Luke 4:3

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Luke 4:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And the devil said unto him, if thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And the devil said unto him, if thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.
Luke 4:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Luke 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
3And the devil said unto him, if thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And the devil said unto him, etc.] Who now visibly appeared, and spoke unto him with an articulate voice: if thou be the Son of God; as has been just now declared by a voice from heaven; or seeing thou art in such a relation to God, and so equal to him, and possessed of all divine perfections, and among the rest, of almighty power; wherefore, since thou art hungry, and in a wilderness, where no food is to be had, command this stone that it be made bread; say but the word, and this stone, which he held out to him, or pointed at, as lying before them, or any one of the stones, which were in sight, for Matthew speaks of them in the plural number, will immediately be converted into bread, if he…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“On the temptation of Jesus, see the notes at Matthew 4:1-11. Luke 4:2 Being forty days tempted - That is, through forty days he was “tried” in various ways by the devil. The temptations, however, which are recorded by Matthew and Luke did not take place until the forty days were finished. See Matthew 4:2-3. He did eat nothing - He was sustained by the power of God during this season of extraordinary fasting. Luke 4:13 Departed for a season - For a time. From this it appears that our Saviour was “afterward” subjected to temptations by Satan, but no “particular” temptations are recorded after this. From John 14:30, it seems that the devil tried or tempted him in the agony in Gethsemane.…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:3 If you are the Son of God: Both Israel and Adam are identified as God’s son (3:38; Exod 4:22-23; Hos 11:1). Jesus, the Son of God in the fullest sense, succeeded where Adam and Israel failed.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Luk 3:22; Mat 4:3 Luke 4:4”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification