Oct 1 - Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, "It is written,

'Man does not live by bread alone,

but by every word that proceeds

from the mouth of God.'"

Matthew 4:4

Yesterday we asked, "Do you know the first words that Jesus spoke, according to the Gospel of Luke?" It's the same question today ... except from the Gospel of Matthew.

The first four words that Jesus speaks are ...

• "It is written ..." (Mt 4:4)
  
• "It is written ..." (Mt 4:7)
  
• "It is written ..." (Mt 4:10)
  
• And "it is proper ... to fulfill ..." (Mt 3:15).

Think about what these words imply.

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus says, "I have come ... to fulfill ... the law and the prophets." And a chapter or two earlier than 5:17, that's precisely what these first four "words" of Christ reflect. All of the "words" in the temptation are from the Law -- which is also called the Torah or the books of Moses (Deut 8:3, 6:16, and 6:13). The word "fulfill" in Matthew 3:15 reflects the Messianic fulfillment of God's prophecy.

So what do these words imply?

1. That Jesus views the whole Old Testament as preceeding from the mouth of God.
   
2. That you and I -- who do not live by bread alone -- should live by and be strengthened by every word (Old Testament and New) that proceeds from the Word of God.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants to answer

life's temptations with

"It is written"