southwestern baptist theological seminary school of theology ... - Lorin

Jesus Endures the Second Temptation (4:5-8)
28
The same basic pattern emerges in the second temptation: the scene is set, the Devil
tempts, Jesus responds. Luke’s wording clearly brings out the visionary nature of this
temptation, and several differences from the Matthean parallel give insight to key Lukan
emphases. Jesus is tempted to worship the devil in exchange for the kingdoms of the world.
Some of the same questions arise in this temptation that emerged in the first, namely, the nature
of the temptation, the significance of the Lukan redactions, and the issue of Old Testament
parallels.
The stage is set for the temptation. Luke simply states that the Devil led Jesus up
(ajnagagwVn) and showed him all the kingdoms of the world. 27 Matthew is more specific
concerning the place (eij" o[ro" uJyhloVn livan). Why does Luke omit the reference to the
mountain? Several scenarios are possible. First, Luke may have omitted the mountain because
he saw that the account must be understood in metaphorical terms. 28 Second, the presence of
theological motif may explain the absence of “mountain” in Luke and its presence in Matthew. 29
Dupont argues for a Moses/Christ motif as the underlying reason for the mention of “mountain”
in Matthew. For Dupont, the parallel is to be found in Deuteronomy 34:1-4. He states, “Le
paysage que Jésus contemple du haut de la montagne n’est qu’une simple transposition littéraire
27 Schürmann argues that this took place on the way to Jerusalem and sees an analogy
between the “leading” of the Spirit (4:1) and the “leading” of the Devil (4:5). Schürmann, 210.
28 Marshall, 171. Also Plummer, 111.
29Hans Conzelmann, The Theology of St. Luke. Translated by Geoffrey Buswell
(New York: Harper & Brothers, 1960), 29.