Having resisted Satan"s attacks successfully, the enemy departed temporarily (cf. James 4:7). God sent messengers to assist His faithful Son (cf. 1 Kings 19:4-8). The Father rewarded the Son with divine assistance and further opportunity for service because Jesus had remained faithful to Him. This is God"s normal method. [source][source][source]
Many have observed that Satan followed the same pattern of temptation with Jesus that he had used with Eve ( Genesis 3). First, he appealed to the lust of the flesh, the desire to do something apart from God"s will. Second, he appealed to the lust of the eyes, the desire to have something apart from God"s will. Third, he appealed to the pride of life, the desire to be something apart from God"s will (cf. 1 John 2:16). [source][source][source]
"Approaching Jesus three times in Matthew"s story, Satan urges him to place concern for self above allegiance to God." [1][source]
"Each temptation challenges Jesus" faithfulness. Will he provide for himself independently of God"s direction and draw on his power in self-interest (bread)? Will he insist that God protect him by putting God to the test of his protection of the Son (temple)? Will the Son defect from the Father and worship someone else for his own gain (kingdoms)? In each text [2] Jesus stresses his loyalty to the Father as he cites Deuteronomy." [3][source]
"All three of the tests are variations of the one great temptation to remove His Messianic vocation from the guidance of His Father and make it simply a political calling." [4][source]
Each of Jesus" three temptations related to His messiahship: the first to Him personally, the second to the Jews, and the third to all the nations (cf. Matthew 1:1). The twin themes of Jesus" royal kingship and His suffering servanthood, which combined in the name Immanuel, "God with us" ( Matthew 1:23), were in tension in the temptation. They remained in tension and created conflict in Jesus" ministry as it unfolded. [source][source][source]
"In the first temptation Jesus does not deny that He is hungry and able to make bread; in the second, He does not deny that He is the Son of God, and under special protection; and in the third, He does not deny the Kingdom or dominion which is to be given to Him, but only rejects the mode by which it is to be obtained. As observed, if such a Kingdom is not covenanted, predicted, and intended, the temptation would not have any force." [5][source]
"In this pericope [6] we encounter a theme that is vital in the theology of the Gospels. The goal of obedience to the Father is accomplished, not by triumphant self-assertion, not by the exercise of power and authority, but paradoxically by the way of humility, service, and suffering. Therein lies true greatness (cf. Matthew 20:26-28). In fulfilling his commission by obedience to the will of the Father, Jesus demonstrates the rightness of the great commandment ( Deuteronomy 6:5) as well as his own submission to it." [7][source]
"Just as the first Adam met Satan, so the Last Adam met the enemy ( 1 Corinthians 15:45). Adam met Satan in a beautiful Garden, but Jesus met him in a terrible wilderness. Adam had everything he needed, but Jesus was hungry after forty days of fasting. Adam lost the battle and plunged humanity into sin and death. But Jesus won the battle and went on to defeat Satan in more battles, culminating in His final victory on the cross ( John 12:31; Colossians 2:15)." [8][source]
Since Jesus was both God and Prayer of Manasseh , was it possible for him to sin? Most evangelical theologians have concluded that He could not since God cannot sin. They believe He was impeccable (incapable of sinning). If Song of Solomon , was His temptation genuine? Most have responded yes. [9][source]
Henri Nouwen helpfully discussed Jesus" three temptations in relation to leadership in ministry. He saw them as temptations to relevance, popularity, and power, and he suggested prayer, ministry, and being led as antidotes. [3][source]
In the first major section of his Gospel, Matthew showed that Jesus had all the qualifications to be Israel"s Messiah-legally, scripturally, and morally. He was now ready to relate Jesus" presentation of Himself to Israel as her King. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Matthew 4:1-11 - Tempted By The Devil
Then marks the close connection between the heavenly voice of the baptism and the fiery ordeal of the forty days. Notice that temptation is not in itself sin; only when the evil suggestions of the tempter are harbored do they become sin. Notice also that all around us is a dark region of evil, out of which temptations arise. Whenever you have received a conspicuous revelation, you may expect a time of testing. This is God's way of rooting the trees in the soil, and burning in the fair colors which He paints on the vessels that are being made meet for His use.
The first temptation was that our Lord should use for His physical needs the power which had been entrusted to Him, as Son of man, for the service of men. The second was an effort to incite Him to act presumptuously, at the dictate of self-will and apart from the clear guidance of God's Spirit. The third was to attain the throne by a wrong method. It was only by the cross that He could win power to rule and save. See Hebrews 4:15-16; Hebrews 5:8-9. [source]
Chapter Summary: Matthew 4
1Jesus, fasting forty days, 3is tempted by the devil and ministered unto by angels 12He dwells in Capernaum; 17begins to preach; 18calls Peter and Andrew, 21James and John; 23teaches and heals all the diseased
Greek Commentary for Matthew 4:11
Then the devil leaveth him [τοτε απιησιν αυτον ο διαβολος] Note the use of “then” (τοτε tote) again and the historical present. The movement is swift. “And behold” (και ιδου kai idou) as so often in Matthew carries on the life-like picture. [source]
Angels 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]
and 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]
unto 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]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 4:11
Luke 22:43An angel [αγγελος] The angels visited Jesus at the close of the three temptations at the beginning of his ministry (Matthew 4:11). Here the angel comes during the conflict. [source]
What do the individual words in Matthew 4:11 mean?
ThenleavesHimthedevilandbeholdangelscamewere ministeringto Him
Greek Commentary for Matthew 4:11
Note the use of “then” (τοτε tote) again and the historical present. The movement is swift. “And behold” (και ιδου kai idou) as so often in Matthew carries on the life-like picture. [source]
(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]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 4:11
The angels visited Jesus at the close of the three temptations at the beginning of his ministry (Matthew 4:11). Here the angel comes during the conflict. [source]