Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 4:11

"Then the devil leaveth him; and behold, angels came and ministered unto him." — Matthew 4:11 (ASV)

Then the devil leaves him, and behold, angels came and ministered to him.

What a change! When the devil goes, the angels come. Perhaps some of you are just now sorely tempted and much troubled.

Oh, that you might speedily come to Mahanaim, of which we read, And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him; that there you might be met by troops of angels come to minister to you, weary with the conflict with the evil one, just as they ministered to your Lord!

You need them as much as he did, and therefore you are as sure to have them if you look up to him, and ask him to seal them to you.

Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Regarding it as their highest honour to be the servants of their Lord.

The enemy left Him when He had shot his last bolt, but even then he left Him only for a season, intending to return at the first opportunity. Only when he has tried his utmost will the tempter leave a child of God alone, and even then he will watch for another opportunity.

As soon as the evil one had departed, angels appeared to fulfill a ministry for which they eagerly longed, but which the presence of the devil hindered. No doubt they had been hovering near, waiting for their opportunity. These holy beings might not come upon the scene while the battle was being fought, lest they should seem to divide the honors of the day, but when the duel was ended, they hastened to bring food for the body and comfort for the mind of the champion King.

It was a battle royal, and the victory deserved to be celebrated by the courtiers of the heavenly King. Let us behold these angels, learn from their example, and believe that they are also near to all the warriors of the cross in their hour of conflict with the fiend.

O Tempted but Triumphant King, Your servants worship You and ask permission and grace to minister to You as angels did!