Scripture: 11 Then the devil left Him, and angels came and attended Him.
Observation: Today, at the end of the temptations narrative, I want to wrap up both by looking at verse 11 and by zooming back out to see the passage as a whole.
This passage begins and ends with narration that points to Jesus’ authentic humanity. In verse 2, we read that He was hungry after fasting forty days and nights. Here in verse 11, we read that after concluding a fast and moving directly to spiritual combat with the devil, “angels came and attended Him.” The picture evoked by that simple phrase is of Jesus in a weakened state, in need of help to be renewed and ready to go forward. This is not spelled out as such, of course. But neither is it wild speculation.
Building on this point, the text might be inviting us to ask how Jesus withstood the devil’s temptations if He wasn’t “cheating.” To emphasize in scripture what we affirm in doctrine about the full humanity of Jesus is to invite and perhaps even compel us to read the temptation back-and-forth less as God and Satan duking it out but more as a man who is supremely devoted to God (see the baptism and statements to the devil), firm in His identity in God (see the baptism blessing), and empowered by the Spirit with nothing in His life inhibiting the Spirit’s presence and power (again, the Spirit’s descent on Him in 3:16 and His trusting obedience in 4:1).
In refusing to underplay Jesus’ humanity, we see an model par excellence who shows us that, though we can and will fall in battles with temptation, it isn’t a foregone conclusion that we must every time. Jesus shows us the way of devotion. Hold firm to our identity in God, walk in step with the Spirit, stay grounded in the scriptures.
Finally, I just want to note that Jesus commanded the devil to leave and he did:
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (4:10-11)
Simple as that. Jesus’ authority is powerful.
Application:
How does Jesus’ example empower you when facing temptation?
How does Jesus’ authority impact how you deal with temptation?
What is the Holy Spirit speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, ground me in your Gospel, deepen my devotion, and lead me to victory through your Spirit’s work within me. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
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“How does Jesus’ authority impact how you deal with temptation?”
Jesus is the ultimate example of perfect faithfulness. He was given great authority by God. He could have made himself a powerful earthly King but He remained faithful to His father and humbled before Him. Jesus easily turned from sin and He is the Way to salvation.
“How does Jesus’ example empower you when facing temptation?”
Power through faithfulness given to us through the scripture. If we are faithful, God will be faithful to us in times of temptation. We have to be strong in His word.