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:

Luke 4:9 nkjv

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

Luke 4:9 niv

The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.

Luke 4:9 esv

And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,

Luke 4:9 nlt

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, "If you are the Son of God, jump off!

Luke 4 verses

Luke 4 9 Meaning

Luke 4:9 records the devil's third and final temptation of Jesus in Luke's account, following temptations concerning physical provision and worldly authority. Here, the tempter takes Jesus to Jerusalem, placing Him on a very high point of the Temple, and challenges Him to prove His divine Sonship by presumptuously throwing Himself down. This act would necessitate God's intervention, presumably through angels, to save Him, thereby forcing a public, spectacular demonstration of His power and identity. The devil's aim is to entice Jesus into abandoning humble, obedient trust in the Father for an act of pride, seeking validation outside of God's appointed will, and presumptuously testing divine promises.

Luke 4 9 Context

Luke 4:9 is the climax of Jesus' temptations in the wilderness, following His baptism and divine affirmation as God's beloved Son. These temptations are part of a divinely orchestrated testing period before Jesus begins His public ministry. The preceding verses in Luke 4 detail Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness (v. 1), enduring forty days of fasting, and facing two earlier temptations: turning stones into bread (a temptation of physical need and trust) and worshipping the devil for worldly kingdoms (a temptation of power and allegiance). The setting shifts from the general wilderness to the specific, symbolically charged location of the Jerusalem Temple, underscoring the spiritual nature of this particular challenge.

Luke 4 9 Word analysis

• Then he led Him: (καὶ ἤγαγεν αὐτὸν, kai ēgagen auton)
  • Then: Signifies the sequential nature of the temptations, as presented by Luke.
  • He led: The devil actively guided Jesus. This implies the devil's authority over specific locations or circumstances in tempting Jesus, but importantly, it occurred within God's sovereign allowance (compare Lk 4:1 where the Spirit leads Jesus to be tempted). Jesus voluntarily went.
  • Him: Refers to Jesus, the Son of God, truly human and truly divine.
• to Jerusalem: (εἰς Ἱερουσαλήμ, eis Ierousalēm)
  • Jerusalem: The holy city, the heart of Jewish faith and worship, chosen by God. This setting adds spiritual weight to the temptation. It is not just any city, but the capital and religious center, signifying a temptation directed at religious authority, pride, and national expectation of Messiah.
• and set Him: (καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτὸν, kai estēsen auton)
  • And set Him: The devil physically placed Jesus. This highlights the devil's direct involvement in orchestrating the environment for the temptation, presenting the opportunity.
• on the pinnacle: (ἐπὶ τὸ πτερούγιον, epi to pterygion)
  • Pinnacle: (πτερούγιον, pterygion) - A small wing-like projection; refers to a lofty architectural feature, a battlements or highest point of the Temple structure. Likely the southeastern corner overlooking the Kidron Valley, a dizzying height. It represents the ultimate place for public spectacle and divine display.
• of the temple, (τοῦ ἱεροῦ, tou hierou)
  • Temple: (ἱεροῦ, hierou) - Refers to the entire Temple complex in Jerusalem, including its courts and surrounding structures, not just the inner sanctuary. Placing Jesus here suggests the devil’s aim to manipulate sacred space for an unholy purpose or challenge Jesus' role as the one greater than the Temple (cf. Mt 12:6).
• and said to Him, (καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, kai eipen autō)
  • And said to Him: Direct address by the devil, initiating the challenge.
• “If You are the Son of God, (Εἰ Υἱὸς εἶ τοῦ Θεοῦ, Ei Huios ei tou Theou)
  • If you are the Son of God: This is the core challenge repeated throughout the temptations. It is not a questioning of Jesus' inherent nature, but a taunt, demanding proof or inviting Jesus to exercise His power independently of the Father’s will and timing. It echoes the recent divine declaration at Jesus' baptism.
• throw Yourself down from here;” (βάλε σεαυτὸν ἐντεῦθεν κάτω·, bale seauton enteuthen katō)
  • Throw Yourself down: A command to act with presumption. It demands an arbitrary, sensational miracle designed to elicit public admiration or force God’s hand, rather than humble reliance on divine providence. This act would demonstrate distrust in God's ordinary working and an abuse of divine power.
  • From here: The emphasis on the specific high point, highlighting the public, dramatic, and perilous nature of the proposed act.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis

• "Then he led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple": This phrase details the deliberate spatial relocation engineered by the tempter. Moving Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem is strategic. It targets not merely Jesus' physical safety but His spiritual obedience and His identity in the center of Jewish religious life. The "pinnacle" amplifies the public spectacle, aiming for a dramatic display of power or presumption, implying that religious display can be used for pride.
• "and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God,": This direct challenge probes Jesus' very identity and purpose. It's a re-framing of the divine declaration at His baptism (Luke 3:22), turning a statement of affirmation into a provocative dare. The "If" suggests doubt or tests the sincerity and implications of His Sonship, implying that being the Son of God means one can act independently or manipulate God's promises for personal gain or display.
• "throw Yourself down from here;": This is the concrete, dangerous, and presumptuous action demanded. It is a direct invitation to test God by engaging in reckless behavior, assuming divine protection (based on the devil's quote from Ps 91 in the subsequent verses) despite it being outside of God's appointed will. It is the epitome of presumption – demanding a miracle rather than humbly trusting God.

Luke 4 9 Bonus section

• Symbolism of the Temple Location: The Temple in Jerusalem was the central place of God's dwelling and worship for Israel. Tempting Jesus there signifies an attempt to corrupt His mission at its spiritual heart. It implies a temptation for Jesus to assume the role of Messiah in a way that caters to public sensationalism and human expectations of a miracle-working king, rather than through humble suffering and sacrifice as the Lamb of God. This site connects to popular Jewish expectations of the Messiah performing dramatic signs or appearing miraculously at the Temple.
• The Nature of Testing God: The devil's challenge to "throw Yourself down" directly violates the Deuteronomic principle (Deut 6:16) that forbids testing God, which Jesus later quotes in Lk 4:12. This concept refers to an attitude of distrust that puts God in a situation where He is required to act, rather than faithfully waiting on His timing and providence. True faith trusts God; it does not dictate terms to Him.
• Sequence in Luke's Gospel: Luke's placement of the Temple temptation last is significant. Unlike Matthew, Luke concludes with this spiritual challenge in the holy city, possibly highlighting the spiritual depth of Jesus' victory, and foreshadowing His ultimate journey to Jerusalem where He would face His passion. This order underscores the triumph over the deepest form of spiritual deception and pride.

Luke 4 9 Commentary

Luke 4:9 marks the third and climactic temptation presented to Jesus by the devil. It represents Satan's most insidious assault, shifting from basic needs and worldly power to an attack on Jesus' spiritual integrity and relationship with God. By positioning Jesus on the Temple's highest point, the devil urges a spectacular, public act that would force God's intervention, seemingly validating Jesus' Sonship through a show of divine power. This temptation exposes Satan's cunning strategy: taking the truth of Jesus' divine identity and twisting God's promises (alluded to by quoting Ps 91:11-12 in the following verses, Lk 4:10-11) to promote pride, presumptuous testing of God, and seeking glory on terms other than God's. Jesus' ability to perfectly resist this temptation hinges on His unwavering commitment to a humble, obedient relationship with the Father, trusting His will implicitly rather than demanding a sign or putting God to the test. This verse underscores that genuine faith does not manipulate God or seek glory outside His ordained path, but walks in obedient trust.