8. Again, the devil taketh him up--"conducteth him," as before.
into--or "unto"
an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the
world, and the glory of them--Luke
(Lu 4:5)
adds the important clause, "in a moment of time"; a clause which seems
to furnish a key to the true meaning. That a scene was presented to our
Lord's natural eye seems plainly expressed. But to limit this to the
most extensive scene which the natural eye could take in, is to give a
sense to the expression, "all the kingdoms of the world," quite
violent. It remains, then, to gather from the expression, "in a moment
of time"-- which manifestly is intended to intimate some supernatural
operation--that it was permitted to the tempter to extend
preternaturally for a moment our Lord's range of vision, and throw a
"glory" or glitter over the scene of vision: a thing not inconsistent
with the analogy of other scriptural statements regarding the permitted
operations of the wicked one. In this case, the "exceeding height" of
the "mountain" from which this sight was beheld would favor the effect
to be produced.
JFB.
Outline
1 The temptation of Jesus
13 Jesus dwells in Capernaum
17 Jesus begins to preach
18 Jesus calls Peter and Andrew, James and John
23 Jesus heals the sick
Drawing of the Temptation of Jesus Christ by Dore
Important Topics for Bible Study
Quick Reference Map
Map of Galilee and northern Israel
(Click to Enlarge)
Painted Illustration of Jesus Calling James and John
Ancient Customs
Geography
Capernaum
Galilee
Matthew Resources
The New Testament