Luke 4:6 · Bible study
Luke 4:6 Commentary: Satan's Claim of Worldly Authority
Greek · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
An analysis of the devil's claim that worldly authority has been delivered to him, and how this relates to God's ultimate sovereignty.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Satan claims worldly authority has been entrusted to him and offers it to Jesus in exchange for worship, a deceptive half-truth.
- Key words: ἐξουσία (authority), παραδέδοται (has been delivered/entrusted), δόξα (glory).
- Main debate: Does Satan hold power by delegation from God or by usurpation? Both views affirm his limitations.
- Theological theme: God’s ultimate sovereignty even over evil; exclusive worship owed to God alone.
- Best use: Teaching on temptation, the nature of worldly power, and the importance of Scripture as a defense.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.
WEB World English Bible 2000
The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I want.
KJV King James Version 1769
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and the Devil said to him, `To thee I will give all this authority, and their glory, because to me it hath been delivered, and to whomsoever I will, I do give it;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And the devil said to him, I will give thee all this power, and their glory; for it is given up to me, and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And he said to him: To thee will I give all this power and the glory of them. For to me they are delivered: and to whom I will, I give them.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y le dijo el diablo: A ti te daré toda esta potestad, y la gloria de ellos; porque á mí es entregada, y á quien quiero la doy:
E o diabo lhe disse: Darei a ti todo este poder e sua glória; pois a mim foram entregues, e os dou a quem quero.
et lui dit: Je te donnerai toute cette puissance, et la gloire de ces royaumes; car elle m’ a été donnée, et je la donne à qui je veux.
und sprach zu ihm: Alle diese Macht will ich dir geben und ihre Herrlichkeit; denn sie ist mir übergeben, und ich gebe sie, welchem ich will.
En de duivel zeide tot Hem: Ik zal U al deze macht, en de heerlijkheid derzelver koninkrijken geven; want zij is mij overgegeven, en ik geef ze, wien ik ook wil;
Ti darò tutta quanta questa potenza e la gloria di questi regni; perch’essa mi è stata data, e la do a chi voglio.
I rzekł mu dyjabeł: Dam ci tę wszystkę moc i sławę ich; bo mi jest dana, a komu chcę, dawam ją.
и сказал Ему диавол: Тебе дам власть над всеми сими царствами и славу их, ибо она предана мне, и я, кому хочу, даю ее;
對他 說：「這 一切 權柄、 榮華，我都要給 你，因為 這原是交付 我的， 我願意 給誰 就給 誰。
And the Evil One said, I will give you authority over all these, and the glory of them, for it has been given to me, and I give it to anyone at my pleasure.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 4:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Satan's claim both discloses and distorts the truth. The verb παραδέδοται (paradedotai, “it has been delivered”) is perfect passive, indicating a completed action with ongoing effect. The Cambridge Bible notes this is “even stronger” than a simple delivery, something “entrusted” to him. Yet commentators diverge on exactly how this authority was transferred. Gill and Wesley stress that Satan holds power only by usurpation and God’s permission, not by any rightful appointment. Cambridge and Lange allow that God has entrusted a measure of worldly authority to the devil, which coheres with New Testament titles like “the prince of this world” (John 12:31). All affirm, however, that his claim to give it “to whomsoever I will” is an exaggeration. Vincent points to the emphatic pronouns (σοί … ἐμοί), showing how Satan frames himself as the rightful grantor. Jesus’ refusal to bow confirms worship belongs to God alone and not to any intermediary, however powerful.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Usurpation/permission view: Satan's power is by usurpation and only by God's permission, not by rightful delegation (Gill, Wesley, citing Job 1–2).
- Entrusted/delimited view: God has entrusted a measure of worldly authority to Satan for a time, consistent with titles like 'prince of this world' (Cambridge, Lange, citing John 12:31; Eph 2:2).
What is clear: God is ultimately sovereign over all, including Satan; the devil cannot act independently of God's permission, and worship belongs to God alone.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Satan's authority over the world | Satan's power is real but limited; he is not independent of God. | Some (Gill, Wesley) see it as wholly usurped and only permitted; others (Cambridge, Lange) see it as a measure of authority actually entrusted by God for a time. |
| Meaning of 'it has been delivered to me' | The perfect passive verb indicates an action with present results; the origin of the deliverance is God. | Whether this deliverance refers to a specific event (e.g., the fall of Adam) or ongoing divine permission is not specified by the text. |
| Satan's claim to give authority to whomever he wishes | This is an exaggeration or outright lie; God ultimately determines rulers (Rom 13:1). | How much influence Satan actually has on worldly politics is debated; some emphasize permission, others his deceptive skill. |
| Jesus' response and its implications | Jesus refuses the offer and cites Scripture to affirm exclusive worship of God. | Christians across traditions agree on this; few dispute the meaning of the response itself. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The temptation narrative in Luke presents Jesus recapitulating Israel’s testing in the wilderness, but here the focus is on dominion. After Israel failed to trust God for their inheritance, Jesus succeeds where they fell. The mountain from which Satan shows “all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” (v.5) echoes Daniel’s vision of worldly empires given to the Son of Man (Dan 7:13-14). Satan offers Jesus the same kingdoms, but by a short path, bypassing the cross.
Jewish background helps clarify the claim. The Cambridge Bible notes that some Rabbis called Satan “Lord of this age” (sar ha‘olam) and even “another God,” but the verse itself “excludes all Manicheeism.” In other words, the devil is not an equal power to God. His authority, however real, is derived and limited. The New Testament consistently describes him as “the prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30) and “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2), but never as autonomous. The Book of Revelation shows the dragon giving his power to the beast (Rev 13:2), mirroring Satan’s claim here.
In the Greco-Roman world, the kingdoms of the earth were largely under the shadow of Roman imperial rule, which claimed sovereignty. By this temptation, Satan offers political power on his own terms, an offer Jesus, the true King, rejects. The moment reveals that worldly authority, when detached from God’s purposes, is ultimately a facade.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Luke 4:6. The reading is stable across major manuscripts.
Reception History
Church history shows this verse often considered in the context of Christ’s temptation. Early church fathers such as Ambrose preferred Matthew’s ordering of the temptations (as in the Cambridge Bible note), but Luke’s account drew attention to the devil’s claim of authority. The Rabbinical idea of Satan as “Lord of this age” (mentioned by Cambridge) was countered by Christian theologians who saw the verse as excluding any dualism that would make evil equal to God. In later centuries, the verse was used in debates about the extent of demonic influence on earthly governments, with Reformers like Calvin insisting that even Satan’s power is only by God’s permission. The broad consensus across traditions is that the passage upholds God’s sovereignty and the call to worship Him alone.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The devil claims authority over the world. He says it has been “delivered” to him. This echoes his role as tempter and deceiver from the beginning. He presents himself as a legitimate ruler, but the biblical witness shows his power is always under God’s limitation (Job 1, 2; Mark 5:1-13).
- The devil’s claim is both true and false. True, in that worldly kingdoms often operate in rebellion against God, and evil has real influence. False, in that Satan is not the ultimate owner or disposer of authority. He can only do what God permits.
- The proper response is worship of God alone. Jesus answers with Deuteronomy 6:13: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.” This is the decisive pattern for every believer facing temptations of power, status, or expediency.
Five-point outline
- Setting the scene: Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness, hungry after forty days. The devil approaches with a series of escalating temptations.
- The devil’s offer: All the kingdoms of the world and their glory, offered on a condition of worship. He claims to have the authority to give them.
- The devil’s claim examined: παραδέδοται suggests a handover, but to whom? The devil implies God gave him authority; Scripture elsewhere describes his rule as usurped and temporary (Luke 10:18; Col 2:15).
- Jesus’ refusal: He does not debate the extent of the devil’s power. He simply reaffirms exclusive allegiance to God, the only proper response when temptation targets our loyalties.
- The victory sustained: The devil departs “until a convenient season” (4:13). The battle is ongoing, but Jesus has shown the way of endurance through the Word.
Illustration hooks
- A job offer that promises wealth and influence but requires compromise on core ethical principles. The inner question: “What will I bow to?”
- A political candidate approached by a powerful lobby: “Support our agenda and we will help you win.” The cost of such an alliance.
- A student offered a shortcut to success through dishonesty, told “everyone does it.” The real victory is refusing to trade integrity for gain.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does the devil really have power to give people success, or is that just a deception?
- How can we tell whether an opportunity comes from God or from a temptation?
- When the world seems to reward evil, does God still rule?
Leading a Discussion
This verse challenges us to think critically about power and loyalty. The devil offers Jesus the world on a silver platter, but the price is worship. In small groups, work through the passage together to understand what’s at stake.
Discussion questions
- Read Luke 4:1-13. What do you notice about how each temptation is structured? What does the devil promise, and what does Jesus say in response?
- In verse 6, the devil claims the world’s authority “has been delivered to me.” Based on the cross-references (John 12:31; Eph 2:2), what aspect of his claim seems true, and what is exaggerated or false?
- Why do you think Jesus does not directly challenge Satan’s claim about authority? Instead, he quotes Scripture. What does that teach us about handling temptation?
- The Greek verb παραδέδοται (“it has been delivered”) is passive. Who do you think the ultimate agent is? How does this affect how we understand God’s sovereignty over evil?
- How does this passage help you differentiate between an opportunity that comes from God and a temptation that mimics God’s blessing?
- Think of a situation where you have been tempted to compromise loyalty for gain. How did you, or how could you, respond as Jesus did?
- What does it mean practically to “worship the Lord your God and serve him only” when faced with decisions about career, money, or status?
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)
| Esther 5:11 | Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, the multitude of his children, all the things in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. |
| Isaiah 5:14 | Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, and opened its mouth without measure; and their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it. |
| Isaiah 23:9 | Yahweh of Armies has planned it, to stain the pride of all glory, to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. |
| John 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. |
| John 12:31 | Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. |
| John 14:30 | I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. |
| II Corinthians 11:14 | And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. |
| Ephesians 2:2 | in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. |
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
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes that in the original Greek, Satan says his power and glory have been entrusted to him, not self-derived. This admission from the devil himself excludes any dualistic view that treats him as an independent evil god. His boastful claim to give authority as he pleases is also the exaggeration of the father of lies.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And the deuill saide vnto him, All this power will I giue thee, and the glory of those kingdomes: for that is deliuered to mee: and to whomsoeuer I will, I giue it.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill points out that the devil's boast contains a double lie: he claims God transferred the world's kingdoms to him, but he actually holds power only by usurpation and permission, not by divine appointment. Giving kingdoms to whomever he wishes is a prerogative that belongs to God alone.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the temptations were neither a literal bodily encounter with Satan nor a mere parable, but a real yet invisible spiritual conflict. The devil worked directly on Jesus' inner consciousness, and Jesus instantly repelled these thoughts with Scripture, preserving both His true humanity and sinlessness. This view keeps the historical fact while avoiding absurdities.
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 highlights the emphatic positioning of the pronouns in this temptation exchange, where the tempter first stresses "to me" and then "to thee." He also notes that Luke expands on Matthew's account, adding details that make the contrast sharper.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley draws a sharp contrast between God and Satan in the matter of human rulers. God alone sets up and removes kings by His own will, not Satan. Satan can only cause upheavals when God permits it, but the power to give or take authority belongs solely to God.