“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

Our text verse records Jesus’ answer to the devil’s first temptation in the wilderness, which was prefaced with: “if thou be the Son of God” (Matthew 4:3). Jesus is the Son of God, and He knows the power of His word. “The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:2,3). “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). “And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters . . . and it was so” (Genesis 1:6,7). “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so” (Genesis 1:9). “And God said, Let the earth bring forth . . . and it was so” (Genesis 1:11). “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night . . . and it was so” (Genesis 1:14,15). “And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly . . . and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:20,21). “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature . . . and it was so” (Genesis 1:24). “And God said, Let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26).

Jesus answered the devil’s second temptation, also prefaced with, “If thou be the Son of God” (Matthew 4:6), with “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (v.7). Paul warns: “Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents” (I Corinthians 10:9).

At the beginning of His earthly ministry, Jesus established His authority and indicts the rebel Satan with the same word to which He will hold all the world accountable. “Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:10). CJH