Jesus answered him, saying, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'"
Now no one spoke with authority in those days. When anyone would preach they would say, "Now Rabbi Hallel declares . . . " They were like government employees, no one wanted to take any word of authority; they always pass you off to someone else. No one wants to take responsibility for anything. That's why it is so hard to get a permit anywhere. No one wants to accept any responsibility. If it comes back it's my neck, and it's awfully hard to deal with government agencies. Well, in those days when everyone spoke, they would always speak with the quoting of someone else. "He said this," or, "He declared that." But Jesus wasn't quoting the rabbis, He just said, "I say unto you, now you've heard that it has been said, you've heard that this is what was said, but I say unto you," and He spoke with authority. And they weren't used to that, they were amazed at the fact that He spoke with such authority. Astonished at His doctrine, for His word was with authority.