Matthew shared how John the Baptist was baptizing people in the Jordan river and telling them about the one who was coming. Matthew then wrote, “Then came Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and do you come to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread”, and in chapter four and verse four of his book, Matthew shares about how Jesus told the devil, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds … of God” where we read:
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
The verse reads, “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, ...” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless and moreover” “he answered” or “Jesus responded, concluded and began to speak” “and said” which means “and uttered, proclaimed and declared”, “it is written” which means “it is delineated or formed with letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “man” or “human beings whether male or female” “shall not live” which refers to “are not to breathe, enjoy real life, be active and be blessed” “by bread” or “through flour mixed with water and baked” “alone” which means “only, merely and solely”. Matthew shared Jesus' “answer” to the devil concerning “eating” physical food as the primary function for living.
The verse goes on to say, “... but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matthew continued with the word, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, nay, moreover and rather” “by every word” or “through each, all, the whole and everyone of the discourses, utterances, declarations and messages” “that proceeds” which means “that comes forth, is issued and departs ” “out of the mouth” which refers to “from the orifice in the face used for speaking” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Jesus' answer to the devil was that people are to “live” by each and “every word” that comes from God.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we realize that Jesus employed the scripture to answer “the tempter”. Deuteronomy chapter eight and verse three says, “And he humbled you, and suffered you to hunger, and fed you with manna, which you knew not, neither did your fathers know; that he might make you know that man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD does man live.” God knows the best way to “live life”, and through His word a person is “nourished” in their soul. Jesus knew the word of God, and He employed it to overcome the first temptation of the devil which concerned His “flesh”. Those who are wise shall study God's word, memorize God's word, live by God's word and enjoy the relationship He desires to have with every person through His Son Jesus. Since Jesus overcame “the devil” and his temptation with the “word of God”, how much more should we who read these words employ the same?
Next time Matthew shares how, “the devil took” Jesus “into the holy city” so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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