Luke 4:4
ESV
And Jesus answered him, "It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’"
NIV
Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ "
NASB
And Jesus answered him, 'It is written: ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE.’?'
CSB
But Jesus answered him, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone."
NLT
But Jesus told him, 'No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’ '
KJV
And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
NKJV
But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”
What does Luke 4:4 mean?
The first of Satan's wilderness temptations is an attempt to make Jesus set aside trust in God, in favor of an easier path. Worse, the Devil suggests that since Jesus is the prophesied "Son of Man" (Daniel 7:13), He has the power and right to make food whenever He wants (Luke 4:3). Succumbing to this sin would mean ignoring the purpose for which the Spirit led Him to fast (Luke 4:1–2). Food is good, and Jesus was certainly hungry—but God had a plan for His experience.Jesus' response refers to Israel's forty-year experience in the wilderness. There, God provided food in the form of manna. However, that food came with a set of instructions. To eat, the people had to trust God's provision. Obedience and faith are just as important to true "life" as physical food (Deuteronomy 8:3). Jesus echoes that sentiment here. Even though food is good, and not forbidden, He will not sin by doing anything contrary to God's will.
