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Satan knows how to write prefaces: here is one. He began the whole series of his temptations by a doubt cast upon our Lord's Sonship, and a crafty quotation from Scripture. He caught up the echo of the Father's word at our Lord's baptism, and began tempting where heavenly witness ended. He knew how to discharge a double-shotted temptation, and at once to suggest doubt and rebellion — " If" "command."

I. THE TEMPTER ASSAILS WITH AN "IF."

1. Not with point-blank denial. That would be too startling. Doubt serves the Satanic purpose better than heresy.

2. He grafts his "if" on a holy thing. He makes the doubt look like holy anxiety concerning Divine Sonship.

3. He "ifs" a plain Scripture. "Thou art My Son" (Psalm 2:7).

4. He "ifs " a former manifestation. At His baptism God said, "This is My beloved Son." Satan contradicts our spiritual experience.

5. He "ifs" a whole life. From the first Jesus had been about His Father's business; yet after thirty years His Sonship is questioned.

6. He "ifs" inner consciousness. Our Lord knew that He was the Father's Son; but the evil one is daring.

7. He "ifs" a perfect character. Well may he question us, whose faults are so many.

II. THE TEMPTER AIMS THE " IF" AT A VITAL PART.

1. At our sonship. In our Lord's case he attacks His human and Divine Sonship. In our case he would make us doubt our regeneration.

2. At our childlike spirit. He tempts us to cater for ourselves.

3. At our Father's honour. He tempts us to doubt our Father's providence, and to blame Him for letting us hunger.

4. At our comfort and strength as members of the heavenly family.

III. THE TEMPTER SUPPORTS THAT "IF" WITH CIRCUMSTANCES.

1. YOU are alone. Would a father desert his child?

2. You are in a desert. Is this the place for God's Heir?

3. You are with the wild beasts. Wretched company for a Son of God I

4. You are an hungered. How can a loving Father let His perfect Son hunger? Put all these together, and the tempter's question comes home with awful force to one who is hungry and alone. When we see others thus tried, do we think them brethren? Do we not question their sonship, as Job's friends questioned him? What wonder if we question ourselves!

IV. WHEN OVERCOME, THE TEMPTER'S "IF" IS HELPFUL.

1. As coming from Satan, it is a certificate of our true descent.

(1)  He only questions truth: therefore we are true sons.

(2)  He only leads sons to doubt their sonship: therefore we are sons.

2. As overcome, it may be a quietus to the enemy for years. It takes the sting out of man's questionings and suspicions; for if we have answered the devil himself we do not fear men.

3. As past, it is usually the prelude to angels coming and ministering to us.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.

WEB: The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."