Luk 4:5-8 | RWP | e4.org | The world ( της οικουμενης ). The inhabited world. In it is του κοσμου . In a moment of time ( εν στιγμη χρονου ). Only in Luke and the word στιγμη nowhere else in the N.T. (from στιζω , to prick, or puncture), a point or dot. In Demosthenes, Aristotle, Plutarch. Like our "second" of time or tick of the clock. This panorama of all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them in a moment of time was mental, a great feat of the imagination (a mental satanic "movie" performance), but this fact in no way discredits the idea of the actual visible appearance of Satan also. This second temptation in Luke is the third in Matthew's order. Luke's order is geographical (wilderness, mountain, Jerusalem). Matthew's is climacteric (hunger, nervous dread, ambition). There is a climax in Luke's order also (sense, man, God). There is no way to tell the actual order.

‏ Luke 4:5-8

The world ( της οικουμενης ). The inhabited world. In Mt 4:8 it is του κοσμου.

In a moment of time ( εν στιγμη χρονου ). Only in Luke and the word στιγμη nowhere else in the N.T. (from στιζω, to prick, or puncture), a point or dot. In Demosthenes, Aristotle, Plutarch. Like our "second" of time or tick of the clock. This panorama of all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them in a moment of time was mental, a great feat of the imagination (a mental satanic "movie" performance), but this fact in no way discredits the idea of the actual visible appearance of Satan also. This second temptation in Luke is the third in Matthew's order. Luke's order is geographical (wilderness, mountain, Jerusalem). Matthew's is climacteric (hunger, nervous dread, ambition). There is a climax in Luke's order also (sense, man, God). There is no way to tell the actual order.

All this authority ( την εξουσιαν ταυτην απασαν ). Mt 4:9 has "all these things." Luke's report is more specific.

And the glory of them ( κα την δοξαν αυτων ). Mt 4:8 has this in the statement of what the devil did, not what he said.

For it hath been delivered unto me ( οτ εμο παραδεδοτα ). Perfect passive indicative. Satan here claims possession of world power and Jesus does not deny it. It may be due to man's sin and by God's permission. Jesus calls Satan the ruler of this world (Joh 12:31; 14:30; 16:11).

To whomsoever I will ( ο αν θελω ). Present subjunctive with αν in an indefinite relative sentence. This audacious claim, if allowed, makes one wonder whether some of the world rulers are not, consciously or unconsciously, agents of the devil. In several American cities there has been proven a definite compact between the police and the underworld of crime. But the tone of Satan here is one of superiority to Jesus in world power. He offers him a share in it on one condition.

Wilt worship before me ( προσκυνησηις ενωπιον εμου ). Mt 4:9 has it more bluntly "worship me." That is what it really comes to, though in Luke the matter is more delicately put. It is a condition of the third class ( εαν and the subjunctive). Luke has it "thou therefore if" ( συ ουν εαν ), in a very emphatic and subtle way. It is the ingressive aorist ( προσκυνησηις ), just bow the knee once up here in my presence. The temptation was for Jesus to admit Satan's authority by this act of prostration (fall down and worship), a recognition of authority rather than of personal merit.

It shall all be thine ( εστα σου πασα ). Satan offers to turn over all the keys of world power to Jesus. It was a tremendous grand-stand play, but Jesus saw at once that in that case he would be the agent of Satan in the rule of the world by bargain and graft instead of the Son of God by nature and world ruler by conquest over Satan. The heart of Satan's program is here laid bare. Jesus here rejected the Jewish idea of the Messiah as an earthly ruler merely. "He rejects Satan as an ally, and thereby has him as an implacable enemy" (Plummer.)

Thou shalt worship ( προσκυνησεις ). Satan used this verb to Jesus who turns it against him by the quotation from De 6:13. Jesus clearly perceived that one could not worship both Satan and God. He had to choose whom he would serve. Luke does not give the words, "Get thee hence, Satan" (Mt 4:10), for he has another temptation to narrate.