Luke 4:6 records the devil offering Jesus authority over all the kingdoms of the world, along with their glory, on the condition that Jesus accepts the devil’s terms. The devil claims this power has been handed to him and that he gives it to whomever he chooses. The words come from Satan himself during the temptation in the wilderness, spoken to Jesus just after the forty days of fasting described at the start of the chapter.
The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority, and their glory, for it has been delivered to me; and I give it to whomever I want.
Luke 4:6 (WEB)
What Luke 4:6 Means
The phrase “I will give you all this authority” presents the devil as a dealer in power, someone who can hand out influence over nations and cultures. Luke pictures this with the devil showing Jesus every kingdom in a single moment, as though the whole political world were laid out in view. The offer sounds generous, but it is built on a claim that cannot be trusted.
The words “for it has been delivered to me” are the devil’s boast that world authority rests in his hands. The Bible elsewhere describes the devil as a deceiver and calls him the ruler of this age in a sense, yet Luke does not present this claim as the final word on who controls history. The verse shows what the tempter believes he has to offer, and the rest of the scene shows that Jesus will not take the shortcut he proposes.
The verse does not promise that evil powers will always hold the world, nor does it say that Jesus refused the offer because the kingdoms were worthless. It reveals a temptation: gaining authority by bowing to the one who opposes God. Readers should not treat the devil’s statements as trustworthy guidance, since Luke has already framed him as a liar who twists Scripture elsewhere in the passage.
The Context of Luke 4:6
Luke wrote this Gospel for a Gentile audience, likely a Greek-speaking reader named Theophilus, and he arranged his account to show Jesus as the Son of God who is also the Savior of all people. The temptation scene comes right after Jesus is baptized and identified by the voice from heaven. Luke places the testing in the wilderness immediately after Jesus has been filled with the Holy Spirit, so the devil’s challenges are aimed squarely at Jesus’ identity and mission.
Read in this setting, the offer in verse 6 is one of three temptations, and each one tests how Jesus will use his power. The first invites him to turn stone into bread for his own comfort, the second offers rule over the kingdoms, and the third urges him to throw himself from the temple to prove his sonship. Jesus answers each with Scripture, and his answers show that his kingdom will come through obedience and suffering, not through a bargain with Satan.
Key Phrases in Luke 4:6
Matthew 4:8-10
8 Again, the devil took him to an exceedingly high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory. 9 He said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
(WEB)
Matthew records the same temptation about the kingdoms of the world and includes Jesus’ direct command to worship only the Lord. Reading it alongside Luke shows the full exchange and reinforces that the offer was rejected completely.
Romans 13:1
Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
(WEB)
Paul teaches that all authority is established under God’s sovereignty, which helps readers see the devil’s claim against the larger truth that earthly power is never independent of the Lord.
A Short Prayer From Luke 4:6
Lord, you are the true ruler over every kingdom, and I thank you that authority belongs to you alone. When I feel tempted to gain influence or security through shortcuts that compromise my faith, help me recognize the offer for what it is. Give me the courage to refuse anything that asks me to bow to what is false. Teach me to trust your timing and your ways, so that my ambitions serve your kingdom and not my own pride. Amen.