Matthew 4:4

Berean Standard Bible

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

King James Bible

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

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This verse records Jesus’ response to the devil’s first temptation in the wilderness and stands as one of the most theologically weighty and spiritually instructive moments in the entire New Testament. Here, Jesus draws from Scripture—specifically from Deuteronomy 8:3—not only to rebut Satan’s challenge but to reveal a foundational truth about the nature of life, sustenance, and dependence on God. Every part of Jesus’ reply is rich with implication, showing not just his command of Scripture but his total orientation toward the Father’s will, even in the face of pressing human need.

Jesus begins with the words, “It is written.” This phrase is not just a reference to text; it is an assertion of divine authority. In the face of temptation, Jesus does not argue from personal logic or subjective feeling. He does not say, “I think,” or “I believe,” or even appeal to his own divine identity. He submits to Scripture, placing himself under its authority, treating it as the final word in discerning right from wrong. This is deeply significant, for if Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, combats temptation by quoting and obeying the written Word, how much more should his followers be rooted in Scripture? His use of “It is written” is both a defense and a declaration: God's Word is sufficient, God's Word is final, and God’s Word is life.

The content of the quotation itself—“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God”—is drawn from Moses’ reflection to the Israelites about their time in the wilderness. In that context, Moses reminds them that God allowed them to hunger and then fed them with manna to teach them that life is not sustained merely by physical food but by obedience and trust in God's provision. By quoting this, Jesus aligns himself with Israel’s wilderness experience but also shows that he is the fulfillment of what Israel was meant to be: obedient, trusting, and faithful under testing.

The phrase “man shall not live by bread alone” does not deny the legitimacy of physical needs. Jesus does not reject bread as unnecessary or evil. Rather, he places it in proper perspective. Bread, or by extension any material provision, is not sufficient in and of itself to sustain true life. There is a deeper sustenance required—something spiritual, eternal, and relational. Jesus points to the reality that human beings are not mere biological organisms driven solely by appetite and survival. We are spiritual creatures, created to live in communion with God, and our ultimate sustenance comes not from material resources but from God’s self-disclosure—his Word, his will, his guidance, his presence.

The contrast between bread and the word of God is not about choosing one and rejecting the other, but about recognizing what is primary. Bread alone cannot satisfy the human soul. It cannot direct the moral life, nourish the spirit, or reconcile us to God. But the word that comes from God—whether that word is law, promise, command, or gospel—gives life in the truest sense. It is this Word that spoke creation into being, this Word that formed Israel as a nation, and this Word that is now embodied in Jesus himself. In choosing to rely on God's word rather than performing a miracle to feed himself, Jesus affirms that obedience to the Father is more life-giving than food itself.

There is also a profound humility and submission in Jesus’ response. Satan had tempted him to use his divine power to serve himself, to prove his identity and satisfy his hunger by turning stones into bread. But Jesus refuses to act apart from the Father’s will. He does not take matters into his own hands, even though he is fully capable of doing so. He will not grasp for provision on his own terms. Instead, he chooses to remain dependent on God, even in physical weakness. This is an astonishing reversal of the human impulse. Most people, when faced with deprivation, seek immediate relief. Jesus waits. He trusts. He obeys.

This moment also serves as a revelation of what it means to be the true Son of God. Whereas Adam, the first man, fell when tempted by appetite in the garden—choosing to eat what God had forbidden—Jesus, the second Adam, triumphs by refusing to eat what God has not provided. In this way, he begins to reverse the curse brought by the first disobedience. He is not only undoing Israel’s wilderness failures but also humanity’s primal fall. In the wilderness, Jesus embodies perfect sonship—he lives in total harmony with the will of the Father, nourished not by miracles on demand but by the sustaining word of God.

There is also a challenge embedded in Jesus' words to every reader and hearer. What do we live by? What do we rely on for our security, meaning, and sustenance? Bread represents more than food—it symbolizes all that we think we need to survive: money, control, recognition, comfort. Jesus exposes the insufficiency of these things. They can never give life in its fullness. The Word of God, however—God’s revealed truth, will, and presence—is the true source of life. This forces us to consider whether we are feeding only our bodies or also our souls, whether we are seeking life in things that perish or in the One who speaks eternal words.

In resisting the temptation, Jesus also demonstrates how the Word of God must be internalized. He does not need to search for a scroll or ask for advice. The Scripture is already written on his heart. He has meditated on it, absorbed it, lived it. It is ready on his lips, not as a magical incantation, but as the natural outflow of a mind and will shaped by truth. This is a profound model for spiritual warfare. When tempted, we do not rely on sheer willpower or emotional strength. We cling to what is written, to what God has spoken, allowing his Word to define reality and guide our response.

Thus, Matthew 4:4 is not simply a rebuttal to a single temptation—it is a manifesto for the entire life of discipleship. It declares that God’s Word is enough. It calls us to trust in his timing, to rest in his provision, and to resist the urge to take matters into our own hands. In a culture driven by appetite and immediacy, Jesus’ words are radically countercultural. They call us into a deeper dependence, a slower pace, a quieter trust. And they remind us that life, in its truest sense, begins not when all our needs are met, but when we are aligned with the voice that spoke the world into being and still speaks today.

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Grace and peace be unto you, beloved, in the name of our Lord and Savior, who is the Word made flesh and who sustains us with truth everlasting. It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” In this declaration, spoken by our Lord Himself in the hour of temptation, we find the foundation of life, the substance of all that sustains and nourishes the soul.

The world seeks to satisfy itself with bread—its labor is for that which perishes, its striving is for that which is temporary. Men toil and hunger, seeking to fill themselves with the provisions of the earth, but though the body may be fed, the soul remains empty. They chase after security, after wealth, after comfort, yet still, the void within them cries out. For the bread of this world cannot satisfy, nor can the things of the flesh bring fulfillment to the spirit. What good is it if a man is filled with earthly sustenance but remains starving for righteousness? What hope is there if one possesses all the riches of this life yet lacks the truth of God? 

The enemy seeks to deceive, to lure the heart into believing that man’s survival is dependent upon the material alone. He whispers to the weary soul, convincing it to labor for that which does not endure, leading it to chase after the fleeting desires of the flesh while neglecting the eternal provision of God. But the Lord, standing firm, rebukes such deception with the power of His Word—declaring that life is sustained not by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. This is the bread of heaven, the true sustenance that feeds the heart, strengthens the spirit, and secures the soul. 

Let us then forsake the empty labors of the flesh and turn our hearts toward the truth that brings life. Let us hunger not for the things that fade but for the Word that endures forever. Let us build our faith upon His promises, knowing that His words are food for the spirit and strength for the weary. When trials come, when the wilderness surrounds us, when the enemy tempts us with the comforts of this world, let our confidence be in that which is eternal. Let us stand firm in the knowledge that our true provision comes from the Lord, who nourishes His children with wisdom, fills them with righteousness, and sustains them with grace.

Beloved, do not be deceived by the temporary. Do not labor for that which perishes nor seek fulfillment in that which fades. The Lord has given us the bread of life, His Word, His truth, His presence. He calls us to partake in what is eternal, to feed upon the sustenance of His promise, and to walk in the fullness of His provision. Let us therefore hunger for righteousness, thirst for His wisdom, and seek after the sustenance that cannot be taken away. 

May you be strengthened in the Word of God, may your spirit be fed by His truth, and may you walk in the confidence that He who spoke all things into existence is the same One who sustains you today. To Him be all glory, honor, and power forever and ever. Amen.

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O Lord, our refuge and sustainer, we come before You in reverence, acknowledging that You alone are the source of life, the giver of wisdom, and the provider of all that nourishes the soul. You have spoken through Your Son, declaring that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from Your mouth. In this truth, we find our strength, our hope, and our assurance, knowing that Your Word is the sustenance that feeds the spirit and sustains us in every trial.

Forgive us, O Lord, for the times we have sought fulfillment in the things of this world, for the moments we have placed our trust in earthly provisions rather than in the eternal nourishment of Your truth. We have labored for that which perishes, pursued comfort in that which fades, and sought security in that which cannot truly sustain. Yet You, in Your mercy, call us back, inviting us to feast upon the bread of life, to be filled with Your wisdom, and to find rest in Your unfailing Word.

Teach us, O God, to hunger not for the fleeting desires of the flesh but for the righteousness that endures forever. Let our hearts thirst for Your presence, our minds seek Your wisdom, and our souls be satisfied in the richness of Your truth. When the enemy tempts us to settle for the temporary, let Your Word rise within us as our defense. When trials weigh upon us, let Your promises be our strength. When doubts cloud our vision, let Your truth bring clarity and assurance.

We intercede, O Lord, for Your people across the nations, that they may be fed by Your Word, strengthened by Your Spirit, and established in the security of Your presence. Let the hungry find nourishment in Your truth, let the weary be restored by Your promises, and let the lost be guided by the light of Your wisdom. May Your church stand firm, not on the foundation of human understanding but on the unshakable rock of Your Word. May Your people be steadfast, clothed in truth, walking in faith, and living by every word that proceeds from Your mouth.

Come, O Lord, and renew within us a deep hunger for You. Let our desire for You be greater than any longing for the things of this world. Let our hearts be drawn ever closer, that we may dwell in Your presence and be sustained by Your truth. You are our portion, our strength, and our life. We trust in You alone, knowing that Your Word will never fail, and Your promises endure forever.

To You be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forever. Amen.