SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:2
Y habiendo ayunado cuarenta días y cuarenta noches, despus tuvo hambre.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 4:2
Verse 2. And when he had fasted forty days] It is remarkable that Moses, the great lawgiver of the Jews, previously to his receiving the law from God, fasted forty days in the mount; that Elijah, the chief of the prophets, fasted also forty days; and that Christ, the giver of the New Covenant, should act in the same way. Was not all this intended to show, that God's kingdom on earth was to be spiritual and Divine?-that it should not consist in meat and drink, but in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost? Romans xiv. 17. Relative to the forty days' fast of Moses, there is a beautiful saying in the Talmudists. "Is it possible that any man can fast forty days and forty nights? To which Rabbi Meir answered, When thou takest up thy abode in any particular city, thou must live according to its customs. Moses ascended to heaven, where they neither eat nor drink therefore he became assimilated to them. We are accustomed to eat and drink; and, when angels descend to us, they eat and drink also." Moses, Elijah, and our blessed Lord could fast forty days and forty nights, because they were in communion with God, and living a heavenly life.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. And when he had fasted forty days . etc.] As Moses did, when he was about to deliver the law to the Israelites, ( Exodus 34:28) and as Elijah did, when he bore his testimony for the Lord of hosts, ( 1 Kings 19:8) so did Christ, when he was about to publish the Gospel of his grace, and bear witness to the truth. Forty nights as well as days, are mentioned; partly to show that these were whole entire days, consisting of twenty four hours; and partly to distinguish this fast of Christ from the common fastings of the Jews, who used to eat in the night, though they fasted in the day: for according to their canons f193 , they might eat and drink as soon as it was dark, and that till cock crowing; and others say, till break of day. Maimonides says, they might eat and drink at night, in all fasts, except the ninth of Ab. What is very surprising in this fasting of our Lord, which was made and recorded, not for our imitation, is, that during the whole time he should not be attended with hunger; for it is added, he was afterwards an hungered ; that is, as Luke says, when the forty days were ended, ( Luke 4:2) which seized upon him, and is related, both to express the reality of his human nature, which though miraculously supported for so long a time without food, and insensible of hunger, yet at length had appetite for food; and also that very advantageous opportunity Satan had to attack him in the manner he did, with his first temptation.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Concerning Christ's temptation, observe, that directly after he wa declared to be the Son of God, and the Saviour of the world, he wa tempted; great privileges, and special tokens of Divine favour, wil not secure any from being tempted. But if the Holy Spirit witness to our being adopted as children of God, that will answer all the suggestions of the evil spirit. Christ was directed to the combat. I we presume upon our own strength, and tempt the devil to tempt us, we provoke God to leave us to ourselves. Others are tempted, when draw aside of their own lust, and enticed, Jas 1:14; but our Lord Jesus ha no corrupt nature, therefore he was tempted only by the devil. In the temptation of Christ it appears that our enemy is subtle, spiteful, an very daring; but he can be resisted. It is a comfort to us that Chris suffered, being tempted; for thus it appears that our temptations, is not yielded to, are not sins, they are afflictions only. Satan aimed in all his temptations, to bring Christ to sin against God. 1. He tempte him to despair of his Father's goodness, and to distrust his Father' care concerning him. It is one of the wiles of Satan to take advantag of our outward condition; and those who are brought into straits have need to double their guard. Christ answered all the temptations of Satan with "It is written;" to set us an example, he appealed to what was written in the Scriptures. This method we must take, when at an time we are tempted to sin. Let us learn not to take any wrong course for our supply, when our wants are ever so pressing: in some way of other the Lord will provide. 2. Satan tempted Christ to presume upo his Father's power and protection, in a point of safety. Nor are an extremes more dangerous than despair and presumption, especially in the affairs of our souls. Satan has no objection to holy places as the scene of his assaults. Let us not, in any place, be off our watch. The holy city is the place, where he does, with the greatest advantage tempt men to pride and presumption. All high places are slipper places; advancements in the world makes a man a mark for Satan to shoo his fiery darts at. Is Satan so well versed in Scripture as to be able to quote it readily? He is so. It is possible for a man to have his head full of Scripture notions, and his mouth full of Scriptur expressions, while his heart is full of bitter enmity to God and to all goodness. Satan misquoted the words. If we go out of our way, out of the way of our duty, we forfeit the promise, and put ourselves out of God's protection. This passage, De 8:3, made against the tempter therefore he left out part. This promise is firm and stands good. But shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? No. 3. Satan tempte Christ to idolatry with the offer of the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. The glory of the world is the most charming temptatio to the unthinking and unwary; by that men are most easily imposed upon Christ was tempted to worship Satan. He rejected the proposal with abhorrence. "Get thee hence, Satan!" Some temptations are openl wicked; and they are not merely to be opposed, but rejected at once. It is good to be quick and firm in resisting temptation. If we resist the devil he will flee from us. But the soul that deliberates is almos overcome. We find but few who can decidedly reject such baits as Sata offers; yet what is a man profited if he gain the whole world, and los his own soul? Christ was succoured after the temptation, for his encouragement to go on in his undertaking, and for our encouragement to trust in him; for as he knew, by experience, what it was to suffer being tempted, so he knew what it was to be succoured, being tempted therefore we may expect, not only that he will feel for his tempte people, but that he will come to them with seasonable relief.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ νηστευσας 3522 5660 V-AAP-NSM ημερας 2250 N-APF τεσσαρακοντα 5062 A-NUI και 2532 CONJ νυκτας 3571 N-APF τεσσαρακοντα 5062 A-NUI υστερον 5305 ADV επεινασεν 3983 5656 V-AAI-3S
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:2 {Had fasted} (nesteusas). No perfunctory ceremonial fast, but of communion with the Father in complete abstention from food as in the case of Moses during forty days and forty nights (#Ex 34:28). "The period of the fast, as in the case of Moses was spent in a spiritual ecstasy, during which the wants of the natural body were suspended" (Alford). "He afterward hungered" and so at the close of the period of forty days.
