Then the Spirit led Jesus up into the wilderness so that the devil might tempt him. After Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights, he was starving. The tempter came to him and said, “Since you are God’s Son, command these stones to become bread.” Jesus replied, “It’s written, People won’t live only by bread, but by every word spoken by God.” After that the devil brought him into the holy city and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, I will command my angels concerning you, and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.” Jesus replied, “Again it’s written, Don’t test the Lord your God.” Then the devil brought him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said, “I’ll give you all these if you bow down and worship me.” Jesus responded, “Go away, Satan, because it’s written,You will worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” The devil left him, and angels came and took care of him. (Matthew 4:1-11, CEB)
I remember this verse used to be translated as if. If you are the son of God.
The Greek word means if or since. And since seems like a better fit, because the tempter, or the devil, is not questioning if Jesus is the son of God, maybe the devil is trying to get Jesus to question if that is true or not, but no one in this story is actually questioning that.
Since you are the son of God, all of these things are true for you.
The thing we learn from this passage is simple. Do not put God to the test. Trust.
Because the devil knows your name and calls you by your sins, and God knows your sins and calls you by your name.
aSacredRebel 