[But he answered and said ...] In reply to this artful temptation Christ answered by a quotation from the Old Testament. The passage is found in Deut 8:3. In that place the discourse is respecting manna. Moses says that the Lord humbled the people, and fed them with manna, an unusual kind of food, that they might learn that man did not live by bread only, but that there were other things to support life, and that everything which God had commanded was proper for this. The term "word," used in this place, means very often, in Hebrew, thing, and clearly in this place has that meaning. Neither Moses nor our Saviour had any reference to spiritual food, or to the doctrines necessary to support the faith of believers; but they simply meant that God could support life by other things than bread; that man was to live, not by that only, but by every other thing which proceeded out of his mouth; that is, which he chose to command people to eat. The substance of his answer, then, is: "It is not so imperiously necessary that I should have bread as to make a miracle proper to procure it. Life depends on the will of God. He can support it in other ways as well as by bread. He has created other things to be eaten, and man may live by everything that his Maker has commanded." (Barnes Notes)  [emphasis mine]

The meaning is that our life is dependent upon and is sustained by more than just physical food.  It is sustained by things greater than spiritual food or the doctrines of the Bible.  Every situation, every day, and every trial is determined by the will of God.  We are to go through those things conforming to the will of God.  Notice another excerpt from the same commentary:

"We are to meet the temptations of Satan, as the Saviour did, with the plain and positive declarations of Scripture. We are to inquire whether the thing is commanded, and whether, therefore, it is right to do it, and not trust to our own feelings, or even our wishes, in the matter."

Satan suggests that Jesus turn the stones to bread.  He suggested it in such a way that it almost sounded logical; a glory to God.  Jesus knew better.  He knew that it was the will of God that He endure this 40-day fast.  Jesus tells Satan that we live by more than bread alone but by every word [thing] that proceeded out of the mouth of God.  When God utters something, either by the Word of God or through the unction of the Holy Spirit, He is expressing more than words but concepts, meaning and most importantly, His will for the given situation.  See this confirmed in another commentary:

[But by every word] upon, epi (NT:1909) panti (NT:3956) reemati (NT:4487), in Greek, answers to daabaar (OT:1697) in Hebrew, which means not only a word spoken, but also thing, purpose, appointment, etc.

Therefore, we need to know more than the words or scriptures of the Bible, but the meaning, principles and Godly concepts behind them.  We also need to have a grasp of the entire Word of God, hence the need for our full immersion into it.  So it is actually more than asking, "What does God's Word say.", it is asking what is God's will in this situation before me.

In Matthew 4:4, we see, even before the beginning of His ministry, Jesus declaration that He was here to do the will of the Father.  He ends His ministry the same way...

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. –Luke 22:42

Lesson 9: Instructions – Live by every word of God
 
 1) Be immersed into the Word of God [the mind of God].  This means that we cannot live by just one portion of scripture that relates to a given subject or situation.  We need to know the entire mind of God on the subject.  This is how we gain insight into His will.
 2) Do not trust a situation to your own feelings or wishes in the matter.
 3) Understand that most of the temptations of Satan sound logical and even bring glory to God.  Know Satan's methods.
 4) Learn the principles and concepts embedded in scripture context.
 5) Pray to know the will of God for any decision or situation before you.  Ask that God lead you to recognize His will when He imparts it through the unction of the Holy Spirit in you.

See Bible definition of "Righteousness"? by Garner Ted Armstrong

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