Language Studies

Greek Thoughts

LATREUO* - Part 3 - εχηγεομαι (Strong's #1834)
To worship, to serve

Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.

We are continuing with our study of λατρεὺω (Strong's #3000), a Greek verb expressing worship in the form of service. We saw from the Old Testament Septuagint that there are two Greek words used to translate a̔vad, the Hebrew word for service. When a̔vad is used to express the physical service of a slave, the Greek term δοῦλευω is used in translation; but when a̔vad is used to express religious worship, whether of heathen gods or the service of Israel to the true and living God, our Greek word of study λατρεὺω is used. In the New Testament, Jesus expands our understanding of the meaning of λατρεὺω to apply not only to an act of worship, but to one's life response - the choice each of us must make between the world and the Lord.

Last week we began our study of the Lord's use of λατρεὺω by considering the temptations of Jesus as recorded in Luke 4:1-13. It is in His replies to these temptations that we see Jesus expanding the understanding of the scope of λατρεὺω from the simple concept of worship, to include the concept of lifestyle - whether expressed in worship to the devil and his system or in worship to the living God and sacrificial obedience to Him.

Our previous study focused on the first temptation presented to Jesus. The devil tempted Him to change stones into bread so that Jesus could satisfy His hunger, since He had not eaten during His forty day stay in the wilderness. The devil was obviously tempting Jesus to use His authority to satisfy His physical appetites. This week we expand our study by observing the second temptation as recorded in Luke 4:5-8.

Luke 4:5-8
.
5) And after the devil had led Him into a high mountain, he showed to Him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time;

6)

and the devil said to Him, "To You I will give all this authority and the glory of them; because to me it has been delivered and to whomever I wish I give it;

7)

"You therefore if You would worship before me, all will be Yours."

The Greek word translated "showed" in verse 5 is δεὶκνυμι (Strong's #1166), which means "to show" in the sense of "to display" or "to expose." So the devil displays all of the kingdoms of the world and their glory before Jesus. Verses 6,7 tell us that after this display, the devil presents the condition for having such glory. The word προσκυνὲω (Strong's #4352) is used to express the condition. Προσκυνὲω, as we learned from our study on worship, means worship expressed in submission. So we see the devil attempting to get the Lord to submit His authority to his own (Satan's) for worldly gain.

8)

And when Jesus answered to him He said, "Go behind me, Satan; for it has been written, "You will worship (προσκυνὲω) the Lord your God, and Him only you will serve (λατρεὺω)."

The Lord's response in verse 8 reveals two things. The first is that Jesus did not refute the devil's authority to give Him the kingdoms of the world and their glory, because the devil was given that authority when he was expelled from heaven. This is established for us in 2 Corinthians 4:4 where the devil is called "the god of this age." Again, in Ephesians 2:2, the devil is called "the ruler of the authority of the air." The Lord did not challenge the devil's authority to offer the kingdoms of the world, because Satan did have that authority. Second, the Lord reveals His choice of worship when He quotes Deuteronomy 6:13: "You will worship the Lord your God, and Him only you will serve." Jesus uses scripture to make clear His choice to be in obedience to the Scriptures, worshipping and serving God only.

The scripture quoted here by the Lord, in response to the temptation He faces, uses the words προσκυνὲω and λατρεὺω, our word of study. Προσκυνὲω means to worship by submitting to God's Spirit and truth, while λατρεὺω means to worship in the sense of service. So we see from the Lord's use of this quote, that worship is more than just an isolated act, as its application had previously been understood to be, but is instead comprised both of "submission" and "service." The Lord's response to the devil makes it clear that who we are submitted to and the one we serve with our time and devotion determine who we are worshiping.

Next week we will study, from the letters of Paul, his understanding that worship, in the form of service, comes from out of the spirit or heart, and is not simply a physical, human activity.

LATREUO is the English font spelling of the Greek word λατρεὺω.

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