Live by God’s every word, not merely by food.
Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Luke 4:4
He said in reply, “It is written: ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4
This has many implications. For starters, it implies that God is speaking to us and that we need to be listening to Him. This requires intentionality on our parts. It implies that this listening needs to be a continual state and that our very lives depend on it. This is a deep subject, but rather than write voluminously on it, I will simply refer to some relevant Scriptures:
“Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:47
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” John 16:13-14
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14
We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did. 1 John 2:3-6
