Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Why the wilderness?

Why the test?

Before a person can be responsible for others, he must prove that he can be responsible himself.

Many have not been given authority because they could not control themselves and obey God.

4 Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, 2 and after he* had fasted forty days and forty nights, then he was hungry.

3 And the tempter approached and* said to him, “If you are the Son of God, order that these stones become bread.”

4 But he answered and* said, “It is written, ‘Man will not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’ ”

Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), son of wealthy parents (Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt), graduates from Emory University as a top student and athlete.

However, instead of embarking on a prestigious and profitable career, he chooses to give his savings to charity, rid himself of his possessions, and set out on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness.

1 ThenJesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, 2 and after he* had fasted forty days and forty nights, then he was hungry.

3 And the tempter approached and* said to him, “If you are the Son of God, order that these stones become bread.”

4 But he answered and* said, “It is written, ‘Man will not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’ ”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the highest point of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down!

For it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’

and

‘On their hands they will lift you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.’

”

7 Jesus said to him, “On the other hand it is written, ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’

”

8 Again the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him, “I will give to you all these things, if you will fall down and* worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan, for it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’

” 11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and began ministering to him.

W. Hall Harris III et al., eds., The Lexham English Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012), .

Just as the first Adam met Satan, so the Last Adam met the enemy (1 Cor.

15:45).

Adam met Satan in a beautiful Garden, but Jesus met him in a terrible wilderness.

Adam had everything he needed, but Jesus was hungry after forty days of fasting.

Adam lost the battle and plunged humanity into sin and death.

But Jesus won the battle and went on to defeat Satan in more battles, culminating in His final victory on the cross (John 12:31; Col. 2:15).

Observations:

Jesus was 100% Human and 100% Divine.

Yet He submitted Himself to humanity to be tempted by the flesh and it’s desires.

Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), son of wealthy parents (Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt), graduates from Emory University as a top student and athlete.

However, instead of embarking on a prestigious and profitable career, he chooses to give his savings to charity, rid himself of his possessions, and set out on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness.

Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), son of wealthy parents (Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt), graduates from Emory University as a top student and athlete.

However, instead of embarking on a prestigious and profitable career, he chooses to give his savings to charity, rid himself of his possessions, and set out on a journey to the Alaskan wilderness.

“When the LORD your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give you—a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, 11 houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, wells dug that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant —and when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.

13 Fear Yahweh your God, worship Him, and take your oaths in His name.

14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you, 15 for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.

Otherwise, the LORD your God will become angry with you and wipe you off the face of the earth.

16 Do not test the LORD your God as you tested Him at Massah.

17 Carefully observe the commands of the LORD your God, the decrees and statutes He has commanded you.

18 Do what is right and good in the LORD’s sight, so that you may prosper and so that you may enter and possess the good land the LORD your God swore to give your fathers, 19 by driving out all your enemies before you, as the LORD has said.