The devil only left Jesus temporarily; he continued to tempt Him later. However, Luke viewed Jesus" victory here as significant. His lack of reference to the fact that angels then ministered to Jesus ( Matthew 4:11; Mark 1:13) reinforces Jesus" personal victory over Satan. [source][source][source]
"Moses fasted in the middle, Elijah at the end, Jesus at the beginning of His ministry. Moses fasted in the Presence of God; Elijah alone; Jesus assaulted by the Devil. Moses had been called up by God; Elijah had gone forth in the bitterness of his own spirit; Jesus was driven by the Spirit. Moses failed after his forty day"s fast, when in indignation he cast the Tables of the Law from him; Elijah failed before his forty day"s fast; Jesus was assailed for forty days and endured the trial. Moses was angry against Israel; Elijah despaired of Israel; Jesus overcame for Israel." [1][source]
Context Summary
Luke 4:1-13 - The Threefold Temptation
As the waters of Jordan bisect the Holy Land, so does our Lord's baptism bisect His holy life. In that act He had identified Himself with the world's sin; and now, as the High Priest who was to deal with sin and sinners, He must be "in all points" tempted and tested "like as we are."
He took into the wilderness a perfect humanity of flesh and blood, made in all points like His brethren, though without sin. He elected to fight His great fight, not by the use of the divine attributes, but as Son of man. Where the first Adam fell, the second must stand.
First, He could not use His native power for His own gratification. Second, He would abide strictly within the limitations of the world He had entered, Hebrews 2:16-17. Third, He would win His kingdom by the Cross. [source]
Chapter Summary: Luke 4
1The fasting and temptation of Jesus 14He begins to preach 16The people of Nazareth marvel at words, but seek to kill him 33He cures one possessed of a demon, 38Peter's mother-in-law, 40and various other sick persons 41The demons acknowledge Jesus, and are reproved for it 42He preaches through the cities of Galilee
Greek Commentary for Luke 4:13
Every temptation [παντα πειρασμον] These three kinds exhaust the avenues of approach (the appetites, the nerves, the ambitions). Satan tried them all. They formed a cycle (Vincent). Hence “he was in all points tempted like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). “The enemy tried all his weapons, and was at all points defeated” (Plummer). Probably all during the forty days the devil tempted him, but three are representatives of all. [source]
For a season [αχρι καιρου] Until a good opportunity should return, the language means. We are thus to infer that the devil returned to his attack from time to time. In the Garden of Gethsemane he tempted Jesus more severely than here. He was here trying to thwart the purpose of Jesus to go on with his Messianic plans, to trip him at the start. In Gethsemane the devil tried to make Jesus draw back from the culmination of the Cross with all its agony and horror. The devil attacked Jesus by the aid of Peter (Mark 8:33), through the Pharisees (John 8:40.), besides Gethsemane (Luke 22:42,Luke 22:53).d [source]
Had ended all the temptation [] Peculiar to Luke. The verb συντελέσας , from σύν , together, and τελέω , to accomplish, means to bring to one end together; hence to bring to an end utterly. Better therefore as Rev., completed. The temptations formed a complete cycle, so that it could afterward be said of Jesus that “he was in all points tried like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). [source]
All the temptation [πάντα πειρασμὸν] Incorrect. Rev., rightly, every temptation. So Wyc., Every temptation ended. [source]
For a season [ἄχρι καιροῦ] Peculiar to Luke. More strictly, until a convenient time; since Satan meant to assail him again, as he did in the person of Peter (Mark 8:33); by the Pharisees (John 8:40 sq.); and at Gethsemane. See Luke 22:53. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 4:13
Matthew 4:11Angels came [aorist tense προσηλτον] (aorist tense προσηλτον prosēlthon punctiliar action) and were ministering The issues at stake were of vast import as the champions of light and darkness grappled for the mastery of men. Luke 4:13 adds, that the devil left Jesus only “until a good opportunity” (αχρι καιρου achri kairou). [source]
Matthew 4:11and were ministering [διηκονουν] The issues at stake were of vast import as the champions of light and darkness grappled for the mastery of men. Luke 4:13 adds, that the devil left Jesus only “until a good opportunity” (αχρι καιρου achri kairou). [source]
Matthew 4:11unto him [] .” The victory was won in spite of the fast of forty days and the repeated onsets of the devil who had tried every avenue of approach. The angels could cheer him in the inevitable nervous and spiritual reaction from the strain of conflict, and probably also with food as in the case of Elijah (1 Kings 19:6.). The issues at stake were of vast import as the champions of light and darkness grappled for the mastery of men. Luke 4:13 adds, that the devil left Jesus only “until a good opportunity” (αχρι καιρου achri kairou). [source]
Luke 22:3Satan entered into Judas [εισηλτεν εις Ιουδαν] Ingressive aorist active indicative. Satan was now renewing his attack on Jesus suspended temporarily (Luke 4:13) “until a good chance.” He had come back by the use of Simon Peter (Mark 8:33; Matthew 16:23). The conflict went on and Jesus won ultimate victory (Luke 10:18). Now Satan uses Judas and has success with him for Judas allowed him to come again and again (John 13:27). Judas evidently opened the door to his heart and let Satan in. Then Satan took charge and he became a devil as Jesus said (John 6:70). This surrender to Satan in no way relieves Judas of his moral responsibility. [source]
Romans 9:28Finishing it and cutting it short [συντελων και συντεμνων] Present active participles and note συν sun - with each (perfective use of the preposition, finishing completely as in Luke 4:13, cutting off completely or abridging and here only in N.T.) The quotation is from Isaiah 28:22. [source]
Hebrews 8:8I will make [συντελέσω] Rend. I will conclude or consummate. See on Luke 4:13. Only here in Hebrews, and once in Paul, Romans 9:28, a citation. [source]
What do the individual words in Luke 4:13 mean?
Andhaving finishedeverytemptationthedevildepartedfromHimuntilan opportune time
Greek Commentary for Luke 4:13
These three kinds exhaust the avenues of approach (the appetites, the nerves, the ambitions). Satan tried them all. They formed a cycle (Vincent). Hence “he was in all points tempted like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). “The enemy tried all his weapons, and was at all points defeated” (Plummer). Probably all during the forty days the devil tempted him, but three are representatives of all. [source]
Until a good opportunity should return, the language means. We are thus to infer that the devil returned to his attack from time to time. In the Garden of Gethsemane he tempted Jesus more severely than here. He was here trying to thwart the purpose of Jesus to go on with his Messianic plans, to trip him at the start. In Gethsemane the devil tried to make Jesus draw back from the culmination of the Cross with all its agony and horror. The devil attacked Jesus by the aid of Peter (Mark 8:33), through the Pharisees (John 8:40.), besides Gethsemane (Luke 22:42, Luke 22:53).d [source]
Peculiar to Luke. The verb συντελέσας , from σύν , together, and τελέω , to accomplish, means to bring to one end together; hence to bring to an end utterly. Better therefore as Rev., completed. The temptations formed a complete cycle, so that it could afterward be said of Jesus that “he was in all points tried like as we are” (Hebrews 4:15). [source]
Incorrect. Rev., rightly, every temptation. So Wyc., Every temptation ended. [source]
Peculiar to Luke. More strictly, until a convenient time; since Satan meant to assail him again, as he did in the person of Peter (Mark 8:33); by the Pharisees (John 8:40 sq.); and at Gethsemane. See Luke 22:53. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 4:13
(aorist tense προσηλτον prosēlthon punctiliar action) and were ministering The issues at stake were of vast import as the champions of light and darkness grappled for the mastery of men. Luke 4:13 adds, that the devil left Jesus only “until a good opportunity” (αχρι καιρου achri kairou). [source]
The issues at stake were of vast import as the champions of light and darkness grappled for the mastery of men. Luke 4:13 adds, that the devil left Jesus only “until a good opportunity” (αχρι καιρου achri kairou). [source]
.” The victory was won in spite of the fast of forty days and the repeated onsets of the devil who had tried every avenue of approach. The angels could cheer him in the inevitable nervous and spiritual reaction from the strain of conflict, and probably also with food as in the case of Elijah (1 Kings 19:6.). The issues at stake were of vast import as the champions of light and darkness grappled for the mastery of men. Luke 4:13 adds, that the devil left Jesus only “until a good opportunity” (αχρι καιρου achri kairou). [source]
“True to its principle of contrast, this book gives Satan a prominent position” (Abbot). See Luke 4:13; Luke 10:18; Luke 22:3, Luke 22:31. See Introduction. [source]
Ingressive aorist active indicative. Satan was now renewing his attack on Jesus suspended temporarily (Luke 4:13) “until a good chance.” He had come back by the use of Simon Peter (Mark 8:33; Matthew 16:23). The conflict went on and Jesus won ultimate victory (Luke 10:18). Now Satan uses Judas and has success with him for Judas allowed him to come again and again (John 13:27). Judas evidently opened the door to his heart and let Satan in. Then Satan took charge and he became a devil as Jesus said (John 6:70). This surrender to Satan in no way relieves Judas of his moral responsibility. [source]
Present active participles and note συν sun - with each (perfective use of the preposition, finishing completely as in Luke 4:13, cutting off completely or abridging and here only in N.T.) The quotation is from Isaiah 28:22. [source]
Rend. I will conclude or consummate. See on Luke 4:13. Only here in Hebrews, and once in Paul, Romans 9:28, a citation. [source]