Matthew 4:4?

Question

Can someone explain this phrase:

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Does it mean that man also needs to be fed spiritually in order to also live?

Answer 1

Hello friend,
What an excellent question!
May I take you on a small journey that answers this question in just a slightly different way?
Just so you know, your answer is right on the mark.

First off, keeping your verse in context, Jesus makes reference to natural bread (food for the body) when He speaks of not living by bread alone. This is in response to the devils' temptation to perform a miracle to turn stones into bread to satisfy His physical hunger.
If Jesus had done so, Satan would have caused Jesus to use His Godly power selfishly.

Now consider this, in John 6:48 Jesus said "I am the bread of life". Now look at 6:33 "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of Heaven and gives Life to the world."

In these two statements, Jesus indicates that He is our spiritual bread that gives Life! And I believe that the life He is referring to is not our current physical life, but rather Life Eternal for those who accept Him.

Since Jesus is God, every word He spoke is spiritual food for us. And it is through His Word that we come to know and accept Him and receive the free gift of Eternal Life.

In summary, we eat natural bread and live physically.
And when we eat or consume the Bread of Life, we live and grow spiritually. Life Everlasting!
May I ask you to look up John 6:51 and read it carefully, and finish by going to Luke 22:19 to get the deeper meaning.

I hope this helps, and keep reading the Book!! I'll see you when we get Home.

Until He Comes,
2 Tim. 2:7
theodas

Answer 2

JEHOVAH is the Great Food Provider. He presented himself as such to man in the very first chapter of the Bible. (Genesis 1:29, 30) Much later, the psalmist David gratefully said to Jehovah: “To you the eyes of all look hopefully, and you are giving them their food in its season. You are opening your hand and satisfying the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:15, 16) Yes, Jehovah has provided an abundance of food for both man and animal. There is a difference though. Whereas animals require only physical food, Jesus showed that man needs more than physical bread, or food. He ‘must live also on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.’—Matthew 4:4.

Jesus made this statement in reply to Satan, who had tried to tempt Him into miraculously converting stones to bread. The Devil did not press the point but quickly moved on to another temptation.

Answer 3

Absolutely. Bread at the time nourished the body. It was the staple of life. But when Jesus alluded to "the bread of life" it was one of his parables. In other words a symbol of something above and beyond the material. Whereas bread was food for the body, He said His words were food for the soul...mind...spirit. Man's body can exist by bread alone (make that everything you ingest from a Big Mac to Sauer Kraut). During Jesus time, it was bread. But your spirit can survive only by taking in the words He spoke. That is the "bread of life". Get out your Bible and read. I started out with a great sermon here and erased everything because I realized I was rambling. Life after death=bread of life=His words.

Answer 4

Christ answered the temptation by quoting the Word of God. Our Lord's example teaches that we don't have to live, but we do have to obey God!

Getting bread is not the most important thing in life. Obedience to every word of God is.

Since Jesus had received no instructions from the Father to turn stones into bread, He would not act on His own and thus obey Satan, no matter how intense His hunger.

Answer 5

Yes.
"The Jews then complained about Him, because He said, 'I am the bread which came down from heaven.' " John 6:41

Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, He who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life."--John 6:47-48

I am the living bread which came down from heaven.If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."--John 6:51

The people believed when the Messiah came, He would bring them manna like God supplied to the Israelites when they were in the wilderness. The OT manna pointed to the true Bread of Heaven, Jesus.
Jesus was telling them that He was that bread, the Bread of Life, and that whoever comes to Him and believes in Him would never hunger and thirst spiritually.

Answer 6

We live two lives.. one Physical..fed by bread.. and One Spiritual.. fed by the Word of God.. without the Word of God we would not be able to return to Heaven and we would be dead Spiritually (or in Hell)

Answer 7

Also look at Jesus' own statement to a large crowd, in
John 6:44-58 Jesus said of Himself that He IS the bread of Life, in the santuary services the [Lev. 23:6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month [is] the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.]
You see the bread in that service pointed to The Second member of The Godhead [John 8:58, Heb.13:8 fpr proof Jesus IS God] the bread of Life that bread represents His body that was beat for you and His Blood in those verses in John is talking about His life, He shed His blood for YOUR sins so you may have eternal life if your willing to meet the conditons find out more free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org OR www.itiswritten.com talk to me also [e-mail] God bless

Answer 8

St. Ambrose said, "Nothing can keep the human soul alive except the Word of God."
I believe that is what Matthew 4:4 pertains to.

Answer 9

Yes, we need spiritual nourishment; otherwise, we would be spiritually dead. For Catholics, spiritual nourishment comes from the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, Sacred Scripture and teachings of the Church.

Peace and every blessing!

Answer 10

Yes. I believe jesus was speaking in a literal way here, so I think that He means that one needs the Word of God in order to live, not just food.