Les Feldick Bible Study

How did the temptation to turn stones into bread appeal to Jesus' hunger?

After forty days of fasting, Jesus was hungry, so the suggestion to command stones to become bread appealed directly to that physical hunger. The very thought of bread stirred His taste buds, and the temptation centered on satisfying that appetite. He countered that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word from God's mouth.

Les explains that Jesus had been in the wilderness forty days fasting, and this was a perfect setup for the temptations. The devil came along realizing that He was in the desert and hungry, and then said, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." Les points out that if a person is hungry, the thought of bread sends the taste buds going crazy, so the temptation was aimed at satisfying His hunger. Jesus answered, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." Les draws the lesson that in spite of physical appetites, we must temper them with spiritual things that are far more important, keeping our priorities straight rather than upside down.

Matthew 4:3

And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

More Questions

Why did the devil come to tempt Jesus after his fast?

The devil came to tempt Jesus because he realized Jesus had been in the desert and was hungry.