Contemplative Bible Reading

Luke 4:5-7 (New Living Translation)

5 Then the devil took him (Jesus) up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.”

This is part of the (hi)story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. The devil shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world.

“I can give you all the kingdoms of the world,” says the devil. “They are mine to give to anyone.”

Truth? Lying boast? Does the devil own all the kingdoms of the world? Can the devil give the kingdoms of the world to anyone?

What are the kingdoms of the world anyways? Just lots of stuff. Well, you can do a lot of good with all that stuff. Then again, you can do lots of bad with all that stuff. How has mankind done with all that stuff over the centuries? Not so good in many cases. See for example, well, there is a long list of wars that brought suffering to mankind. Then we can discuss… well, let’s not discuss those things. They are too ugly.

What are the kingdoms of the world anyways? So what if the devil owns them and can give them to whom he wants? Perhaps this is too much philosophy and speculation for a Saturday morning while drinking coffee. There is something in the Bible about treasures that moths and rust destroy. There are plenty of “lost civilizations” being unearthed by swarms of grad students working for free.

What are the kingdoms of the world anyways? I guess the devil can have them if he wants. They aren’t much. Life with God is worth so much more.