After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry and the tempter came…
Matthew 4:2
Three times the Devil comes and tempts Jesus. His temptations always begin with “If you are the Son of God” and ensues with a challenge of what that was supposed to mean.
Yet with each challenge notice that Satan forgets an important piece of information as he addresses Jesus.
Just in the previous chapter, Jesus is baptized by John and the voice from the Father is delivered for all to hear: “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well please”.
What’s the difference between Satan’s address of Jesus and the Father’s?
Satan omits the fact that Jesus is called beloved.
You see, Satan’s address and point of strategy comes and challenges the fullness of our identity. 90% truth is still a lie. And when we forget little things about how God feels about it, we are left open to Satan’s lies.
