Luke 4:2 · Clearspring

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Other translations

WEBBE

for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.

BSB

where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.

KJV

Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

ASV

during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.

BBE

For forty days, being tested by the Evil One. And he had no food in those days; and when they came to an end, he was in need of food.

Original Greek

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ἡμέρας hēmeras days G2250 τεσσεράκοντα tesserakonta forty G5062 πειραζόμενος peirazomenos being tempted G3985 ὑπὸ hupo by G5259 τοῦ tou the G3588 διαβόλου diabolou devil G1228 καὶ kai And G2532 οὐκ ouk not G3756 ἔφαγεν ephagen He ate G5315 οὐδὲν ouden no [thing] G3762 ἐν en in G1722 ταῖς tais the G3588 ἡμέραις hēmerais days G2250 ἐκείναις ekeinais those G1565 καὶ kai and G2532 συντελεσθεισῶν suntelestheisōn when were ending G4931 αὐτῶν autōn they G846 ὕστερον husteron afterward G5306 ἐπείνασεν epeinasen He was hungry G3983

The early church

All 12

But Jesus is tempted by the devil forty days, and what the temptations were we know not. They were perhaps omitted, as being greater than could be committed to writing.

Origen of Alexandria · d. 253Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(ubi sup.) But because not to suffer hunger is above the nature of man, our Lord took upon Himself the feeling of hunger, and submitted Himself as it pleased Him to human nature, both to do and to suffer those things which were His own. Hence it follows: And those days being ended, he was a hungered. Not forced to that necessity which overpowers nature, but as if provoking the devil to the conflict. For the devil, knowing that wherever hunger is there is weakness, sets about to tempt Him, and as the deviser or inventer of temptations, Christ permitting him tries to persuade Him to satisfy His appetite with the stones. As it follows; But the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command these stones that they be made bread.

Basil of Caesarea · d. 379Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Or, the Lord remained for forty days untempted, for the devil knew that He fasted, yet hungered not, and dared not therefore approach Him. Hence it follows: And he eat nothing in those days. He fasted indeed, to show that He who would gird Himself for struggles against temptation must be temperate and sober. (ex Const. Mon.) But we must not however so use the flesh, that through want of food our strength should waste away, nor that by excess of mortification our understandings wax dull and heavy. Our Lord therefore, once performed this work, but during this whole succeeding time He governed His body with due order, and so in like manner did Moses and Elias.

Basil of Caesarea · d. 379Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(Orat. 40.) He fasted in truth forty days, eating nothing. (For He was God.) But we regulate our fasting according to our strength, although the zeal of some persuades them to fast beyond what they are able.

Gregory of Nazianzus · d. 390Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

But mark the mystical number of days. For you remember that for forty days the waters of the deep were poured forth, and by sanctifying a fast of that number of days, He brings before us the returning mercies of a calmer sky. By a fast of so many days also, Moses earned for himself the understanding of the law. Our fathers being for so many years settled in the wilderness, obtained the food of Angels.

Ambrose of Milan · d. 397Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 1–13

Christ's being led into the wilderness gave an advantage to the tempter; for there he was alone, none were with him by whose prayers and advice he might be helped in the hour of temptation. He who knew his own strength might give Satan advantage; but we may not, who know our own weakness. Being in all things made like unto his brethren, Jesus would, like the other children of God, live in dependence upon the Divine Providence and promise. The word of God is our sword, and faith in that word is our shield. God has many ways of providing for his people, and therefore is at all times to be depended upon in the way of duty. All Satan's promises are deceitful; and if he is permitted to have any influence in disposing of the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, he uses them as baits to insnare men to destruction. We should reject at once and with abhorrence, every opportunity of sinful gain or advancement, as a price offered for our souls; we should seek riches, honours, and happiness in the worship and service of God only. Christ will not worship Satan; nor, when he has the kingdoms of the world delivered to him by his Father, will he suffer any remains of the worship of the devil to continue in them. Satan also tempted Jesus to be his own murderer, by unfitting confidence in his Father's protection, such as he had no warrant for. Let not any abuse of Scripture by Satan or by men abate our esteem, or cause us to abandon its use; but let us study it still, seek to know it, and seek our defence from it in all kinds of assaults. Let this word dwell richly in us, for it is our life. Our victorious Redeemer conquered, not for himself only, but for us also. The devil ended all the temptation. Christ let him try all his force, and defeated him. Satan saw it was to no purpose to attack Christ, who had nothing in him for his fiery darts to fasten upon. And if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Yet he departed but till the season when he was again to be let loose upon Jesus, not as a tempter, to draw him to sin, and so to strike at his head, at which he now aimed and was wholly defeated in; but as a persecutor, to bring Christ to suffer, and so to bruise his heel, which it was told him, he should have to do, and would do, though it would be the breaking of his own head, Ge 3:15. Though Satan depart for a season, we shall never be out of his reach till removed from this present evil world.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 4 →

Parallel passages

2

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 4:1–2 Mark 1:12–13

Cross-references

15

Topics

Satan Fasting Hunger