Luke 4:5-6
And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "in a moment of time" isn't just about speed; it highlights how the devil presented an overwhelming, instantaneous vision of worldly power, bypassing the slow, often arduous process of building or conquering nations. This was a sharp, concentrated assault designed to bypass Jesus's understanding of God's gradual unfolding of His kingdom and appeal directly to the allure of immediate, total dominion.
Fresh from his baptism and empowerment by the Spirit, Jesus is immediately led into the wilderness to face intense spiritual testing. Here, Satan launches a barrage of temptations, aiming to derail Jesus' mission before it truly begins. This specific moment presents a breathtaking, instantaneous vision of all earthly power and glory, offered as a shortcut to the very authority Jesus came to establish.
How could the devil possibly show Jesus ALL the kingdoms of the world? And why so quickly?
The phrase "in a moment of time" (Greek: en stigmē chronou) points to an incredibly swift, almost instantaneous revelation. It's like a high-definition, hyper-speed slideshow of global dominion.
This wasn't a slow, drawn-out negotiation. It was a flash, a jolt designed to overwhelm and tempt.
Think of it as a vision, a supernatural presentation that bypasses normal sensory experience. The devil isn't just pointing out a few cities; he's offering the entirety of human power and glory, compressed into a single, powerful moment. This speed amplifies the temptation, making the sheer scope of worldly power seem immediately attainable.
The devil claims ownership of all the world's kingdoms. Was he telling the truth?
The devil's audacious claim – "for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will" (Luke 4:6) – is a masterful lie.
While Satan wields significant power in this fallen world, he is not its ultimate ruler. That authority belongs to God alone.
Understand the original words
basileia · Greek Noun
The organized systems of human rule and power in the world. They represent the authority that Christ came to redeem and eventually reclaim as the rightful King.
exousia · Greek Noun
Refers to the legal right or delegated power to govern, command, or influence. In a biblical context, it implies sovereignty, which belongs ultimately to God, though temporarily usurped or delegated in the current world order.
doxa · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, this refers to the splendor, majesty, and honor associated with the kingdoms of the world. It often signifies the pride and outward magnificence of human systems that are contrasted with the glory of God.
c. 27 BC - AD 14
Reign of Augustus Caesar
Augustus established the Pax Romana, a period of relative peace and stability across the vast Roman Empire. This era saw significant expansion and consolidation of Roman power, influencing the political landscape of Judea and the surrounding regions.
c. 6 BC
Birth of Jesus
Jesus was born in Bethlehem during the reign of Augustus. This event marks the beginning of his earthly life and ministry, though his public ministry would not begin for decades.
c. AD 27-28— this verse
Jesus begins his public ministry
Following his baptism by John the Baptist and a period of fasting and temptation in the Judean wilderness, Jesus begins his public ministry of teaching, healing, and proclaiming the Kingdom of God.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection
The climax of Jesus' earthly ministry, his crucifixion and resurrection, fulfilled prophecies and established the foundation of the Christian faith. This event reshaped the spiritual landscape of the Roman world.
This passage presents the same temptation from the devil, offering all kingdoms of the world and their glory to Jesus, highlighting the sheer magnitude of what Satan attempted to tempt Christ with.
Daniel 4:17This verse speaks of the Most High ruling over the kingdom of men and giving it to whom he will, directly contrasting Satan's false claim of authority over the kingdoms of the world.
1 John 2:16This passage describes the 'desire of the eyes' as a characteristic of the world, which is not from the Father, paralleling Satan's display of worldly kingdoms and their allure.
Philippians 2:5-8This passage shows Jesus' willing humility and self-emptying, in contrast to Satan's temptation which appealed to the desire for power and dominion, emphasizing Jesus' ultimate obedience.
vincentLuke 4:5: "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time."
The worldSee on Luke 2:1.In a moment of time (ἐν στιγμῇ χρόνου)Peculiar to Luke. Στιγμή is literally a mark made by a pointed instrument, a dot: hence a point of time. Only here in New Testament. Compare στίγματα, brand-marks, Galatians 6:17. Tynd., in the twinkling of an eye.
pooleLuke 4:5: "And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time."
Ver. 5-8. See Poole on "Matthew 4:8". See Poole on "Matthew 4:9". See Poole on "Matthew 4:10". Those words, Luke 4:6 , for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it, are only mentioned by Luke; where we may observe, that the devil was a liar from the beginning. The dominion over the things of the world was not given to the angels, but to man. Nei…
The phrase "in a moment of time" isn't just about speed; it highlights how the devil presented an overwhelming, instantaneous vision of worldly power, bypassing the slow, often arduous process of building or conquering nations. This was a sharp, concentrated assault designed to bypass Jesus's understanding of God's gradual unfolding of His kingdom and appeal directly to the allure of immediate, total dominion.
Fresh from his baptism and empowerment by the Spirit, Jesus is immediately led into the wilderness to face intense spiritual testing. Here, Satan launches a barrage of temptations, aiming to derail Jesus' mission before it truly begins. This specific moment presents a breathtaking, instantaneous vision of all earthly power and glory, offered as a shortcut to the very authority Jesus came to establish.
Fresh from his baptism and empowerment by the Spirit, Jesus is immediately led into the wilderness to face intense spiritual testing. Here, Satan launches a barrage of temptations, aiming to derail Jesus' mission before it truly begins. This specific moment presents a breathtaking, instantaneous vision of all earthly power and glory, offered as a shortcut to the very authority Jesus came to establish.
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c. AD 40s-60s
Apostolic journeys and writings
The apostles, particularly Paul, spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. Many of the New Testament letters, which provide further context for Jesus' teachings and their implications, were written during this period.
"And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will." — The phrase "in a moment of time" isn't just about speed; it highlights how the devil presented an overwhelming, instantaneous vision of worldly power, bypassing the slow, often arduous process of bui…
