WHAT SHALL WE LIVE BY (2)

See Deut 8 3, Matt 4 4

Deuteronomy 8:3 NASB 2020

And He humbled you and let you go hungry, and fed you with the manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, in order to make you understand that man shall not live on bread alone, but man shall live on everything that comes out of the mouth of the Lord.

Matthew 4:4 NASB 2020

But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’ ”

Living by Every Word

Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 8:3, Matthew 4:4

Summary: Both passages emphasize the necessity of spiritual sustenance and reliance on God's word for life and guidance.

Application: This sermon will help Christians recognize the vital role of God's word in their daily lives, encouraging them to prioritize spiritual nourishment over worldly concerns and to trust in God's provision during difficult times.

Teaching: The sermon could teach that true life comes not just from physical needs but from a relationship with God through His word, showing that Jesus himself exemplified this in his responses to temptation.

How this passage could point to Christ: In both passages, Christ is revealed as the Bread of Life (John 6:35), providing spiritual sustenance for our souls. The fulfillment of God's word is ultimately found in Jesus, who confirmed its power and necessity during his earthly ministry.

Big Idea: We are called to live not by bread alone but by the life-giving words of God, which Jesus modeled as he faced temptation.

Recommended Study: As you prepare your sermon, consider using Logos to explore the historical context of Deuteronomy 8:3, examining how Israel’s wilderness experience informs our understanding of dependence on God. Investigate how Matthew 4:4 links to other temptations Jesus faced and the significance of Scripture in his responses. This will enrich your efforts to communicate the centrality of God's word in spiritual life.

There is not much conversation about it these days but world hunger is still a major issue.

In 2023, around 733 million people faced hunger worldwide, roughly one in eleven globally and one in five in Africa. The latest State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report by five UN agencies highlights that we are far from achieving the goal of Zero Hunger by 2030, with current hunger levels set back to those seen in 2008-2009. Despite some progress in specific areas like stunting and breastfeeding, global hunger has plateaued for three years, with between 713 and 757 million people undernourished in 2023. The report notes regional disparities, with hunger increasing in Africa (20.4%) and remaining significant in Asia (8.1%), although improving in Latin America (6.2%). Projections suggest that if trends continue, 582 million people will be chronically undernourished by 2030, with half of them in Africa, highlighting a troubling stagnation in progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.

Yet, the CDC reports that the number of Americans suffering from obesity and diabetes are steadily rising. Hunger is no insignificant issue: Hunger and its close associate famine were powerful images to the ancient Near Eastern mind. In Palestine harvest was dependent on adequate and timely rainfall. Consequently, the specter of hunger stalks Abraham (Gen 12:10), Isaac (26:1), Joseph (41:27, 54), the people of Israel both in Egypt and in Sinai, David (2 Sam 21:1), Elijah (1 Kings 18:2), Elisha (2 Kings 4:38; 8:1) and many others.

Ryken, Leland, Jim Wilhoit, Tremper Longman, Colin Duriez, Douglas Penney, and Daniel G. Reid. 2000. In Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, electronic ed., 411. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

The point of this comparison is to bring to our attention that true life transcends physical needs, and to urge you to trust not only in God’s provision for the body but also for the soul.

CONTEXT OF THE TEXT:

In the Old Testament, God had liberated Israel from Egyptian bondage. Their faithless complaining earned them an extended stay in the wilderness where they were taught to depend on the Lord for everything. Deuteronomy 8:1-3

Deuteronomy 8:1–3 NASB 2020

“All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, so that you may live and increase, and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers. And you shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, in order to humble you, putting you to the test, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. And He humbled you and let you go hungry, and fed you with the manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, in order to make you understand that man shall not live on bread alone, but man shall live on everything that comes out of the mouth of the Lord.

Darkness [is] closely related to the concept of the wilderness.… The mythical understanding of the wilderness is often denoted by the notion that it is the habitat of strange animals and hostile demons.

Michael S. Heiser

Dictionary of Biblical Imagery Hunger

In the temptation in the wilderness (Mt 4:1–11), Jesus symbolically reenacts the experience of Israel in the wilderness. Jesus is guided in his responses to Satan precisely by the reflection on Israel’s wilderness experience (Deut 6–8; cf. Mt 4:4, 7, 10). Whereas Israel’s experience was mixed, Jesus triumphs over the hardship and the testing.

1. Manna: More Than Bread

Deuteronomy 8:3

You could emphasize the essential truth that spiritual sustenance is found in God's words, as illustrated by Israel's dependence on manna in the wilderness. This verse invites us to recognize that true life transcends physical needs, urging believers to trust not only in God’s provision for the body but also for the soul. Remind the congregation that God’s faithfulness in providing manna is a foretaste of Christ, the Bread of Life, who nourishes our spiritual hunger.

2. Mastering Temptation with Truth

Matthew 4:4

Perhaps explore how Jesus, drawing from Deuteronomy 8:3, withstands temptation by affirming the power of God's word over physical sustenance. His response in the wilderness teaches us to prioritize spiritual truths over material concerns, demonstrating reliance on Scripture in moments of trial. Encourage your audience to imitate Jesus by using God’s word as their anchor in life's challenges, reinforcing the enduring sufficiency of Christ’s teachings.