The Irony of a Hungry Saviour

Hungry, yet feeding others. Refusing to make bread for Himself, but giving His own body as bread for us.

Chris Hutchison on November 10, 2020

Matthew 4:2 says that after “fasting forty days and forty nights,” Jesus “was hungry.” Commenting on this verse, D.A. Carson writes,

Jesus’ hunger introduces us to a number of ironies to which Matthew more or less explicitly alludes:

– Jesus is hungry (v. 2) but feeds others (Matthew 14:13–21; 15:29–39);

– he grows weary (Matthew 8:24) but offers others rest (Matthew 11:28);

– he is the King Messiah but pays tribute (Matthew 17:24–27);

– he is called the devil but casts out demons (Matthew 12:22–32);

– he dies the death of a sinner but comes to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21);

– he is sold for thirty pieces of silver but gives his life a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28);

– he will not turn stones to bread for himself (Matthew 4:3–4) but gives his own body as bread for people (Matthew 26:26).

D. A. Carson, “Matthew,” in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 8 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984), 112.
Chris Hutchison
Chris Hutchison is the lead pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Nipawin, SK. Have any feedback or questions about what you've read here? Send him an email at .
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