Sermon Tone Analysis
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*Intro* – For the past 3 weeks we’ve looked at temptation in general from the experience of Jesus in Luke 4. We found that every temptation – every one – has dual purposes.
It is intended by Satan as a temptation to diminish us; it is intended by God as a test to grow us.
How we react determines which happens.
We’ve also seen that temptation comes in very attractive flavors with clear directions for rationalizing destructive behavior, so we need to be firmly grounded in the Word and in prayer to overcome.
Now let me introduce the first temptation with a story.
A young soldier was on guard duty for the first time was ordered not to admit any car without a special identification seal.
Naturally, the first unmarked car he stopped was transporting a general who told his driver to go on through.
The soldier looked at the general and said politely, “Sir, I’m new at this.
My orders are to stop anyone who does not have proper identification which you do not have.
So, please clarify for me.
Who do I shoot first, you or the driver?”
This illustrates a great truth that most of us have a difficult time with.
That is, obedience is important.
Obedience is very important – more important, in fact, than life or death.
In theory we know this; in practice we don’t believe it.
But that is the lesson of the first temptation.
*I.
The Seduction*
The crux of this temptation is to meet legitimate need in a wrong way.
The underlying assumption is – A man (or a woman) must live.
It makes human life the ultimate good.
So let’s see how it plays out.
Vv. 1-2, “And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2 for forty days, being tempted by the devil.
And he ate nothing during those days.
And when they were ended, he was hungry.”
Imagine not eating for 40 straight days.
And all that time He was being tempted by the devil.
In what ways we do not know; we are not told, except for the final three.
But it had been a time like no other human had ever faced up until then.
Forty days and Satan could not break Him.
Remember, Christ is living only by means of His human nature.
In the words of Phil 2:6-7, “who, though he was in the form of God (still had deity – you can’t quit being God), did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant.”
Emptied Himself of what?
His deity – His divine nature?
No.
But emptied himself of the use of His deity – the acting as equal with God.
He was living with no more resource than you or I.
So picture Him – tired, weary, emotionally drained – and hungry.
To the point of collapse.
I’ve been hungry, but nothing like this.
Forty days is near the physical limit where life can be sustained without food.
The pain has become extreme.
And, of course, that is exactly the moment Satan comes as an angel of light with a wonderful suggestion.
“If Condition” -- V. 3, “The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
That looks like Satan is challenging the deity of Christ.
But not so.
Our English language cannot duplicate the richness of the Greek here.
We have one way to say “If”.
In Greek, there are 4. Shades of meaning attach to “if” all the way from “If such and such is true, and I assume it is,” to “If such and such is true and I assume it is not.”
Here is a 1st class “if” condition – assumed to be true.
The temptation could legitimately be translated “If you are the Son of God – and I assume that you are.”
Satan and the demons know very well who Jesus is.
Just scroll down to v. 34 to get an example, “Ha!
What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Jas 2:19 reminds us, “You believe that God is one; you do well.
Even the demons believe—and shudder!” Satan is not confused about who Jesus is, and the last thing He wants Him to do is prove it.
So what is this?
Overt temptation -- What the devil is doing here is reminding Jesus of what happened at His baptism.
That was a singular event in the life of Christ when heaven opened and the voice of God was heard to say, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
That one phrase affirmed all Jesus had learned in His earthly life to that point.
Yes!
He was right!
He was indeed the chose One, the Messiah.
It was the high of all highs – His heavenly Father identifying, loving and affirming Him.
It confirmed He was God in the flesh with all the power that implied.
But now, here He is 40 hunger-filled days later.
The high is a distant memory until the angel of light reminds Him.
“Hey – aren’t you hungry by now?
Man, you’ve got a legitimate need here.
And, you’ve got the means to meet it.
You’re God, for Pete sake!
Turn that stone to bread.
Stop torturing yourself.”
Understand, Beloved, this temptation was real.
Just then, living through His human nature, this was compelling.
I need food, and that’s not a sin.
Underlying assumption – Now, there is a major underlying assumption in this temptation – you must live.
V. 1 emphasized that Jesus is here by the leading of the HS.
The same God who declared Him to be His own Son has also put Him in danger of starvation.
So the subtle suggestion underlying the temptation is, “Hey, great that the Father came to your baptism.
But where is He now?! Clearly, you are on your own.
He must not care about your suffering.
But you’re God.
Solve your own problem.
That’s probably what He wants you to do.
So, do it!”
Underlying assumption – You have to live – and you have the means to save yourself.
Come on.
Pull the trigger!
Rationalization – But I don’t think Satan was done even then.
I think he saved his best argument for last.
The great rationalization.
“Listen, Jesus.
Aren’t you on a mission to save people?
Now, pray tell, how are you going to do that lying dead out here in this God-forsaken wilderness.
You’re dying, man!
Come on.
Save yourself so you can save others -- get on with what you came to do.”
You don’t think that thought crossed the mind of Jesus here?
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