Satan's temptations have common themes.  Therefore they should be easily recognisable.  He loves to induce uncertainty and then propose an evil solution to resolve it.  The first temptation, of Adam and Eve, caused them to doubt God's command, His authority and His kindness in providing all that was good for them (Genesis 3:1-7).   Satan tempted Jesus to doubt His identity - despite the recent affirmation of Father God and the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22).  Interestingly, Satan often tempts people after a 'spiritual high' while bathing in the knowledge of God's love, but when our guard may be down.  Not so with Jesus; He was full of the Holy Spirit and ready for the tempter.

"If you are the Son of God ...". Satan taunted Him; and then commanded that He did something to prove it. But Jesus had no need to prove His greatness. He was confident in His Divine identity. The self-advancing religious leaders also taunted Him, copying the temptation when they demanded He should perform miracles (Mark 8:11-12).  Both they and their evil master tried to make Jesus their puppet; but He would have none of it.

On this occasion, Satan even quoted Scripture, from Psalm 91:11-12, supposedly to validate his wicked plan.  But Jesus refused, giving the sternest of rebukes from the highest authority: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test".  In that sentence, Jesus rejected the wrong use of God's Word, and the temptation, by making clear that He was God Himself and that Satan was well out of order.  Jesus had made His mark of truth and the lying devil slunk off defeated.

Most temptations we face include doubt, including anxious doubt (worry) about the uncertainty of the future or our ability to handle it.  We may also doubt whether God can accept us because of our sin, despite our identity as forgiven and accepted children of Almighty God.  These tests of spiritual loyalty can come as easily when we have received blessing as when we feel deprived of it (Matthew 16:23).  They can sometimes come with warped understanding of Scripture as well as its absence; and they can come to those who are considered holy and spiritual, as well as to those who have poor reputations.  The good thing is that Jesus understands.  Also, His example of resisting the devil should be our regular experience (James 4:7); and the right understanding of Scripture will protect us more than we might imagine (Psalm 119:11).  Above all, if you are a child of God, you have the ultimate identity (1 John 3:1).  Do not let Satan fool you into using that special privilege to make yourself look big - we are intended to bring glory to the Lord, not to ourselves (Philippians 1:9-11).