Matthew 4 · Verse 11

Matthew 4:11

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
Matthew 4:11, King James Version

Matthew 4:11 in other translations

BSBThen the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
WEBThen the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
ASVThen the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
YLTThen doth the Devil leave him, and lo, messengers came and were ministering to him.
DARBYThen the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.
BBEThen the Evil One went away from him, and angels came and took care of him.
WebsterThen the devil leaveth him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

What does Matthew 4:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
11. Then the devil leaveth him--Luke says, "And when the devil had exhausted"--or "quite ended," as in Lu 4:2--"every (mode of) temptation, he departed from him till a season." The definite "season" here indicated is expressly referred to by our Lord in Joh 14:30 and Lu 22:52, 53. and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him--or supplied Him with food, as the same expression means in Mr 1:31 and Lu 8:3. Thus did angels to Elijah (1Ki 19:5-8). Excellent critics think that they ministered, not food only, but supernatural support and cheer also. But this would be the natural effect rather than the direct object of the visit, which was plainly what we have expressed. And after having refused to claim the illegitimate ministration of angels in His behalf, oh, with what deep joy would He accept their services when sent, unasked, at the close of all this temptation, direct from Him whom He had so gloriously honored! What "angels' food" would this repast be to Him! and as He partook of it, might not a Voice from heaven be heard again, by any who could read the Father's mind, "Said I not well, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased?"

Mt 4:12-25. Christ Begins His Galilean Ministry--Calling of Peter and Andrew, James and John--His First Galilean Circuit. ( = Mr 1:14-20, 35-39; Lu 4:14, 15).

There is here a notable gap in the history, which but for the fourth Gospel we should never have discovered. From the former Gospels we should have been apt to draw three inferences, which from the fourth one we know to be erroneous: First, that our Lord awaited the close of John's ministry, by his arrest and imprisonment, before beginning His own; next, that there was but a brief interval between the baptism of our Lord and the imprisonment of John; and further, that our Lord not only opened His work in Galilee, but never ministered out of it, and never visited Jerusalem at all nor kept a passover till He went thither to become "our Passover, sacrificed for us." The fourth Gospel alone gives the true succession of events; not only recording those important openings of our Lord's public work which preceded the Baptist's imprisonment--extending to the end of the third chapter--but so specifying the passover which occurred during our Lord's ministry as to enable us to line off, with a large measure of certainty, the events of the first three Gospels according to the successive passovers which they embraced. Eusebius, the ecclesiastical historian, who, early in the fourth century, gave much attention to this subject, in noticing these features of the Evangelical Records, says [Ecclesiastical History, 3.24] that John wrote his Gospel at the entreaty of those who knew the important materials he possessed, and filled up what is wanting in the first three Gospels. Why it was reserved for the fourth Gospel, published at so late a period, to supply such important particulars in the life of Christ, it is not easy to conjecture with any probability. It may be, that though not unacquainted with the general facts, they were not furnished with reliable details. But one thing may be affirmed with tolerable certainty, that as our Lord's teaching at Jerusalem was of a depth and grandeur scarcely so well adapted to the prevailing character of the first three Gospels, but altogether congenial to the fourth; and as the bare mention of the successive passovers, without any account of the transactions and discourses they gave rise to, would have served little purpose in the first three Gospels, there may have been no way of preserving the unity and consistency of each Gospel, so as to furnish by means of them all the precious information we get from them, save by the plan on which they are actually constructed. Entry into Galilee (Mt 4:12-17).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. The devil leaveth him. The devil left him for a time, Lk 4:13. He intended to return again to the temptation, and if possible to seduce him yet from God.

And, behold, angels came and ministered. See Mt 1:20. They came and supplied his wants, and comforted him. From the whole of this we may learn,

(1.) That no one is so holy as to be free from temptation; for the pure Son of God was sorely tempted by the devil.

(2.) That when God permits a temptation or trial to come upon us, he will, if we look to him, give us grace to resist and overcome it, 1Cor 10:3.

(3.) We see the art of the tempter. His temptations are adapted to times and circumstances. They are plausible. What could have been, more plausible than his suggestions to Christ? They were applicable to his circumstances. They had the appearance of much piety. They were backed by passages of Scripture--misapplied, but still most artfully presented. He never comes boldly and tempts men to sin, telling them that they are committing sin. Such a mode would defeat his design. It would put people on their guard. He commences, therefore, artfully, plausibly, and the real purpose does not appear till he has prepared the mind for it. This is the way with all temptation. No wicked man would at once tempt another to be profane, to be drunk, to be an infidel, or to commit adultery.. The principles are first corrupted; the confidence is secured; the affections are won; and then the allurement is by little and little presented, till the victim fails. How should every one be on his guard at the very first appearance of evil, at the first suggestion that may possibly lead to evil.

(4.) One of the best ways of meeting temptation is by applying Scripture. So our Saviour did, and they will always best succeed who best wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, Eph 6:17.

(h) "angels came and ministered" Heb 1:6,14

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Behold, angels came and ministered unto him - That is, brought that food which was necessary to support nature. The name given to Satan in the third verse is very emphatic, ο πειραζων, the tempter, or trier, from πειρω, to pierce through. To this import of the name there seems to be an allusion, Eph 6:16 : The fiery Darts of the wicked one. This is the precise idea of the word in Deu 8:2. To humble thee, and to prove thee, To Know What Was In Thy Heart: לנסתך linesteca, πειραση σε, Lxx. that he might bore thee through. The quality and goodness of many things are proved by piercing or boring through; for this shows what is in the heart. Perhaps nothing tends so much to discover what we are, as trials either from men or devils. Shalt thou serve, or pay religious veneration, λατρευσεις. This is Mr. Wakefield's translation, and I think cannot be mended. Λατρεια comes from λα, very much, and τρεω, I tremble. When a sinner approaches the presence of God, conscious of His infinite holiness and justice, and of his own vileness, he will then fully comprehend what this word means. See this religious reverence exemplified in the case of Moses, when in the presence of God; I exceedingly fear, said he, and tremble, Heb 12:21. And yet this fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. See the observations at the end of the chapter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 4:1-11

Concerning Christ's temptation, observe, that directly after he was declared to be the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world, he was tempted; great privileges, and special tokens of Divine favour, will not secure any from being tempted. But if the Holy Spirit witness to our being adopted as children of God, that will answer all the suggestions of the evil spirit. Christ was directed to the combat. If we presume…

Read the full comment on Matthew 4:1-11 →

Matthew 4:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

τότεtoteThenG5119
ἀφίησινaphiēsinleavesG863
αὐτὸνautonHimG846
ὁhotheG3588
διάβολος,diabolosdevil,G1228
καὶkaiandG2532
ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400
ἄγγελοιangeloiangelsG32
προσῆλθονprosēlthoncameG4334
καὶkaiandG2532
διηκόνουνdiēkonounthey were ministeringG1247
αὐτῷ.¶autōto Him.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 4:11

  • Matthew 26:53

    Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?

  • Luke 22:43

    And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

  • Hebrews 1:14

    Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

  • Revelation 5:11-12

    And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

  • Luke 4:13

    And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

  • Matthew 28:2-5

    And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

  • Luke 22:53

    When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

  • Hebrews 1:6

    And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

  • Matthew 4:6

    And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • Mark 1:13

    And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

  • John 14:30

    Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the devil.
Lu 4:13; 22:53; Joh 14:30
behold.
6; 26:53; 28:2-5; Mr 1:13; Lu 22:43; 1Ti 3:16; Heb 1:6,14
Re 5:11,12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 4:10

    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

  • Matthew 4:11

    Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

  • Matthew 4:12

    Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;

Read all of Matthew 4

Matthew 4:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		El diablo entonces le dejó: y he aquí los ángeles llegaron y le servían.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Alors le diable le laisse: et voici, des anges s’approchèrent et le servirent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Dann verläßt ihn der Teufel, und siehe, Engel kamen herzu und dienten ihm.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Tunc reliquit eum diabolus: et ecce angeli accesserunt, et ministrabant ei.