Luke 4:7

Luke 4:7, in plain English

The devil's condition: 'Just bow down and worship me, and it's all yours.' That was always the real goal—getting Jesus to worship anyone other than God.

Why it's here

Every temptation ultimately comes down to this: who will you worship? The devil offers the whole world but asks for the one thing that belongs only to God.

Who's speaking

The devil reveals the true price of his offer.

Where it sits in the story

Here is the devil's real play. He doesn't just want submission—he wants worship. It is the oldest trick in the book: offer everything, and in exchange, take the only thing that matters.

The scholarly reading

The devil's condition: 'If You worship (proskynēsēs) me, it will all be Yours.' Proskynēsis (bowing worship) is reserved exclusively for God in Jewish theology; the demand exposes the devil's ultimate agenda.

Language and setting

This temptation strikes at the heart of monotheism—the first commandment. The devil demands what only God deserves, revealing that all temptation ultimately aims to displace God's rightful worship.

Voice

The devil states his price: worship in exchange for world dominion.

Significance

The devil reveals his true aim: worship. Every temptation, stripped to its core, is an invitation to worship something other than God. The offer of the world comes with the price of one's soul.

5Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

6“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.

7So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.”

8But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

9Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here.

Read all of Luke 4 — Jesus reads from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue and claims the prophecy is fulfilled in himself. The congregation tries to throw him off a cliff.