What Jesus Did! 'True Bread, True Word' — Matthew 4:1-4

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread."

But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,

'People do not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"
— Matthew 4:1-4 NLT

Key Thought

Just as Israel faced the battle of temptation in the desert, Jesus does, too. But unlike Israel which always seemed to get hung up on physical needs rather than following God, Jesus chose to honor and focus on the Father rather than himself. Nowhere is this focus seen more clearly than in the two great temptation crises of his ministry: his temptations here and in the Garden shortly before his death. In both situations, and in all the others in between, Jesus chose the Father's will and the Father's glory over his own needs and desires. The Father's word, the Father's will, was what Jesus fed on more than physical food. He is our example that we should not try to live a day without our spiritual food, or our souls will be hungrier than our bellies on a 40 day fast!

Today's Prayer

O Father, God who fills every empty place and fulfills every need, stir me to a holy hunger for your word and an insatiable appetite to do your will. I confess that I find it so hard to keep my mind off the distractions my undisciplined appetite craves, so please help me learn that my only lasting answer to true hunger is with you. Through the grace of Jesus' intercession, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • John 4:31, 34
  • John 6:35, 38
  • Matthew 26:36-42

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 4:1-4 NLT — "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." —— "No! The Scriptures say, 'People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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