Francis Patrick Kenrick

Luke iv. 4. The term rendered word, often means thing, matter, or substance, but it here implies decree; whatever God may ordain. The meaning is, that human life may be sustained by whatever means God pleases, as the Israelites were supported by manna in the desert. Thus Moses spake to the ancient people : "He afflicted thee with want, and gave thee manna for food, which neither thou nor thy fathers knew ; to show that not on bread alone doth man live, but on every word that pro- ceedeth from the mouth of God." Deut. y'lii. 2. The author of the book of \ isdom praises God for the manna in similar terms : " that Thy children, 0 Lord, whom thou lovedst, might know that it is not the growing of fruits that nourisheth men, but Thy word preserveth them that believe in Thee." Wisdom xvi. 26.