Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
3 sermons cite this verse
… his plan. We're told in the Gospel of Luke that Satan showed Jesus, get this, all the kingdoms of the world in a moment. Showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time and said, I will give you all their authority for it has been given to me. Really? Who gave it to you? Adam. And I can give it to anyone I want to. Boy, that's a sermon series right there. If you worship me, all will be yours. Okay. This was the hardest temptation for Jesus. it was the hardest because this is why he came he came to redeem the world back to the father and he was going to do it by the way of the cross the temptation is i'll give it to you you don't have to go the hard way you don't have to go the way of the cross satan knew psalm 2 psalm 2 says the messiah would rule all nations the father will give the son the glory of all the nations He knew that. …
But in verse 5, Satan tries this particular temptation. He led Jesus up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. That is some kind of supernatural moment. Christ is lifted out of the confines of His humanity, and the devil shows Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to him, I will give you all this domain and its glory. Well, what makes you think you have that as your possession to give me? For it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. You want to know why the world is the way it is? the devil is in charge of it. It was handed over to him by sovereign God. The devil is God's devil, and he operates within the confines of God's will. But he runs the world system. This is reason enough to understand that the world is a deadly, deceptive, and dangerous place. …
II. But what is the employment of evil angels? This is the Second point to be considered. 1. They are (remember, so far as God permits!) kosmokratores, — governors of the world! So that there may be more ground than we are apt to imagine for that strange expression of Satan, (Matt. 4:8–9, ) when he showed our Lord “all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them,” “All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” It is a little more particularly expressed in the fourth chapter of St. Luke: “The devil showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.” (Such an astonishing measure of power is still left in the prince of darkness!) “And the devil said, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: For that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will, I give it.” (Matt. 4:5, 6, ) They are “the rulers of the darkness of this age;” (so the words are literally translated;) of the present state of things, during which “the whole world lieth in the wicked one.” He is the element of the children of men; only those who fear God being excepted. He and his angels, in connexion with, and in subordination to him, dispose all the ignorance, all the error, all the folly, and particularly all the wickedness of men, in such a manner as may most hinder the kingdom of God, and most advance the kingdom of darkness. …