Luke 4:5 · Bible study
Luke 4:5 Commentary: The Devil's Instant Vision of Kingdoms
Greek · 6 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the moment when Satan showed Jesus all the world's kingdoms in an instant. What does this temptation reveal about power and worship?
Research Summary
- Meaning: The devil offers Jesus a shortcut to world dominion in exchange for worship, which Jesus rejects.
- Key words: στίγμῃ (a dot/point of time), οἰκουμένης (inhabited world), βασιλείας (kingdoms).
- Main debate: Was this a literal ascent to a mountain or an instantaneous visionary experience?
- Theological theme: The temptation to seize power by bowing to evil versus trusting God's timing and path.
- Best use: Preaching on resisting shortcuts, the nature of true worship, and the limited authority of evil.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And the Devil having brought him up to an high mountain, shewed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And [the devil], leading him up into a high mountain, shewed him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And the devil led him into a high mountain and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y le llevó el diablo á un alto monte, y le mostró en un momento de tiempo todos los reinos de la tierra.
E o diabo o levou a um lugar alto, e lhe mostrou todos os reinos do mundo num instante.
Le diable, l’ ayant élevé, lui montra en un instant tous les royaumes de la terre,
Und der Teufel führte ihn auf einen hohen Berg und zeigte ihm alle Reiche der ganzen Welt in einem Augenblick
En als Hem de duivel geleid had op een hogen berg, toonde hij Hem al de koninkrijken der wereld, in een ogenblik tijds.
E il diavolo, menatolo in alto, gli mostrò in un attimo tutti i regni del mondo e gli disse:
I wwiódł go dyjabeł na górę wysoką, i pokazał mu wszystkie królestwa świata we mgnieniu oka.
И, возведя Его на высокую гору, диавол показал Ему все царства вселенной во мгновение времени,
魔鬼又 領 他上了高山， 霎時間 把天下 的萬 國 都指 給他看，
And he took him up and let him see all the kingdoms of the earth in a minute of time.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 4:5
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions affirm that in this verse the devil presents Jesus with an offer of all worldly authority, demanding worship in return. Cambridge Bible notes the uniqueness of Luke's phrase 'in a moment of time' (στιγμῇ χρόνου), a term appearing only here in the New Testament, akin to 'the twinkling of an eye' (1 Cor 15:52). Gill describes the vision as a 'mere phantasm,' a supernatural display rather than a literal journey, since no mountain could reveal every kingdom. Vincent observes that στιγμή literally means 'a dot', a point of time so brief it collapses space into vision. The devil's claim that the kingdoms 'have been delivered to me' (v.6) is, according to Poole, a lie; his power is not absolute but permitted by God. Jesus' response, quoting Deuteronomy, declares exclusive worship of God the only proper answer. The temptation's placement differs in Luke from Matthew's sequence, but the core meaning stands: Christ refuses the shortcut of political power and chooses the path of the cross.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal physical ascent: Matthew also describes a high mountain (4:8) and uses sequential markers (then, again) suggesting real movement.
- Visionary/phantasm view: Gill argues no mountain could show all kingdoms; therefore it was a deceptive sight. The phrase 'in a moment' supports instantaneous, supernatural vision.
What is clear: The devil offered Jesus all worldly authority in exchange for worship, and Jesus refused, quoting Scripture to affirm exclusive allegiance to God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Order of temptations | Both Matthew and Luke record three temptations of Christ. | Matthew places the mountain temptation last; Luke places it second. Some scholars (Cambridge, Gill) prefer Matthew's sequence as likely more original, while others argue Luke's order carries theological weight. |
| Nature of the vision | The devil showed Jesus the kingdoms of the world. | Some interpret this as a real physical ascent to a high mountain (literal reading). Others, like Gill, argue it was a phantasm or supernatural vision because no earthly mountain could provide such a view. |
| Devil's authority over kingdoms | The devil claims authority over the kingdoms and Jesus does not directly refute the claim. | Poole and others see the authority as delegated and limited by God; the devil operates only on a leash. Others hold that the claim is a lie or an exaggeration intended to deceive. |
| Meaning of 'in a moment' | The phrase indicates suddenness. | Some see it as emphasizing the supernatural speed of the vision (instantaneous), while others think it simply means a brief time for a real, if rapid, journey to a high place. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The temptation narratives in Matthew and Luke draw on shared tradition but differ in order. Luke places the mountain temptation second, while Matthew makes it the third and climactic offer. Cambridge Bible suggests Luke may have aimed to end with the more subtle temptation of testing God at the temple pinnacle. The indefinite setting, 'a high mountain', is not named, though Gill speculates about Lebanon or Pisgah. The term translated 'world' here, οἰκουμένης, typically refers to the inhabited earth or, more narrowly, the Roman empire (as in Luke 2:1). Yet the devil's claim to show 'all the kingdoms' and 'their glory' (Matthew's addition) suggests a universal offer. The phrase 'in a moment of time' (στιγμῇ χρόνου) is unique to Luke. Vincent's Word Studies notes that στιγμή means a 'dot' or 'point,' a term used only here in the New Testament. This instantaneity underlines the supernatural character of the vision, whether a real ascent or a mental representation, the temptation is compressed into a single, overwhelming moment. The devil's claim that the kingdoms 'have been delivered to me' (Luke 4:6) reflects a strand of early Christian belief that the present age is under the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19). Poole insists this authority is delegated and limited: the devil could not touch Job without permission. The high mountain setting itself evokes the biblical pattern of mountaintop revelations, Moses on Pisgah, Satan in the wilderness, but here it becomes the stage for a counterfeit worship.
Textual Notes
The commentaries and critical editions consulted for this study note no significant textual variants for Luke 4:5. The phrase 'in a moment of time' is unique to Luke's account, but its presence in the manuscript tradition is stable.
Reception History
Early church fathers such as Ambrose preferred Matthew's order of temptations even when commenting on Luke's Gospel. Milton's Paradise Regained follows Luke's sequence, giving the mountain temptation a central place. Across church history, this verse has been central to Lenten meditations on renouncing worldly power and has been read as a warning that the allure of immediate authority can only be met with exclusive worship of God. The phrase 'in a moment of time' has also been linked to the transience of earthly glory, echoed in hymns that contrast the brief flash of the world's kingdoms with the eternal reign of God.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The Sudden Spread of the Offer, The devil shows all kingdoms "in a moment" (στιγμῇ χρόνου). This is not a leisurely tour. It is a single, overwhelming presentation of worldly power, compressed into an instant. Commentators see here either a supernatural vision (Gill) or a real ascent that is left deliberately vague (Cambridge). Either way, the speed mirrors the way sin often presents its greatest allure in a flash.
- The Condition Behind the Promise, The devil does not hide the cost: "If you worship me, it will all be yours" (v.7). The kingdoms are his to give (he claims), but only on his terms. The temptation is not just to possess power, but to obtain it through the wrong means, by bending the knee to the wrong master.
- The Anchor of Worship, Jesus answers with words from Deuteronomy 6:13: "You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only." He does not debate the devil's claims to authority; he simply redirects all worship to the one who alone deserves it. In doing so, he models the fundamental choice of the Christian life: whom will you serve?
Five-Point Outline
- Setting: After forty days of fasting, Jesus is physically weak but spiritually attuned.
- Location: A high mountain (unnamed, but evoking mountaintop revelations).
- Vision: "All the kingdoms of the world", universal scope of the offer.
- Speed: "In a moment of time", the urgency and dazzle of the temptation.
- Response: Jesus quotes Scripture, refuses the shortcut, and chooses the cross.
Illustration Hooks
- The momentary flash of an advertisement that promises immediate success, a business opportunity that asks you to cut corners; the allure is real but the price is hidden.
- The experience of being shown everything you ever wanted in a single job offer, relationship, or lifestyle change, only to realize later that accepting it would require compromising your core values.
- A child offered a treat if they "just say thank you" to someone they don't like, the principle of giving homage for reward, writ large.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Did this actually happen physically, or was it a vision? (Both views exist among faithful readers.)
- If the devil really has authority over the kingdoms of the world, what does that mean for politics and our daily lives?
- How do I recognize when I am being offered something good in exchange for something essential, like my worship or loyalty to God?
Leading a Discussion
This verse presents a pivotal moment in Jesus' temptation. The devil offers him all the kingdoms of the world, instantly, if he will worship. This challenges us to think about where our own allegiance lies when power and reward are on the line.
Discussion Questions
- Read Luke 4:1-13. How does the mountain temptation fit into the flow of the three tests?
- The verse says the devil showed Jesus "all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time." Do you think this was a literal sight or a vision? Why might it matter?
- What does the devil's claim that the kingdoms "have been delivered to me" (v.6) suggest about his role in the world?
- Jesus' answer comes from Deuteronomy. Why do you think he chose that particular Scripture?
- This temptation asks Jesus to take a shortcut to power. Where in your own life are you tempted to take a shortcut that requires a compromise of worship or integrity?
- How does Jesus' example here shape how you think about resisting temptation?
- In what ways can we, as a church, help each other remember that only God deserves our ultimate allegiance?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Job 20:5 | that the triumphing of the wicked is short, the joy of the godless but for a moment? |
| Psalms 73:19 | How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors. |
| Matthew 4:8 | Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. |
| Matthew 24:14 | This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. |
| Mark 4:8 | Others fell into the good ground and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some produced thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much.” |
| Mark 4:9 | He said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.” |
| I Corinthians 7:31 | and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away. |
| I Corinthians 15:52 | in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
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What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights that Luke places the temptation to spiritual pride last, considering it the subtlest and most dangerous. He notes the phrase "in a moment" means an instantaneous vision, not a journey. While the order likely follows Matthew, the commentator emphasizes that spiritual crises compress eternity into an hour, blurring precise sequence.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note draws attention to the phrase "in the twinkling of an eye," reading it as evidence that the devil's display was an illusory vision rather than a genuine panoramic view. The emphasis falls on the deceptive speed and unreality of the offer, not on any actual geography.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues that the devil did not grant Jesus a real, physical view of all earthly kingdoms from a mountain, since no mountain could offer such a prospect. Instead, he presented this as a mere optical illusion, a deceptive phantasm meant to impose on Christ.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees Christ's temptation as the direct fulfillment of the promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent's head. Where Adam fell by one temptation, Christ conquers the tempter through all his attacks, making an immediate recovery of what was lost and turning the tide of the battle.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent observes that the Greek word behind "moment