Interpretation of the Bible / Matthew 4:4
Matthew 4:4 is Jesus’ response to the temptations presented to Him by the devil in the wilderness. The devil tempted Him to turn stones into bread to satisfy his appetite, but Jesus wisely quotes a scripture that reminds him that life is not just about satisfying our physical needs. In His response, Jesus teaches us that we need more than just food for our bodies; we need food for our spirits.
After fasting forty days and forty nights, Jesus became hungry. (The number forty is often used in the context of a trial or test in Scripture.) This natural desire provided the tempter with an advantage that he used with success on many people. He invited Jesus to use His miraculous power to turn the stones of the desert into loaves of bread.
There is no doubt in the opening words, “if you are the Son of God.” They actually mean “since you are the Son of God.” The devil is referring to the words the Father spoke to Jesus at His baptism: “This is my Son, whom I love.”
To gratify natural desire with divine power in response to Satan’s prompting is outright disobedience to God. We are similarly tempted to live for the gratification of natural desires, to choose the way of our convenience instead of seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness. The devil says to us, “You must live, must you not?”
The central teaching of this verse is that we need spiritual food to survive, just as we need physical food. This verse does not make an equal comparison between the Word of God and bread, but rather, the Word of God is a higher and more essential need than bread. Therefore, when we feed on the Holy Scriptures, we feed our spirits according to God’s divine purpose.
The primary way to feed our spirits is through a life of Bible reading and study. It is the Word of God that nourishes us, guides us, and transforms us as we advance in our faith. The Psalms tell us that “The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7). When we read and study the Bible, we open ourselves to the wisdom and truth that only God can give.