←
Explanation for:
Matthew
4
:
4
Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.
10
more explanations
& daily audio-books
spoken by
– enjoy in Theosis App –
Start your
Bible-journey
with explanations
& daily audio-books
only 4$* per month
{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The passage draws from Deuteronomy 8:3. The Lord responds in this manner as He sought to defeat the adversary, not through power, but through His lowliness. It is also important to recognize that if the Lord had not initiated His fast, there would not have been a moment for the tempter to strike. As it is written, \\"My son, when you come to serve before the Lord, stand in truth and in fear, and prepare your soul to be tested\\" (Sir. 2:1-2). The Savior's response indicates that it is humanity that faces temptation: \\"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.\\" Thus, one who does not partake of the Word of God does not truly live."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"What, then, can we say about Christ? By humbling the arrogance of the adversary and demonstrating that the events unfolding were neither humiliating nor beneath His divine wisdom, He articulates and uncovers the truths the tempter had concealed out of flattery. He declares, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” The tempter initiates his assault by appealing to physical hunger. Observe the cunning of the enemy; he begins with the most basic human need and persists in a deceptive manner: first, he expelled the initial human from paradise and subjected him to numerous calamities. Here, he starts his seduction by exploiting human appetites. Many foolishly attribute the cause of their misfortunes to such desires. Yet Christ, wanting to demonstrate that even the harshest forms of coercion cannot force a righteous person into wrongdoing, experiences hunger yet refuses to yield to the devil’s temptations, thereby teaching us to resist him in all circumstances. When the first man obeyed the devil, he evoked God's wrath and violated divine law. Consequently, the Lord implores us to reject the serpent's words, even when his requests seem harmless. Indeed, do I dare say any such request is innocuous? What the demons propose may seem beneficial, yet the Lord instructs us not to heed them. For instance, He commanded the demons to be silent, even when they proclaimed Him to be the Son of God. Similarly, Paul ordered them to be quiet, despite their assertions being truthful. In doing so, he aimed to completely discredit them and halt their malicious intents against us while rendering their proclamations impotent (Acts 16:18). \\n\\nChrist did not align Himself with the words of the tempter, instead responding with Scripture, saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” This signifies that God can sustain the hungry even through a mere word. Through this, Christ is teaching us to remain steadfast in our faith in Him, regardless of our hunger or suffering. If anyone argues that the Savior should have showcased His might, I question, for what end? The adversary was not seeking his own faith, but aimed to undermine Christ’s faith, hoping to ensnare Him as he had lured the ancestors before Him, finding them lacking in trust in God. By promising them things entirely contrary to God’s word and intoxicating them with false hopes, he led them into disbelief, thereby robbing them of their blessings. Yet Christ did not yield, just as He did not acquiesce to the Jews who, influenced by the same spirit, demanded miraculous signs. In both cases, He teaches us that if we have the ability to act, we should not engage in futile or senseless deeds, and even in moments of dire necessity, we ought to refuse the devil’s requests."},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The Lord's actions were not intended to cater to the desires of the sinner. When the devil requested permission regarding the herd of swine, the Lord granted it (Matt. 8:32, Mk. 5:13, Lk. 8:32), not to satisfy his wants, but as a sign, since the people of the city of Gergesenes showed reluctance to approach Him until He demonstrated a miracle. The Lord did not wish for hunger to overpower Him; instead, He enveloped His hunger in the practice of fasting. This hunger deflected the temptation of satiety, teaching those drawn to physical satisfaction that there exists a deeper fulfillment not found in external sources. As it is written, “Not by bread alone ... man lives ... but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Luke 4:4, Deuteronomy 8:3). Thus, the one who came to tempt turned out to be the one who was tempted, revealing his intentions through the very means by which he sought to instruct. Through his own assertions, Satan was countered by the Lord. For if God is capable of transforming stones into bread, the tempter should understand that God can sustain without bread. If He can convert stones into loaves, He can also transform hunger into satisfaction. It is not beyond the One who changes unfit materials into sustenance to convert the essence of hunger into nourishment—not merely to fill in a physical sense, but to turn the essence of hunger itself into means of nourishment, just as the tempter insisted that He turn stone into bread."},{"author-name":"Basil the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c889927158e4af30595484_Basil%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"To validate our words or actions, we must rely primarily on the witness of Scripture, alongside what is customary. Every statement or action should be substantiated by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures, serving as reassurance for the righteous and a source of conviction for the unrighteous. When the adversary approached Him, he said, If you are the Son of God, command that this stone become bread. Jesus responded, 'It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:3, 4)."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"The tempter challenges, \\"Command these stones to turn into bread.\\" In response, the singular teacher states, \\"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God\\" (Matthew 4:3-4). In this way, he demonstrates that the longing for gratification must be conquered to avoid yielding, not even to the pangs of hunger."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"This account is derived from the Old Testament, specifically the teachings of Moses. The Israelites subsisted on manna, which was not bread; yet, according to the Word of God, it met all their needs and desires. Regardless of whether an Israelite craved fish, eggs, or cheese, the manna was able to fulfill their appetites."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Recognizing the deceit in his request, Jesus chose not to perform the expected miracle. Typically, miracles serve to enlighten those who witness them; however, the adversary could derive no advantage from such an act. After witnessing all of Christ's deeds, the devil remained unchanged in his nature. Christ, however, addressed the silent thoughts of the tempter, responding with Scripture from Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 8:3). He seemed to imply, \\"Why do you instruct Me to transform stones into bread? Is it simply to satisfy My hunger, which may lead Me to feast upon them? Yet humans do not thrive on bread alone; there exists another form of nourishment. It is the very word that issues from God's mouth that sustains the souls of those in need like food sustains the body, offering true satisfaction.\\" In this way, Christ nobly turned away the temptation of overindulgence. It is noteworthy that Matthew mentions stones in the plural, while Luke refers to stone in the singular. Such minor variations frequently appear among the Evangelists. The foundation of this teaching is rooted in the Old Testament, as articulated by Moses. The Israelites were nourished with manna, which, although not bread, fulfilled all their needs according to God's promise, providing every desired flavor. No matter if a Jew craved fish, eggs, or cheese, the manna adapted to their preferences."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He replied to him, stating: It is written in Deuteronomy, \\"NOT BY BREAD ALONE SHALL MAN LIVE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD\\" (Deuteronomy 8:3). Beyond mere sustenance, the Lord has countless ways to provide for humanity. You desire that I perform a miracle solely for My gratification, yet I refuse. If such a miracle were necessary, God Himself would accomplish it for me. Since He does not, it is evident that it is not required. I will tolerate hunger for as long as it is God's will to nourish Me. My miracles serve only to glorify God and to bring salvation to others. If not even a hair falls from a person's head without God's decree, then God will not permit me to perish from starvation; I need only place my trust in His divine care in all matters. The Lord can fulfill our hunger with His word alone. Man possesses greater needs than food; spiritual sustenance surpasses physical nourishment. My sustenance is to accomplish the will of Him who commissioned Me and to carry out His work (John 4:34). Engaging in dialogue with God through prayer brings me more sweetness than any meal. Thus, the devil attempted to challenge Jesus Christ on the basis of doubt in God's Providence, yet Christ, our Redeemer, placed all His trust in His heavenly Father and did not seek to gratify His flesh through miracles. He triumphed over temptation through self-denial. However, the devil is keenly aware that while a person may not be easily swayed by gluttony, they can often fall victim to pride, vanity, and selfish desires. Both the ambitious and the self-centered can easily overlook their need for nourishment when consumed with the pursuit of honor and wealth. Yet, one who has conquered the lust of the flesh may become complacent, forgetting the lurking danger. Therefore, Satan seeks to entice Christ by tempting Him with unwavering faith in God and spiritual arrogance."},{"author-name":"Kochomski S.W.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Human beings do not sustain themselves by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. These statements were made by Moses, who in Deuteronomy 8:3 reminded the Israelites of how God nourished them with manna for forty years, something unknown to them or their ancestors. The phrase \\"the word that proceeds from the mouth of God\\" refers to God's benevolent intention for humanity's sustenance. Placing faith in this assurance renders the concern for mere physical nourishment redundant."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Christ indicates the nature of temptation through the Scriptures, including the two that follow, by referencing the word of God. He directs attention to a passage in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 8:3) where Moses remarks that God humbled the Israelites, allowing them to experience hunger in the wilderness, and then provided them with manna—a divine sustenance unfamiliar to them or their ancestors. This was to demonstrate that human existence is not sustained by bread alone; rather, life is nourished by other sources, including whatever God decrees as sustaining. By citing this verse, the Savior conveys to the tempter that a miracle—transforming stones into bread—is unnecessary. Hunger can be satisfied through means beyond bread, following God’s guidance or directive.\\n\\nThe immediate interpretation of this declaration is clear. Furthermore, it implies a deeper significance regarding the spiritual nourishment that believers receive, enabling them to temporarily disregard physical sustenance. This spiritual nourishment comprises the word of God, divine teachings, and commandments, the observance of which is more vital for the soul than physical food (cf. Jn. 4:34). \\"Every word of God sustains the hungry like food\\" (Euph. Sig.), and \\"God can nourish the hungry man with a word\\" (Chrys.). Thus, Christ's response underscores that my immediate need for bread does not warrant a miracle. Life is dependent on God's will; He can sustain it not only through bread but through whatever He designates as nourishment. Moreover, God's word and His commandments serve as such spiritual sustenance that bodily hunger becomes secondary, allowing one who feeds on this word to remain unconcerned with physical needs."}]}
Support this project and get full access for only 4$/month
Commentarie text can’t be scrolled on PC at the moment. Please use your phone. We’re working on a fix.
