Matthew 4 5

Matthew 4:5 kjv

Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

Matthew 4:5 nkjv

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,

Matthew 4:5 niv

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

Matthew 4:5 esv

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple

Matthew 4:5 nlt

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple,

Matthew 4 verses

Matthew 4 5 Meaning

Matthew 4:5 describes the second temptation of Jesus by the devil. After forty days of fasting in the wilderness, the devil transports Jesus from the wilderness setting to Jerusalem, specifically to the highest point or pinnacle of the sacred Temple. This action sets the stage for a spiritual test that involves misinterpretation of Scripture and presumption upon God's divine protection. The devil seeks to provoke Jesus to demonstrate His divine nature publicly and sensationally, challenging His reliance on the Father's timing and method.

Matthew 4 5 Context

Matthew chapter 4 opens with Jesus, led by the Spirit, entering a forty-day period of fasting and temptation in the wilderness immediately following His baptism and divine affirmation in chapter 3. The narrative sequence in Matthew presents the temptations as a direct confrontation between the Son of God and Satan. The first temptation, concerning Jesus' hunger (turning stones to bread), addressed His personal need and trust. Matthew 4:5 marks a significant shift in setting from the barren wilderness to Jerusalem, the "holy city" and the epicenter of Jewish faith and religious authority. This transition moves the test from a basic physical need to a theological and public challenge concerning Jesus' identity as the Messiah and His reliance on God. This second temptation specifically utilizes the revered Temple site, hinting at Satan's sophisticated strategy of twisting sacred expectations and Scripture to derail Christ's divine mission, a strategy that plays into anticipated Jewish messianic arrivals often linked to dramatic displays in the Temple.

Word Analysis

• Then (Τότε - tote): This Greek adverb denotes a sequential development in the narrative, marking the transition from the first temptation to the second. It indicates that this event follows the prior encounter chronologically.
• the devil (ὁ διάβολος - ho diabolos): Literally "the slanderer" or "accuser." This identifies a personal, malicious, supernatural being, God's ultimate adversary, who actively opposes God's will and seeks to undermine His kingdom. The term implies cunning, deception, and malevolence.
• took Him (παραλαμβάνει αὐτόν - paralambanei auton): This verb means "to take along," "receive," or "take into company." It signifies the devil's agency in transporting Jesus, indicating a forceful or controlling movement, though not implying that Jesus resisted. It highlights the devil's power over physical location.
• to the holy city (εἰς τὴν ἁγίαν πόλιν - eis ten hagian polin): This refers unequivocally to Jerusalem, which was divinely set apart and chosen by God, central to the covenant, and the place of the Temple. Its "holiness" made it a potent setting for a temptation aimed at manipulating divine identity and promises.
• and set Him (καὶ ἔστησεν αὐτὸν - kai estēsen auton): This verb means "to make stand," "place," or "put." It emphasizes the devil's active role in physically positioning Jesus, implying a deliberate act of placement at the specific point of the temptation.
• on the pinnacle (ἐπὶ τὸ πτερύγιον - epi to pterygion): From pterygion, meaning "a little wing," "parapet," or "battlement." In this context, it refers to a very high, prominent architectural feature of the Jerusalem Temple complex, likely the southeast corner of the royal portico, overlooking the Kidron Valley from a tremendous height. It symbolized a visible and dangerous position for a spectacular demonstration.
• of the temple (τοῦ ἱεροῦ - tou hierou): This refers to the entire sacred complex in Jerusalem, not just the inner sanctuary. It was the central place of Jewish worship, sacrifice, and a symbol of God's presence among His people. Its choice highlights the theological and symbolic stakes of the temptation.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then the devil took Him to the holy city": This phrase signals a deliberate and strategic change of venue orchestrated by the devil, moving Jesus to a highly significant spiritual and symbolic location for the next test.
• "and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple": This detailed description pinpoints the exact spot of the temptation, emphasizing its public nature and the dramatic potential for a Messianic display, appealing to a presumed act of God's supernatural intervention from a position of ultimate vulnerability and visibility.

Matthew 4 5 Bonus section

• The placement of this temptation immediately after the first in Matthew underscores a progression: from addressing a personal need (food) to challenging a public display of divine power and faith (Temple). Luke's gospel places the kingdom temptation before the Temple one, but Matthew's order emphasizes the direct confrontation with religious expectation and the correct use of divine authority within the heart of Israel.
• The devil's choice of the Temple is profound; it signifies an attack not just on Jesus' person, but on the very understanding of sacred space and the covenant. By tempting Jesus to abuse a divine promise within the sacred complex, the devil aims to corrupt the meaning of faith and trust in God's provision.
• This temptation is particularly subtle because it is cloaked in Scripture, prefiguring how spiritual attacks often come disguised as pious actions or misinterpretations of God's Word, encouraging presumption rather than genuine trust.

Matthew 4 5 Commentary

In Matthew 4:5, the devil elevates the temptation from a matter of personal sustenance to a challenge of Jesus' messianic identity and His reliance on divine providence. By bringing Jesus to the "holy city" and specifically the Temple's highest point, the devil orchestrates a highly visible and symbolic test. The "pinnacle" served as a dramatic stage, providing an opportunity for Jesus to perform a sensational leap, relying on divine intervention as foretold in Scripture, thereby compelling immediate public recognition of His divine status. However, this act would have been a presumption upon God, an attempt to force God's hand, and a diversion from the humble path of suffering chosen for Him. Jesus' obedience in refusing this test reinforces His perfect trust in the Father and rejection of the world's desire for an outwardly powerful, showy Messiah. He would not achieve His kingdom through manipulating God or spectacular displays but through righteousness, self-emptying, and suffering, a stark contrast to Adam and Israel's failures in testing God.