:8 is underscored by its near-verbatim appearance in Matthew 4:10, emphasizing the consistent core message of Jesus' identity and mission across the Synoptic Gospels. The combination of "worship" and "serve" alongside "Him only" in Jesus' quote, though a theological summary rather than a single direct line from the Septuagint, strongly echoes the First Commandment (Exod 20:3) and the call to serve God exclusively found in passages like Deut 6:13 and 10:20. This indicates Jesus' deep immersion in the spirit of the Mosaic Law concerning Yahweh's sole claim to devotion. The phrase "it is written" (gegraptai) serves as an ongoing testimony, indicating that the truth recorded in Scripture remains valid and applicable through all time. By quoting Scripture, Jesus also validates the Old Testament as the divinely inspired and authoritative Word of God. This confrontation also highlights that while Satan might have temporary influence over earthly kingdoms, he has no inherent right to worship; that belongs solely to God, underscoring the spiritual nature of Christ's kingdom which is not gained through worldly political means but through obedience and sacrifice.

Luke 4 8 Commentary

Luke 4:8 stands as a profound theological and practical anchor in the narrative of Jesus' temptation. It unveils Christ's foundational allegiance: absolute devotion to God the Father. In response to Satan's enticing offer of worldly power conditioned upon an act of worship, Jesus swiftly and decisively reasserts the core truth of monotheism from the Law. He combats temptation not through elaborate theological argument but with the direct, unshakeable authority of Scripture. This reliance on "what is written" demonstrates the sufficiency and power of God's Word as a defensive and offensive weapon against the schemes of evil.

The distinct terms for "worship" (proskyneō) and "serve" (latreuo) signify both inward adoration and outward obedience, illustrating that true devotion to God is holistic, encompassing both the heart's reverence and the hands' labor. The crucial addition of "and Him only" eliminates any possibility of polytheism, syncretism, or compromise. This isn't merely a personal declaration for Jesus but a model for all believers: in moments of severe trial, our allegiance must remain unswervingly fixed on God, empowered and guided by His Word. The verse powerfully reminds us that there is no true gain that can come from betraying exclusive devotion to the Lord God, for all legitimate power and glory ultimately reside with Him. It cautions against the temptation to seek perceived advantages by sacrificing theological purity.

For practical usage, this verse instructs believers when facing choices between:

• Godly principles and worldly advancement (e.g., integrity vs. dishonest gain).
• Obedience to God and the pursuit of selfish desires or popular trends (e.g., purity vs. fleeting pleasure).
• Seeking God's approval versus craving human affirmation.