Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "holy city" applied to Jerusalem isn't just a nickname; it highlights the stark contrast of Satan bringing his temptation right into the place God had chosen for His dwelling, a place meant to be utterly set apart. Moreover, the "pinnacle" wasn't just a random high spot, but likely an extreme, dizzying projection of the temple complex, making the temptation to leap seem even more dramatic and desperate.
Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following the wilderness temptation, Satan transports Jesus to Jerusalem, the "holy city," and places him on a precarious high point of the temple. This sets the stage for the second temptation, where the devil challenges Jesus to prove he is God's Son by miraculously saving himself from a deadly fall.
Did the devil have the power to physically force Jesus to the temple? And why is the way Jesus was 'taken' so important?
When the text says the devil 'took' Jesus, it doesn't mean Satan was stronger than Jesus or acting with supernatural force. The original Greek word, often translated as 'took' or 'carried,' can also mean 'conducted' or 'accompanied.' Think of it like a guide leading someone, not dragging them against their will.
Jesus was fully in control. He allowed himself to be led to this precarious spot. This isn't a story about Satan's power, but about Jesus' willingness to engage with the temptation on the devil's terms, demonstrating that His obedience was active, not passive.
It’s a crucial distinction: God’s power works in partnership with our willing hearts, while the devil’s influence often relies on deception and our own choices to engage.
Imagine standing on the edge of a dizzying height, the 'holy city' below and the vastness of God's presence above. What does this dramatic setting signify?
The 'pinnacle of the temple' wasn't just any high place; it was likely a prominent, extremely high projection of Herod's temple complex, possibly overlooking a deep valley. The commentators suggest it was a place designed to impress and even intimidate with its sheer drop.
This location is intentional. It’s a stage set for a test of faith, a place where a fall would be catastrophic and very public. The devil chooses a spot that amplifies the danger and the demand for a miraculous intervention.
It’s a stark contrast: the holy city, the sacred temple, a place meant for worship and divine encounter, now becomes the setting for the ultimate temptation to misuse one's divine identity and relationship with God.
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Understand the original words
hagia polis · Greek Noun phrase
Jerusalem, the site of the temple and the center of Jewish religious and national identity. It is considered "holy" because it was the dwelling place of God’s presence among His people.
pterygion · Greek Noun
The highest point or wing of the temple structure. Biblically, it symbolizes a place of supreme prominence and height, often associated with the presence and holiness of God’s house.
The specific mention of the 'pinnacle of the temple' likely refers to a dizzying height on Herod the Great's expanded Temple complex, a place of immense architectural grandeur and precarious exposure. The later tradition of James the Just being martyred from a similar location highlights the potent symbolism of this spot within Jerusalem's sacred landscape.
c. 20 BC - AD 64
Herod the Great's Temple Reconstruction
King Herod the Great embarked on a massive, multi-decade project to renovate and expand the Second Temple in Jerusalem, incorporating grander architecture and impressive porticoes.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus' Baptism and Temptation
Following His baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River, Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins in Jerusalem
After His temptations, Jesus returns to Jerusalem and begins His public ministry, which included cleansing the Temple and teaching in its courts.
c. AD 62
Martyrdom of James the Just
James, the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church, is reportedly thrown from a 'pinnacle' of the Temple by Jewish leaders before being stoned to death.
Luke's Gospel also records this temptation, offering a slightly different sequence and emphasizing Jesus being led to different locations, highlighting the spiritual journey of the encounter.
Deuteronomy 6:16This passage from Deuteronomy is the very Scripture Jesus uses to combat the devil's temptation, showing the principle of not presumptuously testing God.
Psalm 91:11-12The devil twists this psalm to tempt Jesus, quoting God's promise of angelic protection; understanding the psalm in its full context reveals the proper way to trust God's care.
1 Corinthians 10:13This New Testament passage speaks to the reliability of God's provision in temptation, assuring us that He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to endure, a promise relevant to Jesus' experience.
Hebrews 4:15This verse emphasizes that Jesus was tempted in every way, just as we are, underscoring the reality and significance of this encounter on the pinnacle of the temple.
barnesMatthew 4:5: "Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,"
Then the devil taketh him up - This does not mean that he bore him through the air; or that he compelled him to go against his will, or that he performed a miracle in any way to place him there. There is no evidence that Satan had power to do any of these things, and the word translated taketh him Up does not imply any such thing. It means to conduct one; to lead one; to attend or accomp…
bensonMatthew 4:5: "Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,"
Matthew 4:5-7 . Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city — That is, the city Jerusalem, frequently called the holy city in Scripture, see Nehemiah 11:1 ; Isaiah 52:1 ; Daniel 9:24 ; and that with great propriety, as being for ages the place of the special residence of Jehovah. It has been supposed by many, that Satan transported our Lord through the air, but whether he did or not…
The phrase "holy city" applied to Jerusalem isn't just a nickname; it highlights the stark contrast of Satan bringing his temptation right into the place God had chosen for His dwelling, a place meant to be utterly set apart. Moreover, the "pinnacle" wasn't just a random high spot, but likely an extreme, dizzying projection of the temple complex, making the temptation to leap seem even more dramatic and desperate.
Following the wilderness temptation, Satan transports Jesus to Jerusalem, the "holy city," and places him on a precarious high point of the temple. This sets the stage for the second temptation, where the devil challenges Jesus to prove he is God's Son by miraculously saving himself from a deadly fall.
Following the wilderness temptation, Satan transports Jesus to Jerusalem, the "holy city," and places him on a precarious high point of the temple. This sets the stage for the second temptation, where the devil challenges Jesus to prove he is God's Son by miraculously saving himself from a deadly fall.
"Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple" — The phrase "holy city" applied to Jerusalem isn't just a nickname; it highlights the stark contrast of Satan bringing his temptation right into the place God had chosen for His dwelling, a place mean…
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Last reviewed October 2026