Man Shall Not Live By Bread Alone

Matt. 4:3,4: Lk.4:3,4

And when the tempter (The Devil) came to Him, he said, If You are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (that proceeds out of the mouth of God.")

This passage has always fascinated me, ever since I began studying the Bible. The temptation to command the stones be made bread is one that to the common person makes sense. You're hungry, so why not eat. After all, you've been in the wilderness, fasted a very long time and after all, you have the power to do it. So, why not? After all, IF you are the Son of God then you should be able to.

Jesus answers this by quoting the sum of Deut.8:1-3 ""Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (that proceeds out of the mouth of God.")."

Let's look further at Deut.8:1-3. Deuteronomy was written to the 2nd generation of Israel to come out of Egypt. The children and grandchildren of the original group that came out of the Exodus.

"All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to give to your forefathers. You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD."

This was a reminder to them to remember God and what God had done and provided for them in His grace over the years that they had wandered in the wilderness. To remember that there is a difference between NEED and WANT, and that just because I WANT something does not make it God's Will that I get it or have it. Whether we wish to admit it or not, our existence itself is by the sheer will of God. Neh.9:6 states, "You alone are the LORD, Creator of the heavens and all the stars, Creator of the earth and those who live on it, Creator of the ocean and all its creatures. You are the source of life (AMP You preserve them all, NASB You give life to all of them, YLT Thou art keeping all of them alive) praised by the stars that fill the heavens."

Thus, for me to state that I WANT something, without considering God's Will in it, is a foolish thing. There isn't anything that I have, that God has NOT provided. Air to breath, food to eat, shelter over my head, my health, etc. One might try to argue, that these are man's to do with what he wants. Heb.1:3 states, "upholding all that exists by his powerful word.." Once again, if God upholds ALL that exists, then doesn't it make sense that I should consider what HE wants me to do in all things?

Jesus responds to Satan, that man doesn't live by bread alone. He lives by God's will and as such, should live by the words which God has spoken (Heb.1:1-3; Jn.12:48). We should remember every day all that God has done for us, brought to us, given to us and in thanks - live by the Word that He in His Grace has also given us.

Next time, we'll explore further into these text and responses to see what else we can learn.

Jim