Commentaries:
No entry exists in Forerunner Commentary for Matthew 4:2.
Matthew 4:1-4
Excerpted from: Is God a Magician?This is more than just a dialogue between two individuals. This is the most stupendous moral contest of all time that was taking place here. A tremendous encounter between the epitome of good and the epitome of evil, and what was going to be decided here was the destiny of the whole world. Did you see what Satan's approach was? He was saying to Jesus Christ, "Solve the problem by making a miracle!" He was going to make, or try to make, Christ do it, while Christ was at a (he felt) very vulnerable point in time—vulnerable through His physical hunger. And his approach was to convince Christ that He really had no problem with that hunger. The solution was to just work a miracle. Without saying it, he was saying, "Christ, use Your powers selfishly. Work a miracle for Your own good."
Satan is subtly suggesting that the work of a miracle is the solution to personal problems, and also at the same time, the satisfaction of a physical need. He is suggesting—without actually saying it—he is implying that a miracle is nothing more than a capricious event. And that God will use it to merely satisfy some temporary human need.
The need indeed was present. Christ indeed was physically weak. But at the same time, He saw right through Satan's purpose and His reply is very interesting. He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." The emphasis is on the word "every." And the reason is because, though the Bible does present God as a miracle-working God who delivers His people from their problems, it does not present a miracle-working God who works miracles on the demand of even His people. But rather, who works miracles that are consistent with His purpose and will.
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Matthew 4:2:
Matthew 6:13
Matthew 7:22-23
Matthew 24:11-12
Romans 8:7
James 1:14
2 Peter 2:9-10
2 Peter 2:18-19
1 John 2:3-4
1 John 3:4
1 John 5:2-3
2 John 1:6
Jude 1:3-4
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