can He not change bread into His true and sacred Flesh?
5. Satan tempts Christ to make more than was necessary, these stones, so that He might fall into the sin of gluttony.
6. Satan tempts Christ to a false humility, by urging Him to make bread, the plainest food of the poor, instead of costly viands.
7. Satan never offers what can satisfy. The prodigal son was given but the husks, and here Satan presents nought but stones.
8. Christ left Satan still in doubt as to whether He were the Son of God or not: teaching us pious reserve on the subject of spiritual favours.
And He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proccedeth out of the mouth of God. Here note—
1. Christ implies that God’s power is not limited to the means prescribed by Satan. God can satisfy His own sons in ways of His own devising.
2. Christ passes over the challenge, If Thou art the Son of God, teaching us that our spiritual privileges are not to be proclaimed, but rather concealed, that pearls are not to be cast before swine, nor the children’s bread to be given to dogs.
3. Christ’s words imply the full inspiration of Scripture: He says, that man shall live by every word; not by the general sense.
