There is an amazingly powerful truth in this seemingly simple scripture that is easy to overlook.
Jesus is man, fully 100% human just like you!
Sure he is also fully God, but consider for a moment just how human he is. In this scripture, Jesus resists satan. He had just fasted (no food) for forty days! He became very hungry. His body cried out for food through deep pain, no different than you and I.
How can we know? Look closely at the scripture. "Man" shall not live by bread alone. Man. Jesus fought off satan's temptation to misuse Gods power for personal gain, by quoting a scripture about man! If Jesus were not human, that scripture would not apply to him. Jesus must be human for that scripture to be true for him!
Why is that so important?
Have you ever felt hunger with no means to buy food? Jesus has. Have you experienced the deep crippling grief of losing a loved one? Jesus has. Ever felt overwhelmed with tears, despair, pain? Jesus has. Ever felt betrayed by one you trusted deeply? Yes, Jesus has. Every pain, every challenge you face, Jesus faced it. He knows and fully understands our lives, our pain. He was human, living in this evil filled fallen world just like us, facing all the pain we face. He was and is "man". He feels your pain.
That's the good news! By living among us, by facing what we face, by living our life, he was able to overcome for us. His victory can be ours. Not only is he the ultimate friend who has "been there", but he overcame it all for us! When we are beaten, defeated, hopeless, he is our strength because he was there first and he overcame it for us. We don't have to " be strong", we just need to turn to him and accept his strength.
Jesus is the answer to whatever we face. He beat it and is waiting to hand us his victory.
Yes, it is that simple... Because man does not live by bread (strength, willpower, self-help) alone, but by every word of God.
