The Bible reveals that Jesus “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). How was He able to resist Satan’s devices and to keep Himself always well-pleasing to His Father? From His encounter with the devil in Matthew 4, it is obvious that Jesus had made this commitment to His Father, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!” (Psa. 119:11).
Jesus memorized Scripture! One passage that He committed to heart was this one that He quoted from Deuteronomy 8:3—“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).
There are those things in this life that are absolute necessities—things which we cannot live without. We must have bread/food, we cannot live without it (Matt. 4:4; 6:25; John 6:48-58). We must have air to breath, we cannot live without it (Job 12:10; Psa. 104:29; Acts 17:25). We must, believe it or not, work, we cannot live without it (Gen. 3:19; 2 Thess. 3:10). All of these things—food, air and work—are important, but Jesus learned, “This is not it! This is not life! True life comes from above!”
Man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God! True life has only one source—the word of God. True life is not impacted in only certain parts of life—God’s word impacts and pertains to all of life (cf. 2 Pet. 1:3). True life is not to be governed by only personally selected verses—man is to live by every word of God.
When it comes to marriage, man must live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Gen. 2:23-24; Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Pet. 3:1-7).
When it comes to the workplace, man must live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Eph. 6:5-9; Col. 3:22-4:1).
When it comes to the treatment of others, man must live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Gal. 6:10; Eph. 4:32; Jn. 15:12).
When it comes to the Christian’s daily regimen, man must live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Mk. 16:15; 2 Tim. 2:2, 15; Col. 4:2-6; 1 Th. 5:14-22).
As Jesus would later say, “Life is more than food” (Luke 12:23). Life is more than what man thinks are absolute necessities. Life—i.e., true life—is about acceptably serving God by living according to His every word!