Matthew 4:4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
Matthew 4:4 starts with “But He answered and said”. These words project the image of the Jesus literally separating Himself, (The Truth), from Satan’s lies. And, His Words are in a tense which is eternal, reaching from past to the present and into the future, continuous and with no end.
“It is written”, from the language Jesus is using, we see the tip of a spear, in other words, He is piercing Satan’s lies with His Words. He is impaling the lies of Satan with His Own Words. (What I am presenting may seem excessive, but, the importance of what Jesus is doing and teaching us cannot be overstated.)
“MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE” TO LIVE means to breathe, and to be among the living, but it means much more: It literally means to enjoy real life, to have true life and worthy of the name of Jesus. To be active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God. It is like living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul, to be in full vigor, to be fresh, strong, efficient, active, powerful, and efficacious. All of this is in the FUTURE TENSE!
“EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.” This is the Rhema or the spoken word of God and the image here is words ‘flowing or rushing like a river’ and is in the PRESENT TENSE!
The first part of His testing, the PHYSICAL, is an entry point. Be ready, as this is the model for our testing as well. Jesus’ responds exactly according to scriptures, and the significance of this cannot be overstated.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
Jesus is being tested as proof of His ability and worth as Messiah. This is also the model of our coming test.
The greatest benefit lies in Jesus what Jesus has done for us, but our lesson to be learned and practiced is found in His demonstration of
- The authority He will grant us, and
- The method by which we may both live counter the evils which may beset us along life’s way:
- BY “EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
John15:7 states perfectly the outcome or application what we must learn from Jesus’ temptation, “If you abide in Me, and My words (rhema) abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8“My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.”
Know His Words. Speak His Words. They are the way to life.
This is how we successfully overcome and endure to the end!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
Matthew 21:21 “And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen. 22“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
The Next Teaching in Matthew 4:5,6,7
When You Reach The Pinnacle
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