Matthew 4:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

It should come as no surprise that the adversary, when addressing Christ, vacillates between extremes. Much like a wounded combatant who is bleeding profusely and frantically moves about, the devil, having already taken significant hits, begins to utter whatever thoughts come to him, thus launching a third assault.

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See Matthew 4:9.

Some interpret the great mountain as the allure of wealth, which the adversary attempts to tempt Jesus with; however, they are mistaken. The evil one approached Him with sensual enticement, yet the Lord remained undistracted, rejecting the offer. He displayed before Him all the kingdoms of the world in a vision from the mountain, saying, “All these things I will give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship Me.”

One who can withstand the temptations of the flesh might still be ensnared by the empty yearning for worldly power. Consequently, all the kingdoms of the earth were presented to him, along with the promise, "All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me." In response, he stated, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve" (Matthew 4:9-10). In this way, arrogance was subdued.

The splendor of this world, which is destined to fade alongside the world itself, is revealed on the mountain and through pride. However, the Lord chooses to descend into humility and the lowly places, so that He might triumph over the adversary through His humbleness. In response, the devil quickly seeks to take Him back to the mountains, hoping that others might experience the same downfall he once faced, in alignment with the apostolic warning: Lest he should become proud and fall into condemnation with the devil, 1 Tim. 3:6.

There is no need to mention the name of the mountain; it would serve no purpose. At the same time, after being outwitted in his second attempt, the adversary readies himself for the third, which is greed, reserved for the end as the most challenging. And he took Him up to an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him, for a brief moment, as Luke noted (Luke 4:5), the various regions of the universe where the kingdoms of the world resided, stating, "In this area is the kingdom of Rome, in that one is the kingdom of Persia, and over there is the kingdom of Assyria." He also referenced other kingdoms, highlighting their distinct glory and significance; in essence, he revealed everything.

Once more, the adversary brought Him to an exceedingly high mountain, traditionally believed to be the same Mount of Temptation in the wilderness of Judea. From this lofty height, one could survey the extensive landscape of the Jordan, stretching from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee. There, the devil unveiled to Jesus Christ all the kingdoms of the world, along with their splendor, showcasing all the earth's most magnificent, wealthiest, and finest things. In an instant, the adversary made this vision appear, presenting it vividly to Christ's perception, as humanity is often more susceptible to temptation through visual allure than through mere words.

The third temptation, after facing two setbacks, the devil persisted in his efforts. He led Jesus to a high mountain and, in an instant, revealed to Him all the kingdoms of the world (Lk. 4:5). It should not be assumed that the devil took Jesus to the mountain without His consent. After returning from Jerusalem post the second temptation, Jesus ascended the mountain Himself, possibly in response to the devil’s new challenge. The Gospel writers do not specify which mountain was climbed by Jesus. If this occurred after the initial temptation, as indicated by Luke, it is likely that this mountain was in the same wilderness where Christ had fasted.

After succumbing to the temptation of physical frailty and spiritual arrogance, the adversary made one final, desperate effort to entice Jesus by presenting the allure of absolute authority over all the nations of the earth. The adversary elevated Jesus to a high mountain and unveiled a mesmerizing vision of all the kingdoms of the world in their splendor, proclaiming to Him, “All these things I will give you if you fall down and worship me.” The adversary understood that Christ, as the Redeemer of humanity, was approaching a harrowing phase of humiliation and anguish, a scene before which His human heart must have quaked uncontrollably.

"A very high mountain": its specific identity remains uncertain. It is likely a peak from which one can view a substantial portion of Palestine. The Abbot Mariti describes one such peak, noting that it offers a vantage point over the mountains of Arabia, the region of Gilead, the territory of Ammon, the valleys of Moab and Jericho, the course of the Jordan, and the entire area of the Dead Sea. This location is traditionally identified as the mountain of temptation.