Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. ^[1]

To some I just became a heretic by quoting scripture, and to others as soon as I comment on it. You will see why shortly.

Jesus said his body given on the cross was symbolized by the bread which was broken and eaten. ^[2]

When Jesus taught in parables; most containing a hidden symbol of the cross, he fed bread and fish. He fed them bread as a symbol to go along with the parable. But he also fed them fish, because they cannot live by bread alone.

If we cannot live by bread alone, we cannot live by the cross alone. Jesus did not conquer death jumping up to declare "All-y All-y all in free".

He said we should keep his commandments. ^[3]

He said if we keep his commandments we shall live (abide) in his love. ^[4]

And as we make disciples, we are to teach them to obey his words. ^[5]

We live by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God. This is not legalism. This is not 'adding to the cross'. Twist and shout about heresy, but Jesus said we are to obey so why would anyone teach otherwise? They are on the wrong side of the discussion.

When Peter was told to feed the sheep ^[6] Peter had single-handedly pulled 153 fishing the net ^[7], when the 7 of them together on the boat couldn't handle it. ^[8] There was enough of the 'word of God' for 144 + 9. Can you solve that riddle? ^[9]

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

The first meaning is the simple one. Everything God said is important and we should not be making universal claims of truth until we understand them well. Since the scriptures have at least 4 layers, if you have read the Bible from cover to cover literally, you have only read 1/4 of the Bible. This should lead us to be intellectually humble.

The second meaning is a picture of Christ, of course. During the conversation of the Glory of God, we are told God has a front side and a back side. Moses was permitted to see the back side of God. There is only one Word of God; Christ Jesus. The Hebrew word for 'mouth' also means 'this side'. There is only one Word which we can see and who has proceeded from this side of God. We live by the cross (his sacrifice) and by Him.

Since man shall live “by every word” ^{[10] [11]}, a doctrine is not sound until it sums up and includes all that God has said about it. (This keeps us searching)

This attitude of searching recognizes that the Bible is full of meaning, and that perhaps one person in his own studies has not yet identified or considered all the applicable passages. This attitude is missing when a few verses are used as a shotgun to force a discussion to a preconceived conclusion.

Consequence of lack of completeness: Conclusions may be premature.^[12]

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1. ↑ De 8:3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every [word] that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
2. ↑ Lu 22:19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake [it], and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
3. ↑ Joh 14:15 ¶ If ye love me, keep my commandments.
4. ↑ Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
5. ↑ Mt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
6. ↑ Joh 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, [son] of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
7. ↑ Joh 21:11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
8. ↑ Joh 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes
9. ↑ When things are doubled it speaks of things spiritual and of the flesh, or in heaven and on earth. 144 is 12x12 which is the people of God in heaven and earth (simple meaning. We could write pages on 12). 9 = 3x3 So we could say the Trinity in heaven and on earth. but 3 three's is also 9 so we can say each person of the trinity is fully God. There was enough fish for all God's people and all of God to eat together. The meal was a fellowship offering.
10. ↑ Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
11. ↑ Lu 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
12. ↑ Pr 18:13 ¶ He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame unto him.