Luke 4:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

a deep abyss, fire and brimstone, and wood stacked in order; the wrath of the Lord is as an abyss burning with brimstone.’ How can you, whose inheritance is an unquenchable fire, make promises to the King concerning what is His? Did you think to have Him as your worshipper, the one before whom all creation quakes, and before whom the seraphim and all celestial beings sing His praises?

What is clear is that these events did transpire, and there is no debate regarding their significance. It is important to acknowledge that Luke conveys similar concepts with different phrasing, provided it does not compromise the truth. Mark records that Jesus was tempted by the devil for forty days and nights but does not detail the dialogue between them. However, he does mention that angels attended to Him, while Luke omits this detail. Conversely, John does not address this temptation at all.

The world is sustained by God, for it came into being through Him (John 1:10); yet, despite being created by God, the actions within the world are tainted by evil, as the world remains enveloped in wickedness (1 John 5:19). The structure of the world originates from God, but its wicked deeds arise from the evil one. Similarly, governmental order is established by God, yet the authority exercised may stem from malevolent sources. For there is no power that is not from God; the governing authorities are instituted by Him—not merely delegated, but firmly established—and anyone who resists authority stands against God's decree (Rom. 13:1-2). Thus, while the devil may claim to grant authority, he does not deny that it is permitted to him for a season. The very one who instituted authority has allowed it for a limited time. Moreover, it is not the authority itself that is wicked, but rather how it is wielded. If you wish to be unafraid of authority, do good, and it will commend you (Rom. 13:3). Therefore, evil does not arise from authority, but from the pursuit of power. Authority is ordained by God, and those who employ it rightly are servants of God—His ministers for your benefit (Rom. 13:4). Thus, if there is any fault, it lies not in the role itself but with the individual entrusted with it, for God’s order cannot be flawed, only one’s actions within it. Let us compare the heavenly to the earthly. A ruler who appoints someone to a respected judgeship deserves commendation. If that judge acts unjustly, the blame does not fall on the ruler but on the judge chosen by him. Each wrongdoing stems from its own culprit; it is not the power but a person’s own moral failing that leads to crime.

Is it right to seek power and desire honor? It is commendable if bestowed upon you, yet not commendable if sought after. There is yet another goodness: service within the world and the pursuit of virtue, aiming for the knowledge of God without distraction. While there are many types of blessings, there exists only one eternal life. This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent (John 17:3). Thus, the supreme reward is eternal life, which only God can confer. Let us pray and serve our Lord and God alone (cf. Lk. 4:8, Deut. 6:13) so that He may bestow upon us the richest rewards! Let us shun everything under the influence of the devil, lest he, as a malicious tyrant, wield his cruel power against those in his sway. Therefore, while power itself is not of the devil, it remains susceptible to his cunning. It is not because the divine order of authority is corrupt that authorities yield to evil; the pursuit of God is noble, but the search can lead to missteps. Should a seeker fall into heresy from erroneous interpretation, it would have been better for them not to have sought than to have committed sacrilege. Ultimately, it is not the seeker at fault, but rather the disposition of the heart that leads them astray. If a seeker of God is tempted by the frailty of flesh and limited understanding, how much more so are those who seek worldly gain? Ambition holds even greater peril, drawing individuals toward power through manipulation and flattery, often leading to apostasy for those who do not indulge in vices, who shun excess and greed. Ambition seeks external accolades while internally corrupting, becoming enslaved even as it desires to dominate others. To gain recognition, it submits in subservience, desiring elevation whilst debasing itself, for it lacks the spirit of true strength; it issues commands only to bind its own will.

Some may argue that fear is the companion only of the wicked; yet even one aboard a ship upon tumultuous seas experiences fear more acutely, while standing firm on land is free from the dread of shipwreck. One may boldly venture into the depths of the ocean, exposing themselves to peril. Therefore, keep away from the turbulent waters of this world, and you will not fear calamity! Even amidst the fierce gusts that buffet treetops, they remain standing, their roots anchored deep; and while storms rage on the waters, they do not spell doom for all, but present a threat to many. Likewise, no one can entirely escape the threats posed by evil spirits (cf. Eph. 6:12), whether on shifting sands or in open waters, and often even the mightiest vessels succumb to nature’s fury (cf. Ps. 47:8).

In a moral interpretation, consider how the chains of ancient sinfulness are dismantled sequentially: first the snares of gluttony are broken, next the frivolities of levity, and lastly the aspirations of ambition. Adam was tempted by food, and when he carelessly approached the forbidden fruit, he fell into the folly of ambition, wishing to be like God (see Genesis 3:5). Thus, the Lord first shattered the chains of this original transgression, teaching us to triumph over sin through Scripture, freeing ourselves from bondage.

The Lord Jesus did not envy what was rightfully His; why then should you covet that which is not meant for you? The Creator of all shunned worldly glory and embraced humility; why are you discontent with your birthright, desiring what is not justly yours? Beware of ephemeral pursuits, for the devil stirs the globe with his deceit, employing all the snares of this age, compelling us to be ever vigilant against his allure. It was not merely food that led Eve astray, nor was it forgetfulness of divine edicts that brought about her downfall, but rather the deceitful longing for the promised glory (see Genesis 3:5). Had she sought only to honor God, she would not have chased after falsehoods. Thus, you possess the means to counter this temptation—serve God alone (cf. Lk. 4:8), as devotion to Him is devoid of ambition.

In this context, the envisioned kingdom of the Messiah, as understood by many contemporary Jews, would indeed reflect the type of reign the tempter aimed to establish—one devoid of the battle against sin and suffering, and one that could be initiated without any delay. It would require capitulation to the aspirations of a people driven by unbridled desires, and such a kingdom was poised for establishment. The Jewish people and their leaders would readily support a Messiah of this nature.

This is the awaited Messiah of the Jews. Behold, all the kingdoms of the earth are at Your feet. Look and assess: to whom does this world submit, to whom does it yield? To the Creator or to me? Who governs it? Some among mankind have turned away from God, while others have yet to come to know Him; yet all honor me, fulfill my desires, and are bound to my will. Here is all that I possess; here is my dominion! Yet I am willing to share this authority with You; I am prepared to offer You all the kingdoms of the earth if You will serve not God but me. You would then be the awaited Messiah, the world's Lord, the magnificent King of Israel! Achieving this is so simple for You! Just submit to me, join forces with me, give me Your worship—worship me! Then all of this, every kingdom in existence, will be Yours! Simply obey me! Prostrate Yourself! Prostrate Yourself!" In this final temptation, the adversary claimed a dominion over the world and the cosmos—a sovereignty that is solely God's. The sequence of temptations varies in the accounts of Matthew and Luke. Matthew places the temptation atop the temple in second position, and the temptation on the mountain (of the kingdoms of the world) in third; whereas Luke has the mountain temptation as second and the temple temptation as third.

Through spiritual means—not through the illusion of instant transformation—Christ aimed to enlighten humanity with the truth, lead by His example, and redeem through His own suffering and death. This was the path sealed from eternity through which Christ would achieve His glory and gain all authority in heaven and on earth. The Lord firmly rebuffed the tempter’s offer, declaring the fundamental principle of His kingdom: “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him alone.” The term Satan, meaning adversary in Hebrew and often associated with evil spirits, indicates that the tempter was the leader of all malevolent forces.