Luke 4:11

And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Luke 4:11 (KJV)

Context

Luke 4:11 is the second half of Satan’s quotation of Psalm 91:11-12 during Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13). After fasting forty days, Jesus faced three temptations: turning stones to bread, gaining worldly authority by worshiping Satan, and throwing Himself from the temple pinnacle. In this third temptation, the devil misapplied Scripture to urge Jesus to test God’s protection.

Meaning

The verse describes angelic guardianship: God’s angels bear up the faithful to prevent harm, and the image of not striking one’s foot against a stone signifies divine care. Yet Satan omitted the middle clause of Psalm 91:11, “to keep thee in all thy ways.” That phrase ties protection to walking in God’s ways. By removing it, Satan distorted the promise, making it sound like unconditional safety even when acting recklessly.

Biblical connections

Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:16, refusing to test God presumptuously. His reply shows that true dependence on God trusts His promises without demanding proof. The broader promises of Psalm 91 are fulfilled in Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, confirming His Messianic role, even though Jesus did not quote that psalm during the temptation.

Application

This verse reminds believers to rely on God’s established promises, especially during temptation, and to stay grounded in Scripture. It also warns against misusing God’s Word by taking verses out of context to support wrong actions. Like Jesus, believers are called to discern Satan’s deceptive tactics and respond with faithful, scripturally based obedience.

Reflection

God’s protection is real, but it is not a license for presumption. Trusting God means walking in His ways, not testing Him. Jesus’ example teaches us to know Scripture well enough to recognize misapplication and to answer temptation with truth.