Luke 4:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Luke also narrates this account, although the order of events differs. It remains uncertain whether Jesus was shown the kingdoms of the earth before being taken to the pinnacle of the temple or whether the sequence was reversed. Nonetheless, it is clear that both events occurred, and there is no dispute regarding this matter. It's worth noting that Luke conveys similar sentiments using different phrasing, provided that it does not obscure the truth. Mark confirms that Jesus was tempted by the devil for forty days and nights, but he does not include the specific exchanges between them. However, he does mention that angels attended to Him, which Luke omits. In contrast, John does not address this temptation narrative at all.

But how can the devil grant authority if, elsewhere, it is stated that all authority comes from God? Is it feasible to serve two masters or to draw power from both? Is there no inconsistency here? Absolutely not. Reflect upon the truth that all things originate from God. The world is not without Him, as it was created through Him; although the world is fashioned by God, its works are corrupt, as it lies engulfed in wickedness. The structure of the world is ordained by God, while its deeds derive from the evil one. Similarly, the framework of governance is instituted by God, yet the misuse of it can stem from the malign one. All authority is ultimately of God, and the existing powers are sanctioned by Him—not merely granted but firmly established. Therefore, to oppose the authority is to stand against God's establishment. Here too, though the devil may claim to impart authority, he cannot refute that this has been permitted to him for a season. The One who established authority allowed it for a while. The malevolence does not lie in the authority itself but in how it is wielded.

If you wish to be free from fear of authority, do good, and you will be commended. Thus, wrongdoing does not stem from authority itself, but from the pursuit of power. Authority is instituted by God, and the one who employs it for righteousness is a servant of God and a minister for your benefit. There is, therefore, no flaw in the office; the failing lies with the one who fills it. The divine order cannot be deemed faulty, but only the actions of those who hold that office.

Let us draw an analogy from the divine to the earthly. When an emperor appoints someone to the respected role of judge, he deserves commendation. If that individual misuses his position, the blame rests not with the emperor but with the appointed judge. Each transgression has its own instigator; it is not the authority itself but rather personal depravity that leads one into sin.

What then is the nature of power and the pursuit of honor? It is commendable if it is bestowed upon you; it is not praiseworthy if you seek it for yourself. Yet, a more profound good exists. One good is found in service to the world, and another in the pursuit of virtue and the quest for knowledge of God, unimpeded by worldly distractions. Although they may be many, there remains but one gift of eternal life. This is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Therefore, the ultimate reward is eternal life, which is a gift from God alone. Let us devote ourselves to serving our Lord God exclusively, that He may bless us abundantly. We must shun everything under the sway of the devil, lest he, as a malicious tyrant, wield his power cruelly against those under his dominion.

Consequently, authority itself is not of the devil; rather, it is susceptible to his schemes. The established order of authority is not flawed, yet the authorities can be led astray by evil. It is noble to seek God, but that very pursuit can bring about risks of misinterpretation and error. If a seeker of God falls into blasphemy due to a flawed understanding, he may wish he had never sought than to have perpetrated sacrilege. However, the fault does not rest solely with the seeker but rather with the pursuit itself; it is the spiritual condition of man that shapes the seeking. If a seeker of God, due to the frailty of the flesh and limited understanding, faces temptations, then how much more vulnerable is one who seeks after worldly aspirations?

Ambition poses even greater threats, luring individuals towards power with cunning and flattery, often leading those who are otherwise virtuous to apostasy. Ambition bestows external honor while simultaneously stripping the seeker from within; in a quest to dominate others, it first ensnares itself. It bends in false humility for honorable recognition and, in striving for elevation, undermines its own integrity, as it compels adherence to corrupt laws, thereby ensnaring itself.

Some might argue that only a villain experiences fear; however, consider this: the sailor navigating the open seas harbors deeper trepidation, while one standing securely on land fears little shipwreck. The moment he ventures into tumultuous waters, he faces profound hazards. Therefore, shun the turbulent seas of this present age, and you shall fear no disaster!

Though strong winds may sway the treetops, they remain steadfast due to their deep roots; similarly, while storms may threaten vessels on the sea, not all are met with destruction, even as peril looms. No one escapes the adverse blows of evil spirits, be it on sandy shores or amid turbulent waters, as even seasoned ships can be wrecked by fierce winds.

This serves as a moral tale. In the sacramental sense, observe how the chains of ancient transgressions are dismantled in reverse order: first the snares of gluttony are broken, then the traps of frivolity, and lastly, the burdens of ambition. Adam fell into sin through the temptation of food, and upon approaching the forbidden fruit lightly, he succumbed to foolish ambition, longing to be like God. Thus, the Lord first shattered the nets of this ancestral sin, empowering us to overcome transgression through His Scriptures, breaking free from the yoke of bondage.

The Lord Jesus did not covet what was rightfully His; therefore, why do you long for that which is not yours? The Creator of all things dismissed worldly glory and embraced want; why, then, are you disgruntled with your birthright and yearn for that which is not entitled to you? Why strive for what can only be enjoyed fleetingly? Guard against deception! For man's fall, the devil shakes the world with cunning lies, employing every trick of this epoch, prompting you to be all the more vigilant against his appealing temptations. It was not mere food that led Eve astray; she did not falter due to forgetting divine commands but was instead duped by the enticing promise of greatness. Had she sought only to honor God, she would not have pursued erroneous desires. You possess the means to deflect this peril—serve God alone, for true devotion to Him is devoid of ambition.

First, to which elevated mountain did the devil escort Christ? Some identify it as Zion, others as Horeb, and still others assert it to be Tabor, while tradition holds that it is Mount Quarantana, where the Lord underwent fasting. Since the Gospel writers do not specify the exact location of the mountain, we refrain from making definitive claims, noting that tradition may provide more reliable insight than personal interpretations.

Another inquiry arises: how could the devil present to Christ all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor in such an instant? It is widely suggested that the devil, akin to a master artist, spectrally exhibited these kingdoms to Christ in an ethereal manner. Yet this remains a mere speculation that contributes little clarity. Is such conjecture necessary? As Keil rightly notes, the two figures involved here—Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, who possessed all divine attributes in His human nature, and the devil, a being of a higher spirit—allow for expressions of life that are beyond our comprehension and understanding, though we cannot deny their existence. Similarly, the Western theologian Trench argues that this optical illusion is utterly unimaginable and cannot align with the Church's understanding of its Divine Head. Trench asserts emphatically that it is impossible for Him to be manipulated or led into temptation by any spirit of deceit, great or small. Hence, it seems reasonable to conclude that the devil did indeed present Christ with a real vision of all the kingdoms of the world, which the Lord observed with His divine insight in an instant.

However, Christ's mission was to establish the kingdom of God on earth, one that is pure, holy, and spiritual (John 18:36), where sin and the sinful have no place (John 12:31), using spiritual means that stand far removed from mere illusions of immediate transformation. His method involved enlightening humanity with truth, leading by His own example, and achieving redemption through His suffering and death. This was the divine plan, foreordained throughout eternity, through which Christ would attain His glory (Luke 24:26) and be granted all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). The Lord firmly rejected the tempter's offer and asserted the fundamental principle of His kingdom: "Get behind Me, Satan, for it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone’” (Deuteronomy 6:13). The term Satan, derived from Hebrew meaning adversary or enemy, is frequently associated with wicked spirits (1 Chronicles 21:1; Psalm 108:6; Job 1:6, 8; 2:1; Zechariah 3:1, 2), underscoring that the Lord's tempter is the leader of all malevolent spirits (Revelation 12:7, 9; Matthew 12:24).