But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus isn't just saying he can go without food; he's asserting that life isn't defined by our physical sustenance alone. The crucial insight is that "every word" includes God's commands and purposes, meaning life is sustained not just by what we eat, but by active obedience and trust in God's plan, even when it seems counter-intuitive.
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just been baptized and confirmed as God's Son, then immediately led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days. Now, after Jesus has fasted and is physically weakened, Satan appears with his first temptation: to turn stones into bread, challenging Jesus' identity as the Son of God by questioning His provision. Jesus responds not with arguments, but by quoting Scripture to affirm that His sustenance comes from God's word, not just physical food.
When facing the ultimate test, Jesus didn't argue or perform miracles. He went straight to God's Word. How can Scripture be our strongest defense?
Jesus's response to Satan’s temptation highlights the supreme authority of Scripture. He counters the devil's plausible suggestions not with his own logic or divine power, but with a direct quote from Deuteronomy.
We need food to live, right? But Jesus points to something even more essential for true, lasting life. What is it?
The temptation Jesus faced was to turn stones into bread, satisfying an immediate physical hunger. His reply, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God,' reframes the very definition of life and sustenance.
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Understand the original words
rhēma · Greek Noun
Refers to the revealed will and truth of God as recorded in Scripture. In the biblical worldview, the Word is the authoritative, life-giving source of truth that guides the faith and practice of the believer.
Jesus' response directly echoes the experience of Israel in the wilderness. Just as God sustained them with manna through His word, Jesus asserts His trust in God's provision and authority, refusing to use His divine power for personal comfort apart from God's will.
c. 1440 BC
Israelites wander in the wilderness
During their 40 years of wandering after leaving Egypt, God miraculously provided manna as sustenance for the Israelites. Moses recounted this period in Deuteronomy, emphasizing that God's provision came through His word and commands, not just physical food.
c. 1440 BC
Moses delivers Deuteronomy
Moses recounts the wilderness journey and reiterates God's commands to the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, including the foundational teaching that life depends on obedience to God's word.
c. 30 AD
Jesus is baptized
After Jesus' baptism, the heavens opened, and the Spirit descended upon Him, with a voice from heaven declaring Him the Son of God. This divine affirmation immediately precedes His temptation.
c. 30 AD— this verse
Jesus is led into the wilderness
Immediately after His baptism, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days. He fasted during this time, experiencing extreme hunger.
c. 30 AD
Jesus is tempted by Satan
In His weakened state, Jesus faces three temptations from Satan, who uses His hunger and perceived divine calling to try and manipulate Him. Jesus counters each temptation with Scripture, specifically from Deuteronomy.
This is the direct source of Jesus' quote, explaining how God provided manna to teach Israel that life depends on obedience to God's word, not just physical sustenance.
Psalm 78:23-25This passage recounts the provision of manna, highlighting God's 'word' (command) as the source of life-sustaining food, reinforcing the idea that life comes from God's provision beyond the ordinary.
Luke 4:4This is another Gospel account of the same temptation, showing Jesus' consistent reliance on the Word of God as his defense against Satan's attacks.
John 6:27Jesus speaks of 'food that endures to eternal life,' directly connecting spiritual sustenance and the 'Son of Man' with God's provision, echoing the principle from Matthew 4:4 on a deeper level.
Hebrews 1:3This verse speaks of Jesus upholding 'all things by his word of power,' illustrating the active, sustaining power of God's spoken word, which is central to Jesus' affirmation in Matthew 4:4.
barnesMatthew 4:4: "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."
But he answered and said ... - In reply to this artful temptation Christ answered by a quotation from the Old Testament. The passage is found in Deuteronomy 8:3 . In that place the discourse is respecting manna. Moses says that the Lord humbled the people, and fed them with manna, an unusual kind of food, that they might learn that man did not liv…
vincentMatthew 4:4: "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."
It is written (γέγραπται)The perfect tense. "It has been written, and stands written." The first recorded words of Jesus after this entrance upon his ministry are an assertion of the authority of scripture, and that though he had the fulness of the Spirit. When addressing man, our Lord seldom quoted scripture, but said, I say unto you. In answer…
Jesus isn't just saying he can go without food; he's asserting that life isn't defined by our physical sustenance alone. The crucial insight is that "every word" includes God's commands and purposes, meaning life is sustained not just by what we eat, but by active obedience and trust in God's plan, even when it seems counter-intuitive.
Jesus has just been baptized and confirmed as God's Son, then immediately led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days. Now, after Jesus has fasted and is physically weakened, Satan appears with his first temptation: to turn stones into bread, challenging Jesus' identity as the Son of God by questioning His provision. Jesus responds not with arguments, but by quoting Scripture to affirm that His sustenance comes from God's word, not just physical food.
Jesus has just been baptized and confirmed as God's Son, then immediately led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil for forty days. Now, after Jesus has fasted and is physically weakened, Satan appears with his first temptation: to turn stones into bread, challenging Jesus' identity as the Son of God by questioning His provision. Jesus responds not with arguments, but by quoting Scripture to affirm that His sustenance comes from God's word, not just physical food.
"But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”" — Jesus isn't just saying he can go without food; he's asserting that life isn't *defined* by our physical sustenance alone. The crucial insight is that "every word" includes God's commands and purpose…
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Last reviewed October 2026