Shortcuts to Significance

INTRODUCTION

It’s rare to meet a person who doesn’t want their life to matter.

What is it in human beings that creates that kind of longing?

Blaise Pascal said humans are “deposed Royalty.” Royalty because we know we were destined for greatness. Deposed because we know that we’ve fallen from something great.

The book of Genesis says we were “made in the image of God.” We are unlike other animals in our capacity and our calling.

No other animal can reason or have relationships quite like humans do. No other animal has responsibilities like we do. God gave us a mandate to have dominion over the earth. That desire isn’t bad it was given to us by God.

Every human being has an longing for significance.

We were wired by God to built, to cultivate and leave a legacy. We were made for something bigger than comfort or a life of ease.

Unfortunately, when sin entered into this world it corrupted God’s good design.

Our ability to take dominion was hindered and diminished. It’s no longer easy because we live in a broken world.

We have broken bodies and broken systems that fight against our longings.

In our pursuit of real significance we’re tempted to take a shortcut.

You know on google maps when the traffic route gets red? “Faster route identified” might save you five minutes. Have you ever taken one of those shortcuts only to regret it? It led you down a road no better than a ditch?

Such is the nature of spiritual temptation. There are no shortcuts to the life you want.

Shortcuts undermine a life of significance.

It may be quicker and more convenient but it will cost you in the end. Usually, it’s a price no person wants to pay.

Set The Table

That’s the big idea behind our passage this morning. After his baptism, Jesus is tempted by the devil.

This experience by Jesus prepares him for public ministry.

Every human who’s ever lived has been tempted at some point. It’s intrinsic to our nature and a result of our broken world.

Jesus was truly human and therefore tempted just like us. (Heb 4:15) The two natures of Jesus and how temptation works has puzzled theologians and is a topic for another day.

It follows Jesus’ baptism because of what was spoken. “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17) Jesus had been identified as King and God’s Messiah. The temptation would question that very truth.

There’s no applause. No Platform. No “easy mode” for the first few levels. Right after his confirmation Jesus is tested in this way.

There are many modern people who don’t believe in Satan and demons. If you believe what Jesus’ believed, they’re as real as you and me.

C.S. Lewis said there were equal but opposite errors when it comes to the question of devils.

Reject their existence all together.

Becoming fascinated and obsessed.

I think Satan is delighted with either ditch you choose. Some cultures are obsessed. Western culture seems uninformed.

From what we see in Matthew 4, both extremes can be avoided. You can stand against temptation and find victory over evil.

Not only does Jesus secure that spiritual victory. His response is a blueprint for our own life experience.

Read the Text

Matthew 4:1–11 CSB

1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and began to serve him.

Matthew shows us three temptations and three responses from the Lord. Each temptation was unique as was Jesus’ response.

On the other hand, temptations, have one thing in common. How Jesus responds helps to illustrate that truth. .

Temptations are really a crisis of faith. They challenge your heart on the thing you love most.

Temptation is really a question a worship because every “work” we do is grounded in our “faith.”

Every temptation is a shrine for your heart.

Most people don’t think of temptation this way but once you see the pattern you can’t unsee the truth.

With the time we have left I want to show you how this works.

UNDERSTANDING TEMPTATION

First, let me give you some overarching principles. They’re found in the context leading up to the temptation.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested.” (Mat 4:1)

There’s a whole lot packed into that one sentence. First, notice the word “then.”

The temptation of Jesus follows his baptism. It was after that baptism Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was affirmed by God the Father and anointed as God’s Messiah. (Matthew 3:17)

Temptations and shortcuts can strike in any season. (You’re never not susceptible.)

The more significant the moment the greater the resistance. Everywhere God moves, Satan mounts a resistance. It’s like clockwork. (If you’re not being tempted you might be walking the same direction.

God creates. Satan counterfeits. Not even Jesus is immune. If God is doing something big then the devil isn’t far.

This is especially true if you’ve just given your life to Christ or you’re trying to overcome habitual sin. If you’re restoring what Satan has broken or you’re advancing God’s will for your life.

Led by the Spirit

Which leads to the next phrase, “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness…”

The word “led up” can be translated “cast out” or compelled. Jesus wasn’t wondering around. God drove him to this place.

With temptations and shortcuts, God is sovereign but he’s not the source

The word translated “wilderness” (Jeshimon) means “devastation.” Jesus wasn’t camping at Yellowstone. (MAP: Judean Wilderness beyond the rain shadow)

This region had deep significance for Jewish people and their history.

Abraham went through the wilderness before the son of Promise.

Moses went through the wilderness in preparation for his role.

David ran from Saul in the wilderness before being crowned as king.

Each leader drew life & power from seeming death and obscurity. They emerged with newfound strength and clarity of their purpose.

God sent Jesus here just as he did Israel before. Jesus is retracing Israel’s history in the Old Testament. He stands where Adam falls. He is faithful where Israel failed.

Strategic Schemes

Regardless, Jesus temptation was made possible through his obedience to the Father.

The Spirit did the leading but Satan does the tempting.

Finally, notice what Matthew says in verses 2-3.

Matthew 4:2–3 CSB

2 After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God…”

With temptation and shortcuts, Satan’s schemes are strategic.

Notice how Satan waits until the end of the 40 days. Jesus was a sinless human but he was human nonetheless. Satan waits until he’s physically compromised.

If you’ve ever fasted you know some days are tough and others aren’t as bad. Day 40 is about as bad as they get so Satan struck at an opportune moment.

Satan also questions what God had just spoken, “If you are the Son of God.” He does it again in verse 6. (Mat 4:3, 6) This line of inquiry is strategic, and he does the same with you and me.

Satan wants to put a question mark where God puts a period. Satan wants to push you beyond the boundary of God’s good design.

Those words were the confirmation of Jesus’ identity and mission. He was Israel’s Messiah and the anointed Son of God.

The purpose of the Father was for Jesus to pass this test. It was an opportunity to grow and be strengthened in his mission.

The purpose of the tempter was for Jesus to fail this test. It was chance for him to stop God’s redemptive purpose.

The same is true for you and me. There are always two purposes in temptation. The will of our heavenly Father and that of our enemy. The question remains, “Who wins the battle for your will?”

PSEUDO SALVATION

That brings me to the main focus of our message today. Each temptation of Jesus distracts him from the cross.

They also contain three basic elements.

A legitimate need. (appetite, security, significance)

A persuasive lie. (this is the only way to be satisfied, safe, successful)

An act of faith. (trust God less, trust self more)

As we said before, “Every shortcut is a shrine.” The shrine that you construct reveals the savior that you seek.

What’s a shrine? A shrine is a room in which worship is given. Typically you offer some kind of sacrifice.

Because every action requires an act of faith, succumbing to temptation has religious implications. You reorder the priorities and allegiance of your heart.

You could think of these temptations as Pseudo-Saviors for the soul.

To receive what they promise you must give a sacrifice.

Shortcuts promise deliverance but demand a sacrifice.

Satan doesn’t just want you to trespass God’s design. He wants you to exchange true worship for something false.

You can buy now and pay later but the interest rate will be your soul.

To help us see this truth, each temptation has a name. A false god with a false promise that cannot truly save.

The Sensuality God

The Security God

The Supremacy God

Sensuality God

The first temptation is given in Matthew 4:2-4

Matthew 4:3 CSB

3 Then the tempter approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

The first spiritual shortcut is to the god of our five senses.

When most people hear “sensuality” they think of sexual pleasure.

The technical meaning is sensory satisfaction.

Sensuality is satisfaction as it pertains to your “senses.” You learned your five senses in elementary school, right?

Sight (what you see)

Smell (what you smell)

Taste (what you taste)

Touch (what you feel)

Hearing (what you hear)

In the case of Jesus, his hunger was legitimate. He had fasted from any food for 40 days so he could pray.

But you don’t need 40 days for this appetite to strike. You can feel it in 20 minutes after stuffing your face!

The sensuality god is our focus on material things. Physical needs like hunger, comfort and shelter.

You don’t have live very long before this hunger starts to grow. If $100 is sufficient then $1,000 is even better. If 3 bedrooms will do it, imagine what we could do with MORE.

Think about the Garden of Eden and that very first temptation. It wasn’t a shortage of food, it’s that ONE kind had been forbidden. They could eat fruit from any tree “except the knowledge of good and evil.”

Why did Eve choose to eat from THAT tree? “Because she saw that the tree was good for food.” (Gen 3:6) 1 John 2:16 calls this the “lust of the flesh.”

But it’s not just the longing to meet our physical needs. It’s trespassing God’s word in order to go about it.

You focus on feeding the flesh instead of your faith in God. Physical desire trumps your spiritual devotion.

You can see this in the answer that Jesus gives to Satan.

Deuteronomy 8:3 CSB

3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then he gave you manna to eat, which you and your ancestors had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

You can imagine Jesus meditating on Deuteronomy 6-8. His 40 days in the wilderness was very similar to the people of Israel.

Except Israel chose to grumble and complain against the Lord. Even after the Manna was given, they trespassed the Word of God.

Matthew, here, is highlighting the faithfulness of Jesus. Where Israel was faithless in their wilderness, Jesus choose to stand.

He would not seek satisfaction at the expense of what God said.

The Price of Submission

What about you? When it comes to sensual satisfaction, does Scripture have a say?

Or do you seek satisfaction outside the lines of Scripture?

There are so many examples of this it’s hard to show them all.

This is what enslaves people to their addictions. (alcohol, opiates, pornography, sex, etc)

This is what drives people into the slavery of debt. It might be why your house feels like Sanford and Sons.

It’s why some of us are unhealthy and increasingly out of shape. It could also explain why you never leave the gym.

The fear of physical discomfort drives all manner of insanity. In the realm of taste, touch and sight the list goes on and on.

God created us with these senses. They were given to be enjoyed!

We just can’t seek that satisfaction outside the lines of Scripture.

Your physical cravings don’t trump God’s commandments! The problem isn’t the bread it’s bowing to another master.

If you’re ruled by your senses, you’re a slave to your passions.

Jesus isn’t saying physical pleasure is off-limits. He’s certainly not saying we should not meet our physical needs.

Jesus is merely saying, “God’s Word should set the frame. He decides the when and where, the rules and regulations.”

The God of False Security

The next spiritual shortcut is given in Matthew 4:5-6

Matthew 4:5–6 CSB

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will give his angels orders concerning you, and they will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”

Notice, Satan doubles down in challening Jesus’ sonship.

This time he quotes a passage from the Old Testament!

The Holy City for Jesus was the City of Jerusalem. The pinnacle of the temple would’ve been Herod’s temple for the Jews.

Had Jesus jumped from the pinnacle and angels swooped to save, nobody would’ve questioned his Messianic identity.

Not only could Jesus bypass all the suffering and opposition. His identity as Messiah could be public instead of hidden. No more telling people to be quiet or downplaying his miracles.

I call this shortcut the False Security God.

Jesus could get the glory with no danger or threat of failure. It was guaranteed success of his mission as the Son of God.

Satan didn’t question whether Jesus was God’s Son. He casts a vision for that Sonship that devoid of any risk.

In other words, the temptation was to TEST God instead of TRUST him. The false promise of this temptation was the illusion of control.

I’m happy to be obedient if God guarantees the outcome.

I’m happy to trust the Lord if He removes any risk.

God, I’ll follow you so long as you use my plan.

In support of that temptation, Satan uses the Word of God! Satan knows the Scripture better than most of us.

The problem wasn’t with the Scripture but the terrible application. Satan is a master liar, and spinner of false narratives.

He can a take a true truth and twist it into error, weaponizing goodness for his evil schemes.

Testing Versus Trusting

Satan’s quotation is from Psalm 91:11-12. It’s Messianic Psalm I preached this time last year.

It was written to give assurance to God’s people in a time of trouble.

But a text without a context is a pretext for a prooftext. The Psalmist never promises a life free of trouble. Nor does God promise a mission without risk.

It’s with dangers all around, that the Lord would be their refuge! (Psalm 91:1-10)

Psalm 91:4–7 CSB

4 He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, 6 the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon. 7 Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you.

The Psalmist never promises a life free of risk. The Psalmist merely promises a faithful shield in the battle!

The answer to bad theology is good theology put to practice. Jesus reveals the lie behind the spiritual shortcut.

Matthew 4:7 CSB

7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.”

This passage, again, comes from Deuteronomy. It’s a different verse but the same context of Israel’s testing in the wilderness.

Deuteronomy 6:16 CSB

16 Do not test the Lord your God as you tested him at Massah.

If you’re unfamiliar with the story it’s found in Exodus 17. Israel had left the Wilderness of Sin and was moving towards the Promised Land. When they came to camp at Rephidim, there was no water for the people to drink. (Ex 17:1)

Instead of trusting in the Lord, they grumbled and tested God. (Ex 17:2-3) Fearing for his life, Moses prayed for help. In response, God told him to strike the rock of Horeb with his staff. When he struck the rock, water would come out. (Ex 17:4-6)

Exodus 17:7 CSB

7 He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites complained, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

The Price of Submission

The false promise of this temptation is getting safety without submission.

There is no real protection outside the will of God. Submission to God’s will is how we rest beneath his sheild.

Moreover, there is no place in Scripture where testing God is recommended.

Every time it happens, it’s rooted in unbelief.

God’s will for your life may include many dangers! In the words of Psalm 91, there are “bird traps, plagues, arrows and night terrors.”

God’s promise is though they happen they will not HARM or stop his plan.

Psalm 91:15 CSB

15 When he calls out to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor.

You can’t have real safety apart from submission.

You’ll never have a life of peace if you take this spiritual shortcut. It may give you false assurance. It may cure it for a while.

But eventually your soul gets restless, insecurity begins to mount. False saviors prove deficient, robbing faith’s reward.

The god of False Supremacy

The last spiritual shortcut is given in Matthew 4:8-9

Matthew 4:8–9 CSB

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to him, “I will give you all these things if you will fall down and worship me.”

Satan’s mask is off. This time the “quiet part is out loud.”

Fall down and worship me and I’ll give you “all these things.”

This was likely a type of vision (similar to before.) In it, world-wide glory and dominance was the prize.

I would call this shortcut the false god of supremacy.

It’s what everybody wants in one form or another. We want to be smarter than someone else, more wealthy or well-connected.

In the words of 1 John 2:16 it’s the “pride in one’s possessions.” For Eve, in the Garden, it was the “desire for obtaining wisdom.” (Gen 3:6)

It’s the prize of being better than everybody else. It’s the power and authority to do whatever you want. It’s the spender and majesty of everybody knowing it.

What’s crazy is, that glory already BELONGED to Jesus! He was the author of creation before his incarnation.

As Messiah, God had promised his inheritance was the nations. (Psalm 2:8)

The temptation towards Jesus wasn’t something he didn’t deserve.

The temptation was he could have it without becoming the suffering servant.

The price of this temptation was to circumvent God’s path. Instead of suffering and tribulation he could have power without the pain.

Instead of going to cross, to purchase what was his, he could skip that suffering and still have total dominion.

The crown without the cross.

The power without the pain.

The glory without obedience.

Dominion without redemption.

Really, each temptation was a distraction from the cross. Take the glory of the Kingdom, but not the fullness of God’s plan.

The lie wasn’t whether the shortcut would deliver. Shortcuts usually work but never give us what is best.

You can’t have true success apart from suffering.

Jesus could’ve gained global power and domination. But his kingdom would be like Rome and every other human kingdom. Compliance would be forced and injustice would dominate.

Jesus was after a different kind of kingdom. As Messiah, his Kingdom was to recreate the world. His kingdom would recover God’s original design. True truth, true goodness, true beauty and more.

He could take these shortcuts and circumvent God’s plan but he would lose his soul and miss out on what God promised.

Forgiveness of sins required obedience to the Scripture.

Redemption would require submission to the Father’s Plan.

Resurrection and dominion would require suffering on the cross.

The Price of Service

Satan methods have not changed nor have the consequences.

Jesus’ response is given in Matthew 4:10-11

Matthew 4:10 CSB

10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

This final quotation is Deuteronomy 6:13. It also comes in the context of Israel’s testing in the wilderness.

In Scripture, worship and service are often linked together. Worship happens in the heart but service is the outward expression.

The false promise of this shortcut is success apart from suffering.

You might get some treasure but it’s not God’s promised land. To obtain the full inheritance you must serve God to the end.

If you read the story of Israel, they did not heed this warning. God warned them, “Don’t forget me… worship and serve me and worship no one else.” The LORD is a Jealous God and will not tolerate competition. (Deut 6:5, 13-14)

Should Israel worship other gods he would wipe them from the earth. (Deut 6:15)

Ironically, that’s what happened and they were taken into captivity. As Matthew writes his Gospel they were occupied by the Romans.

What’s interesting is that Jesus brought a different kind of Kingdom.

What’s interesting is Jesus’ response to Satan before he quotes that verse. It’s a very strong statement, rarely used by Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Notice one more thing that Jesus says in verse 10. “Then Jesus told him, Go away Satan!” (Others MMS say “Get behind me, Satan!)

This is verbatim what Jesus says to Peter in Matthew 16. It ties these three temptations with the testing that was to come.

Satan tempted Jesus to reject the plan of God. He could have the glory without any of the pain.

Culturally, that assumption was dominant during the day. Jewish assumptions about the Messiah is that he’d reign in power. He wouldn’t suffer death, he’d bring upon God’s enemies.

And yet, Jesus knew the Scriptures cast another vision. The Davidic King and Son would also have to suffer. He would be pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities.

It was this commitment to service through suffering on a cross, that Peter heard and scoffed, rebuking Jesus for the plan.

This came right after Peter identified Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 16:16) But Peter’s vision of “sonship” was just twisted as Satan’s lie.

“When Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed and be raised on the third day. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, ‘OhNo, Lord! This will NEVER happen to you.” (Matthew 16:21-22)

Peter’s mind was focused on important legitimate needs.

There were physical material needs that Messiah had come to meet.

There were social and security needs that Messiah alone could solve.

There were political civic needs that Messiah alone could realize.

The Greatest Need & Promise

None of these needs were bad nor were they unimportant. But they secondary to the main concern the Father had in mind.

Their greatest human need was deliverance from their sin. More important than houses and political alliances was their separation from God.

Jesus came to meet THAT need. That was the will of his Father. But he could only meet that need through the posture of a Son.

Therefore his response to Peter was just like that of Satan. Mat 16:23

Matthew 16:23 CSB

23 Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”

A Son seeks satisfaction according to his Father’s Word.

A Son seeks safety and security through submission to the Father’s Will.

Significance and success come through obedience to the Father’s Plan.

Jesus did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28)

Because Jesus took no shortcuts, Jesus ALONE can SAVE.

Through his suffering and death he paid the penalty for your sin.

Through his resurrection and ascension, you have power to live a righteous life.

You can overcome temptation by looking to the Son. Satan has been defeated and must flee upon your submission! No submission to an idol but submission to the LORD.

Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Have you received that power through submission to the will of God?

God’s will for every person is that they believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent and turn from sin while putting faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.