What does Matthew 4:1-11 mean?

Matthew 4:1 Direct teaching

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Direct teaching

For immediately Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil;

Dionysius of Alexandria, Exegetical Fragments Direct teaching

Thus Jesus was led up of the Spirit, not indeed to enter into temptation, but to be tempted of the devil.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

...it took him out into the wilderness to be tried by the devil. And he was with the beasts. He fasted forty days and forty nights. He ate nothing in those days, and at the end of them he hungered. And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, speak, and these stones will become bread." He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man will not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'" Then the devil brought him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down, for it is written,"

Matthew 4:2 Direct teaching

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Tertullian, On Baptism Supporting witness

Matthew 4:1-4 and that temptations incident to fullness or immoderation of appetite are shattered by abstinence.

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

those forty days during which, though our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ had fasted, He was yet, after He had been baptized, tempted of the devil.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

for even the Lord, when He was first baptized by John, and abode in the wilderness, did afterward fast forty days and forty nights.

Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Supporting witness

For the prophet declares, “And Moses was fasting forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai, that he might receive the testament of the Lord for the people.” And he received from the Lord two tables, written in the spirit by the finger of the hand of the Lord.

Tertullian, On Baptism Supporting witness

The Lord Himself immediately after baptism temptations surrounded, when in forty days He had kept fast.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

But He was baptized, and then fasted, not having Himself any need of cleansing, or of fasting, or of purgation, who was by nature pure and holy;

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

and here, my Lord Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness when He was tempted of the devil, and fasted in like manner forty days.

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Background

For forty days Moses Exodus 24:8 and Elias 1 Kings 19:8 fasted, and lived upon God alone.

Matthew 4:3 Direct teaching

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Deuteronomy 8:3 Background

And he afflicted thee and straitened thee with hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thy fathers knew not; that he might teach thee that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God shall man live.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

Fasting forty days, like Moses and Elias, He afterwards hungered, first, in order that we may perceive that He was a real and substantial man—for it belongs to a man to suffer hunger when fasting;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

nor would He have hungered, fasting those forty days, like Moses and Elias, unless His body was craving after its own proper nourishment;

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

And the tempter came and said to him, If you are the Son of God, speak, and these stones shall become 46 bread.

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness

And thou temptedst the very “Lord of glory,” forgetting in thy malevolence that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” For if thou hadst known that He was the Son of God, thou wouldst also have understood that He who had kept his body from feeling any want for forty days and as many nights, could have also done the same for ever.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

For, when tempting Him, he said, “If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.” But the Lord repulsed him by the commandment of the law, saying, “It is written, Man doth not live by bread alone.” As to those words [of His enemy,] “If thou be the Son of God,” [the Lord] made no remark;

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness

But after His [lengthened] fast thou didst again assume thy wonted audacity, and didst tempt Him when hungry, as if He had been an ordinary man, not knowing who He was.

Ignatius, Epistles of Ignatius Supporting witness

...not know the reason for it. But after His extended fast, you again assumed your usual audacity, and tempted Him when hungry, as if He were an ordinary man, not knowing who He was. For you said, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” Now, this expression, “If you are the Son,” indicates ignorance. For if you had real knowledge, you would have understood that the Creator can with equal ease both create what does not exist and change what already exists. And you tempted Him through hunger, who nourishes all that require food. And you tempted the very “Lord of glory,” forgetting in your malevolence that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” For if you had known that He was the Son of God, you would have also understood that He who had kept his body from feeling any want for forty days and just as many nights, could also have done so forever. Why, then, does He suffer hunger? To prove that He had taken on a body subject to the same feelings as those of ordinary men. By the first fact, He showed that He was God, and by the second that He was also man.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Supporting witness

...and used the Father's commandment to help destroy and confuse the apostate angel. After fasting for forty days, like Moses and Elijah, He became hungry, first to show He was a real and tangible man—because it's human to be hungry when fasting—and second, to give His opponent a chance to attack Him. Just as in the beginning the enemy persuaded man to disobey God’s commandments with food, even though man wasn't hungry, in the end, he failed to persuade the hungry Christ to take food. When tempting Him, he said, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” But the Lord repelled him with the law's commandment, saying, “It is written, Man does not live by bread alone.” He did not comment on the enemy's words, “If you are the Son of God,” but by acknowledging His humanity, He baffled His adversary and weakened his first attack with His Father's words. Thus, the corruption of man in paradise, where both parents ate, was undone by the Lord’s lack of food in this world. Being defeated by the law, the enemy tried another assault by quoting a commandment himself. He took Jesus to the highest point of the temple and said, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down

Matthew 4:7 Direct teaching

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching

49 Matthew 4:7 Jesus said to him, And it is written also, You shall not tempt the Lord your 50 God.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

...dures, that person is indeed tempted, but he has not entered into temptation or fallen under it. So Jesus was led up by the Spirit, not to enter into temptation, but to be tempted by the devil. Abraham also did not enter into temptation, and God did not lead him into temptation, but He tempted him, that is, He tried him; yet He did not drive him into temptation. The Lord Himself, moreover, tempted the disciples, that is, He tried them. And so, when the wicked one tempts us, he draws us into temptations, since he himself deals in temptations of evil. But when God tempts, that is, tries, He brings forward temptations as One who is not tempted by evil. For it is said, "God cannot be tempted by evil." Therefore, the devil drives us forward by force, pulling us toward destruction. But God leads us by the hand, training us for our salvation.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

...ays of man are labor and trouble.” But you may perhaps say, “What difference is there between being tempted, and falling into temptation or entering into temptation?” Well, if a person is overcome by evil—and he will be overcome unless he struggles against it himself, and unless God protects him with His shield—that person has entered into temptation and is in it, and is brought under it like someone led away captive. But if a person resists and endures, that person is indeed tempted, but he has not entered into temptation or fallen into it. So Jesus was led up by the Spirit, not to enter into temptation, but to be tempted by the devil. And Abraham also did not enter into temptation, nor did God lead him into temptation, but He tempted him, that is, tried him. Yet He did not drive him into temptation. Moreover, the Lord Himself tempted, that is, tried, the disciples. In this way, when the wicked one tempts us, he draws us into temptations, because he himself deals in evil temptations. But when God tempts, that is, tries, He brings forward temptations, that is, trials, as One who is not tempted by evil. For it is said, “God cannot be tempted by evil.” Therefore, the devil drives

Dionysius of Alexandria, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

...me near, but does not stay settled with him permanently, so the Saviour's first request is that the temptation which has come softly and plainly upon Him, and has associated itself lightly with Him, may be turned aside. And this is the first form of that freedom from falling into temptation, which He also counsels the weaker disciples to make the subject of their prayers. That is, it concerns the approach of temptation. For offenses must come, and yet those to whom they come ought not to fall into the temptation. But the most perfect way in which this freedom from entering into temptation is shown is what He expresses in His second request, when He says not only, "Not as I will," but also, "but as You will." For with God there is no temptation in evil. But He wills to give us good far beyond what we ask or think. Therefore, the Beloved Himself knew that God's will is the perfect will. And often He says that He has come to do that will, and not His own will, that is to say, the will of men. For He takes to Himself the person of men, as having been made man. Therefore also on this occasion He asks that the inferior thing should not be done, which is His own, and begs that the supe

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Twelve Topics on the Faith Supporting witness

He was tempted in the wilderness, not as giving way, however, to temptation, but as putting our temptations before Himself on the challenge of the tempter, in order to show the powerlessness of the tempter.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, Twelve Topics on the Faith Supporting witness

...lding to temptation, however, but as placing our temptations before Himself at the challenge of the tempter, in order to show the tempter's lack of power.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching

For this devil, when [Jesus] went up from the river Jordan, at the time when the voice spake to Him, ‘Thou art my Son: this day have I begotten Thee,’ is recorded in the memoirs of the apostles to have come to Him and tempted Him, even so far as to say to Him, ‘Worship me;’ and Christ answered him, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan: thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.’ For as he had deceived Adam, so he hoped that he might contrive some mischief against Christ also.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

But He destroyed and overthrew the devil, having proved him to be wicked, in that he asked to be worshipped as God, contrary to the Scripture;

Tertullian, Scorpiace Supporting witness

... be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles," Matthew 10:16. Now when He adds, "But brother will hand over brother to death, and the father the child; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death," He has clearly announced, with reference to the others, this kind of unrighteous conduct, which we do not find shown in the case of the apostles. For none of them experienced a father or a brother as a betrayer, which very many of us have. Then He returns to the apostles: "And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake." How much more will this be true of us, for whom there is the necessity of being handed over even by parents. Thus, by assigning this very betrayal now to the apostles, now to all, He pours out the same destruction on all the possessors of the name, on whom the name will rest together with the condition that it is an object of hatred. "But he who will endure to the end, this man will be saved." By enduring what, if not persecution, betrayal, and death? For to endure to the end is nothing else than to suffer the end. And therefore there immediately follow the words, "The dis

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Direct teaching

...urning their fault. It is enough, I say, that from the time they humbly present themselves, another forty days should be required of them, to keep these things in their remembrance. These are the forty days during which our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, though He had fasted, was still tempted by the devil after He had been baptized. And when they have, during these days, disciplined themselves greatly and fasted continually, then let them keep watch in prayer, thinking about what the Lord said to the one who tempted Him, when he told Him to fall down and worship him: "Get behind me, Satan; for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve." Matthew 4:10

Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness

...ar has passed since they first mourned over their fall. So he decrees that, as an added punishment, forty more days should be laid on them from the time they came asking to be admitted to communion, instead of any further severity. During this time they were to practice an even greater degree of repentance and to fast more earnestly, that is, with more careful attention, guarding themselves, staying watchful in prayer, and meditating on, that is, continually turning over in their minds and speaking aloud, the text quoted by the Lord against the tempter: "Get behind me, Satan; for it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only shall you serve."

Archelaus, Disputation with Manes Supporting witness

...re to speak on that, no one would believe you. For immediately Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And because the devil had no true knowledge of Him, he said to Him, 'If You are the Son of God.' Besides, he did not understand the reason for this bearing of the Son of God by Mary, who preached the kingdom of heaven, and whose was indeed also a great tabernacle, one that could not have been prepared by any other. From this, too, He who was nailed to the cross, after rising again from the dead, was taken up there where Christ the Son of God reigned. So, when He begins to carry out His judgment, those who have been ignorant of Him will look on Him whom they pierced. But in order to secure your belief, I put this question to you: Why was it that although His disciples stayed with Him a whole year, not one of them fell prostrate on his face before Him, as you were saying a little ago, except only in that one hour when His face shone like the sun? Was it not because of that tabernacle made for Him from Mary? For just as no one else had the strength to bear the burden of the Paraclete except only the disciples and the blessed Paul, so also no one

Matthew 4:6 Background

and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”