Matthew 4:1-4 - Man does not live on bread alone

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Commentary

Notice the Scripture states that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert. In ancient times, the desert is equated with a place incapable of sustaining life. Matthew (with Luke and Mark) is stating that Jesus was going into a place where His only hope would be in God. Notice that the journey into the desert was the first act of Jesus ministry after His baptism. Do you feel like you are in a wilderness? We may think that we are being set up for destruction, but God is training us to live a life of dependence upon Him and not our surroundings. This was the path of Jesus and we should not be surprised that this is a part of our journey as well.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC

Genesis 3:19 - For dust you are and to dust you will return

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.

In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Commentary

Today is Ash Wednesday, and for those of us from liturgical traditions, this Scripture is used by the priest as ashes mixed with oil are formed in the sign of the cross on our foreheads. It is a reminder that for all of the glories that we achieve in this life there will come a day when dust reclaims us. We will stand before our Creator with none of our possessions; only our deeds will be with us. And before a holy and perfect God, whose deeds can stand? Ash Wednesday is a stark reminder that humanity is in need of a savior. A savior whose life can bear the scrutiny of the judgment day. Thus the sign of the cross; it is our only hope. But what a great hope it is! He died and rose from the dead and we will rise with him from our dust on that final day.

Today's commentary by:
Dave Whitehead, Senior Pastor, Grace NYC