Matthew 4:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The devil departs, and angels come to care for Jesus after his ordeal.
What Does Matthew 4:11 Mean?
With the tempter answered at every turn, "the devil leaveth him." The threefold test is finished, and the field is won. Then, where the tempter had earlier dared Jesus to summon angels for show, angels now come unbidden to minister to him -- not for spectacle, but in quiet care for one worn by the trial.
Relief comes after faithfulness, not before it. Jesus refused to demand angelic rescue, and so received angelic comfort in God's own timing. The verse holds a gentle promise: those who endure testing are not abandoned at the end of it. God sends help when the battle is past, tending his servants when they have stood firm.
Matthew 4:11 in the Original Language
diekonoun (διηκόνουν), 'ministered' -- to serve or wait upon, attending to another's needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 4:11
What does Matthew 4:11 mean?
The devil departs, and angels come to care for Jesus after his ordeal.