Luke 4:1-13 ~ Man shall not live on bread alone.

Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.



Deuteronomy 8
2"You shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3"He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.

Hosea 11:1
"When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son"


We wonder about Jesus fulfilling Scriptures - did this come later - it's whispered in our thoughts. Did the disciples and the orators fill in.

No. Ryland's Papyrus are fragments of John's 90 A.D. Gospel not destroyed by 367 years of Roman Empire persecution. And natural destruction of fragile papyrus. Early second-century Bishop Papias of Hierapolis, claiming John was engaged in a battle with the Jews over Religious Law and the Divinity of Jesus on Patmos. Historians B.W. Bacon, Martin Hengel and Henry Barclay Swete, maintain these references to Papias are credible. Papias also has recorded John's support for the Gospels of Mark and Matthew. Papias wrote five books interviewing the accuracy of the sayings of Jesus by speaking with witnesses. Eusebuis quoted Papias from time to time.

Now let's look at layers.

God sent the family to Egypt. The Magi believed Jesus would be at the Palace. Fulfilling Scripture. God used literal truths and faith to set King Herod on his course. Herod did so much good for Judah and this Herod is remembered for the slaughter of twenty or more innocent infants. God used Truth to further His Plan.

Bringing us back to, Jesus was called from Egypt. Literal truth.

Jesus had His own Exodus. If God had merely let Abraham's children be princes on pillows - would they have adhered to the Law and we get so 'OH not Deuteronomy, not the Books of Moses'. These are AMAZING. God centers His Blessings on the Law. The rest of the world was pretty much 'live and let live - be at peace' like the rich man in the Gospels. People trying to be Kosher raised grandchildren and gave birth in the desert. God was teaching them solutions for their diligence. Jesus healed all the time saying - go there, pick that up, walk, don't tell, go home.

So... Jesus had come from Egypt. And then like the Children of Abraham - Jesus had to make His Metal.

Telling us Psalm 11 is True. God wants us to mature, to make choices, to go out of our comfort zones. To adhere. To hope. To Expect. To Grow up and Go Home. Expecting Him to deliver on His Promises.

We are told

Romans 8:28
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But we know that he helps those who love God in everything for good, those whom he preordained to be called.


The devil according to Matthew Henry is subtle, spiteful, and very daring; but he can be resisted. It is a comfort to us that Christ suffered, being tempted; for thus it appears that our temptations, if not yielded to, are not sins, they are afflictions only.

Jesus was tempted and told what to expect. He had time to think - these are my pressure points - this is the way it would look. Jesus made up His Mind - before Palm Sunday.

We have clearly learned - God allows Life to Test us. Making us Grow.

Proved this.

Patmos beach looking up at John's residence - today

Now for some delving.


So. If we want to wiggle a little more information about Jesus - Jesus who created the loaves and fish with the help of a young boy's donations - had a funeral Lunch for His Cousin (boyhood friend?) and fed the multitudes. Matthew 14, 15. We see Jesus - liked a good meal. And then your recall with me, Jesus walked and sailed (which is work) and recorded meals. Jesus is recorded as being a drinker and an eater!

Jesus' reputation was being hauled into question by the 2nd Century. Gnostics were screaming you had to be "in the know" and other sects were screaming Jesus was not man, was only divine "a God." John was battling this in vast old age - living like a Hobbit on Patmos. (It's probable John was not having second breakfasts, but the view was and is spectacular!) Early second-century Bishop Papias of Hierapolis, claiming John was engaged in a battle with the Jews over Religious Law and the Divinity of Jesus on Patmos. Jesus was not another 'god' but Jesus Christ the Man - made wine - His First Sign - thanks Mary!

Luke 7
31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Luke 5:30
And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

The Feast in the House of Levi, Paolo Verones

Now did the party actually look like this that Matthew threw? Possibly. This was the Roman Thug collecting way too much money. Corruption. Matthew and Zacchaeus both promise to quit over charging. The party is lavish enough to draw a lot of criticism. Jesus had a PARTY THROWN!


Jesus is recorded as having dinner with Peter and his healed mother-in-law. (And Jesus never said, "Oh if only you were not married Peter!"). Nice men eat with mother-in-laws.

Jesus has another dinner party - after He healed Lazarus from Death - Lazarus, Mary and Martha gave Jesus dinner. Imagine - Jesus is THANKED!

Jesus was know to snack as He taught. This time He was teaching about David living God's Work and the triumph of Good over Law. Eating grains of wheat from a field.


We could go on with the loaves and fish, New Covenant, but basically we hit the high points. God sent His Son as a man. Jesus had rough times and proclaimed Mercy over Sacrifice. Choosing the Right Path. Jesus told the Samaritan Woman 'Worship with Truth' or Sincerity of Heart.

For adults - who have been tempted - who battle this - Jesus never did jump up and down screaming He was Tempted. He expects us to be honest. And do as He did - move down the Path of Life. Knowing Forgiveness is the Reason Jesus arrived to be a man who lived grace and truth among us.

Thank God, He chose to include the Temptation of Jesus. We have another clear example that life isn't an easy thing. Jesus picked - just like God - to be surrounded by people. And God chose Aaron - not even perfect (ha) Moses to come into the Holy of Holies making the mess we abhor most - blood everywhere.

God believes mankind is worth the effort. He celestially scans us all - declaring His Creation to be Good. God still intends to save the planet. Because HIS Son chose to make Scarlet into White.

The World knows once a sinner always a sinner. Yes. God does too. Yet God sees further. And that looks like a better view for most of us. Those among us still kicking the goads and waiting for Jesus each week to reaffirm us in Church proclaiming His Love. Be fed. Worship the Lord - who Forgives. Know Love. 

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