But he answered and said, it is written
The passage referred to, and cited, is in ( Deuteronomy
8:3 ) the manner of citing it is what was common and usual
with the Jews; and is often to be met with in the Talmudic
writings; who, when they produce any passage of scripture, say
(bytkd) , "as it is
written". The meaning of this scripture is; not that as the body
lives by bread, so the soul lives by the word of God, and
doctrines of the Gospel; though this is a certain truth: or that
man lives by obedience to the commands of God, as was promised to
the Israelites in the wilderness, and in the land of Canaan; but
that God, in satisfying man's hunger, and in supporting and
preserving his life, is not tied to bread only, but can make use
of other means, and order whatever he pleases to answer these
ends; as, by raining manna from heaven, which is mentioned in the
passage cited; and therefore there was no occasion to change the
nature of things, to turn stones into bread; since that was not
so absolutely necessary to the sustenance of life, as that it
could not be maintained without it. Our Lord hereby expresses his
strong faith and confidence in God, that he was able to support
him, and would do it, though in a wilderness, and destitute of
supply; whereby he overcame this temptation of Satan. Christ, in
this, and some following citations, bears a testimony to, and
establishes the authority of the sacred writings; and though he
was full of the Holy Ghost, makes them the rule of his conduct;
which ought to be observed against those, who, under a pretence
of the Spirit, deny the scriptures to be the only rule of faith
and practice and at the same time points out to us the safest and
best method of opposing Satan's temptations; namely, by applying
to, and making use of the word of God.