1 Then - After this glorious evidence of his Father's love,
he was completely armed for the combat. Thus after the clearest light and
the strongest consolation, let us expect the sharpest temptations. By the
Spirit - Probably through a strong inward impulse. Mark 1:12; Luke 4:1.
2 Having fasted - Whereby doubtless he received more abundant spiritual
strength from God. Forty days and forty nights - As did Moses, the giver
of the law, and Elijah, the great restorer of it. He was afterward hungry
- And so prepared for the first temptation.
3 Coming to him - In a visible form; probably in a human shape, as one
that desired to inquire farther into the evidences of his being the Messiah.
4 It is written - Thus Christ answered, and thus we may answer all the
suggestions of the devil. By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth
of God - That is, by whatever God commands to sustain him. Therefore it
is not needful I should work a miracle to procure bread, without any intimation
of my Father's will. Deut 8:3.
5 The holy city - So Jerusalem was commonly called, being the place
God had peculiarly chosen for himself. On the battlement of the temple
- Probably over the king's gallery, which was of such a prodigious height,
that no one could look down from the top of it without making himself giddy.
6 In their hands - That is, with great care. Psalm 91:11,12.
7 Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God - By requiring farther evidence
of what he hath already made sufficiently plain. Deut 6:16.
8 Showeth him all the kingdoms of the world - In a kind of visionary
representation.
9 If thou wilt fall down and worship me - Here Satan clearly shows who
he was. Accordingly Christ answering this suggestion, calls him by his
own name, which he had not done before.
10 Get thee hence, Satan - Not, get thee behind me, that is, into thy
proper place; as he said on a quite different occasion to Peter, speaking
what was not expedient. Deut 6:13.
11 Angels came and waited upon him - Both to supply him with food, and
to congratulate his victory.
