That principle by which God indicates in the first mention of a subject, the truth with which that subject stands connected in the mind of God. a. Newton said, “I find in Scripture this principle of interpretation, which I believe, if conscientiously adopted, will serve as an unfailing guide to what was in the mind of God. This is the keystone of the whole matter.” b. Dr. A. T. Pierson—”This is a law we have long since noted, and have never yet found it to fail. The first occurrence of a word, expression, or utterance, is the key to its subsequent meaning, or it will be a guide to ascertaining the essential truth connected with it.” c. The first time a thing is mentioned in Scripture it carries with it a meaning that will be carried all through the Word of God. We find 13 in Scripture used in connection with rebellion. All through Scripture 13 is a number that has in it the note of rebellion against God. It foreshadows apostasy. d. There is only one speaker throughout all Scripture, although there are many mouths. Only one providing, governing, controlling mind—Heb. 1:1. God spake through “holy men of old” in the past, but in these days He speaks through His Son. No matter when, where, or how, the message is given, God is the speaker, and since there is only one speaker, and since that speaker knows from the beginning what He is going to say. He can so shape the first utterances as to forecast everything that is to follow. He is able to do that.
Examples. The subtlety of Satan—Gen. 3:1. This is the first time the serpent is mentioned, and the characteristic mentioned is subtlety. All through the Book you will find Satan to be subtle. Expect subtlety every time you meet him—II Cor. 11:3. In the beginning he attacked Eve. In Matt. 4 we see him testing the Lord. a. The basis for the first testing is hunger. This is a most exasperating thing. Jesus had been in the wilderness forty days, and before He had gone into the wilderness at the baptism, God had spoken and said, “This is my beloved Son.” Now He had been forty days without food, and Satan comes and says, “If thou art the Son.” This is a subtle insinuation. “Did you really hear that voice from heaven? If you were the Son of God you would not suffer here forty days and nights. Do you mean to tell me that God would permit His Son to go hungry?”
Hunger is the most innocent and necessary of human desires. Man never gets hungry because of sin. Before the fall, man needed food. Hunger is a fulfillment of the divine plan. Man must have food to live. Hunger is a God-created sense, and to feed it is to satisfy His purpose. God intends that a hungry man should eat.
Satan knew when to come. He was subtle in his coming and in his insinuations—”I don’t ask you to do anything wrong, but if you are the Son of God, and if it is all true, then you can get yourself some food.” Here is the serpent’s subtlety. It is not a sin to satisfy a legitimate craving, but it is a sin to satisfy it in the wrong way. So he suggested two things. Prove you are the Son of God, and satisfy your hunger.
Jesus Christ quoted the Word of God, because the Word of God gives the will of God. He was dependent upon Cod because He came as a man. He did not perform a miracle to save Him because God had sent Him and He was dependent upon God—”It is written.” a. Second testing—at the temple. Satan can also quote Scripture. “I wouldn’t bring you to a holy place like this and tempt you to do evil. Come to the top of the temple. Now cast yourself down. For it is written, angels will have charge over thee. You profess you are the Man who is going to live by the Word, then throw yourself down.” But Christ came back with, “It is written.” ’ b. Third testing— kingdoms of the world. Here was the glory of Greece, the pomp of Rome, and all the islands of the sea. “They are all mine, and I will give them to you if you will worship me. Why did you come into the world? Didn’t you come so that you could have the whole world as a possession? All you have to do (it won’t take a minute) is worship me. No Gethsemane, no spitting in your face, no crown of thorns, no nails in your body, no agony. Just a minute, bow down and worship me.” All this did belong to Satan. He is the prince of this world and the god of this age. But Jesus said, “I will take the long road to the cross, and the kingdom of God will be established.” There is nothing more subtle in the Word of God than Satan’s attack on the Lord Jesus, and this is indicated in the first mention of him, the serpent.