Luke 4:9 Meaning and Explanation
“And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The devil brings Jesus to Jerusalem, sets him on a pinnacle of the temple, and dares him to throw himself down.
What Does Luke 4:9 Mean?
In Luke's ordering the last temptation comes at Jerusalem, on the temple's highest edge above the valley far below. Again the taunt, If thou be the Son of God, and this time a dare to leap, forcing heaven to mount a spectacular public rescue.
Luke ends the temptations at Jerusalem and its temple, the very city where the true test of Sonship will one day be settled, not by leaping from a height but by being lifted up on a cross. Jesus will trust his Father with his whole falling weight, in Gethsemane and at Calvary, where there will be no summoned angels and no dramatic deliverance. Trust proves itself in obedience, not in spectacle.
Luke 4:9 in the Original Language
pterygion (πτερύγιον), 'pinnacle' -- literally a little wing, the temple's highest edge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 4:9
What does Luke 4:9 mean?
The devil brings Jesus to Jerusalem, sets him on a pinnacle of the temple, and dares him to throw himself down.