Luke 4:9-12

Context

4:9 Then¹ the devil² brought him to Jerusalem,³ had him stand⁴ on the highest point of the temple,⁵ and said to him, “If⁶ you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 4:10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’⁷ 4:11 and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”⁸ 4:12 Jesus⁹ answered him,¹⁰ “It is said, ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’”¹¹

[4:9] ¹tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[4:9] ²tn Grk “he”; the referent (the devil) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[4:9] ³map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[4:9] ⁴tn Grk “and stood him.”

[4:9] ⁵sn The reference to the highest point of the temple probably refers to the one point on the temple’s southeast corner where the site looms directly over a cliff some 450 feet (135 m) high. However, some have suggested the reference could be to the temple’s high gate.

[4:9] ⁶tn This is another first class condition, as in v. 3.

[4:10] ⁷sn A quotation from Ps 91:11 by the devil. This was not so much an incorrect citation as a use in a wrong context (a misapplication of the passage).

[4:11] ⁸sn A quotation from Ps 91:12.

[4:12] ⁹tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[4:12] ¹⁰tn Grk “Jesus, answering, said to him.” This is redundant in English and has been simplified to “Jesus answered him.”

[4:12] ¹¹sn A quotation from Deut 6:16 used by Jesus in reply to the devil. The point is that God’s faithfulness should not be put to the test, but is rather a given.