Again,
the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Matthew 4:8-9
Matthew 4 [7.] Jesus said to him, “Again, it is written, ‘You shall not test the Lord, your God.’”
Matthew 4 [8.] Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.”
Matthew 4 [10.] Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
Meaning:
Jesus had already refused to turn stones into bread (Matthew 4:1-4) and to throw himself from the pinnacle of the temple (Matthew 4:5-6; Matthew 4:7). In the third temptation the devil drops his disguise and makes a direct offer. Luke records the same temptation (Luke 4:5-8).
All three of Jesus’ replies come from Deuteronomy, where Moses reminded Israel of its forty years of testing in the wilderness: “Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, to prove you” (Deuteronomy 8:2). Israel often failed those tests, especially by turning to other gods. Jesus, after forty days in the wilderness, stands where Israel fell.
- “the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain”
From a high mountain the devil “showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.” Luke adds that this happened “in a moment of time”, which suggests a vision rather than an ordinary view. Mountains are important places in Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus will teach on a mountain, be transfigured on a mountain, and at the end meet his disciples on a mountain in Galilee. There he will say, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). What the devil offered here, the Father would give Jesus after the cross.
- “all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory”
The devil displayed power, wealth, splendour and fame. In Luke he claims that this authority “has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want” (Luke 4:6). Scripture recognises that the devil holds real influence in this fallen world: “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and Jesus called him “the prince of this world” (John 12:31). Yet his power is borrowed and temporary. God had promised his Messiah the nations as his inheritance and “an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away” (Daniel 7:14).
- “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me”
This was the heart of the temptation: a shortcut to the throne without the cross. Jesus had come to be King of the world, but by the Father’s way of suffering, death and resurrection. The devil offered the crown immediately in exchange for a single act of worship. To accept would have meant breaking the first commandment and turning away from the Father. Jesus would face a similar pull later, when crowds wanted to make him king by force (John 6:15), and when Peter urged him to avoid suffering. Jesus answered the devil with Scripture: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only” (Matthew 4:10; Deuteronomy 6:13).
The Significance of Matthew 4:8-9
- The price of the world
The devil still offers success, possessions and influence at the cost of our loyalty to God. Jesus asked, “For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36). Nothing the world gives is worth the loss of our souls.
- No shortcuts around the cross
Temptation often promises good ends by wrong means. Jesus refused to gain even a rightful kingdom by worshipping the wrong master. Followers of Jesus must also choose God’s way over the quick way.
- Undivided worship
Jesus taught, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). Worship belongs to God alone. Every ambition must bow before him.
Cross-References:
Luke 4:5-8: "I will give you all this authority, and their glory," Luke’s account of the same temptation.
Deuteronomy 6:13: "You shall fear Yahweh your God; and you shall serve him," The command Jesus quoted.
Matthew 28:18: "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth." The authority Jesus received from the Father.
1 John 2:16: "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life," The world’s attractions.
Conclusion: Matthew 4:8-9 describes the devil showing Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and offering them to him in exchange for worship. Jesus refused the shortcut to power that bypassed the cross. The Father would give him all authority after his obedience to death. The passage warns against trading loyalty to God for anything the world can offer.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible