The Devil and His Demons
The Devil’s Authority

Scripture Reading: Luke 4:1-13

Key Verse: Luke 4:5-6

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

The devil’s power and authority has been debated by theologians for years. I certainly won’t settle the question in this devotional, but a few facts are clear in our scripture for today. Jesus submitted himself—the human part—to be tempted by the devil. Since Jesus was also fully God, we know He could not have been overcome by temptation. It is my opinion that the human part of Jesus felt the full force of this temptation!

The first thing that is clear is that the devil could only show Jesus the kingdoms of “this” world. This world is the only territory where the devil has authority.

The second fact made clear in this passage of scripture is that the authority the devil has was given to him. The devil said it himself in verse six: “…for it has been given to me.” The only authority and power that the devil and his demons have is that which God permits. It is limited to this earth. It is limited to God’s control. It is limited in its scope and subject to the power of Jesus’ name.

We are reminded in 2 Peter 2:4 that the devil and his demons were angels that sinned against God. They were sent to “tartarus,” which is a Greek word to describe “pits of darkness.” This “hell” (tartarus in the Greek language) is their “home base” but they have been allowed to operate in the human sphere.

Finally, our scripture for today teaches us that as Jesus defeated these temptations presented to Him by the devil, so can we. No Christ follower needs to fall to the evil one. We can be victorious in Jesus’ Name.

“Father, please deliver me from temptation today, but if I must pass through a trial, grant me the strength to endure it and conquer it in Jesus’ name, Amen.”