Matthew 4:7—Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” These words from Jesus were spoken while he was being tempted in the wilderness. These are very unusual circumstances that Matthew records. There are questions I will never be able to answer. But there are also some very wise observations that teach me some valuable lessons. One very important statement Jesus made is that “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This statement gives man a higher purpose in life than the physical side. It also puts value on “every word” that comes from God. Jesus goes on to show the importance of “every word” by answering the Scriptures the devil uses by quoting other Scriptures, adding, “It is also written.”
Connecting… “It is also written…” I use that thought to guide me through the maze of rules and commands and suggestions that come my way. In the first place, not every isolated quotation from the Bible is a rule to be followed. Sometimes I may hear the words “The Bible says…” and think, “I must do what those words say.” Or, if the words don’t make sense to me, I may lose confidence in the Bible as a guide for my life. Jesus knew the Scriptures well enough to counter the devil’s quotations with other words of Scripture, which put the devil’s words in a proper perspective. With my goal of wanting to do right, I want to grow in my discernment of what “right” is. Until I have sufficient knowledge of the words from God to make a decision, I have other options. I can ask a trusted person who has more knowledge. If some command is troubling me I can know that there may be an “also written” that will shed light on the subject. And I can trust the power of the presence of God and know that I am not alone, even if I am in the midst of uncertainty.
