Luke 4:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”

NIV: If you worship me, it will all be yours.'

NASB: Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.'

CSB: If you, then, will worship me, all will be yours."

NLT: I will give it all to you if you will worship me.'

KJV: If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.

NKJV: Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

A common claim from false teachers is that God's desire for His followers is that they be wealthy, healthy, successful, and victorious in this life. This is the "prosperity gospel," which is no gospel at all (Galatians 1:8). The Bible records only one moment when an individual is offered prosperity in exchange for worship: when the Devil uses it as a temptation against Jesus Christ (Luke 4:5–6). Those who claim faith, donations, prayer, or other acts of piety will guarantee victory in some earthly concern are borrowing words from Satan.

Satan was given tremendous control over the fallen world (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; Revelation 13:2). In this temptation, he offers to give that power to Jesus in exchange for worship. This would allow Jesus to gain absolute earthly authority while avoiding the terrible experience of the cross (Philippians 2:8). As in other temptations, Jesus will cite Scripture (Luke 4:8; Deuteronomy 6:13) and resist. He will not attempt a shortcut around God's will, nor take what He has not yet been given by God.

Luke 4:1–13 describes Jesus' temptation by Satan. During forty days of fasting, the Devil entices Him using offers of comfort, power, and prestige. In each case, Jesus responds with Scripture and a commitment to God's will. This series of events is also recorded in Matthew 4:1–11 and Mark 1:12–13. While Matthew's account implies an explicit order for these temptations, Luke's does not.

Jesus is taken into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. While fasting there, He is tempted by Satan. These temptations share an element of ignoring God in favor of what seems easier or quicker. Jesus resists all of these, citing Scripture as He does. When Jesus returns, He preaches and heals to great publicity in Judea and Galilee. While His hometown responds with stubborn skepticism, others are eager to hear His teaching and experience His miraculous power.

Chapter 3 explained how John the Baptist preached to prepare others to receive Jesus Christ. Luke then provided Jesus' earthly ancestry. Chapter 4 begins with Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. He returns to preach and perform healing miracles in Judea and Galilee. Chapter 5 shows Him calling disciples and demonstrating further proofs of His authority.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 5/5/2024 1:34:58 PM