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Mat 4:2. Νηστεύσας, when He had fasted) no doubt by virtue of His baptism. Fasting implies also abstinence from drink.-ἡμέρας, days) In these days, during this retirement, matters of the greatest importance passed between God and the Mediator.-τεσσαράκοντα, forty) A celebrated measure of time, also, in the lives of Moses and Elijah. But the condition of Moses, when without food, was one of glory; that of Christ (which is more to be wondered at), one of humiliation. An angel brought food to Elijah before his fast commenced; many angels ministered to Christ after His fast ended. Jesus passed forty days before He appeared in public: forty days, as if for the sake of preparation before His ascension.-ὕστερον, afterwards) up to this point it had not been so much a temptation as a preparation for it: cf. the beginning of the following verse.-ἐπείνασε, He hungered) Hunger is a very bitter temptation; thirst He experienced in His passion. This temptation may be compared with that which is described in Genesis 3 : the Tempter employed the same arts; but that cause, which the first-formed pair of the human race had lost, Christ restored.