Matthew 4:11 - Exposition

The devil leaveth him ; Luke, "departed from him for a season." For though there are crises of temptation, the devil never finally gives up his attack while the object of it is still on earth. May not even direct assaults be included in the remarkable epitome of Messianic life found in Luke 22:28 ? And, behold, angels came and ministered unto him . Kept back before both by the presence of the evil one, and by the need for the God-Man to contend alone, they now came up to him and ministered to him so long as they could be helpful (for the change of tenses, cf. Matthew 8:15 ). Mark however ( Mark 1:13 ) implies that they had been present at other times than after this last crisis. Ministered ; possibly supplying his bodily need (cf. Matthew 8:15 ; Luke 10:40 ); but as, after all, bodily sustenance is but secondary to spiritual, the latter must at least be included (cf. Hebrews 1:14 ). In Luke 22:43 the "strengthening" would appear to be of his whole nature within and without, through the medium of his spirit.