Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
This automated analysis scores the text on the likely presence of emotional, language, and social tones. There are no right or wrong scores; this is just an indication of tones readers or listeners may pick up from the text.
A score of 0.5 or higher indicates the tone is likely present.
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Anger
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Analytical
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Social Tone
Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Agreeableness
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Emotional Range
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Introduction
It may be hard to believe, but I am a bit competitive.
If Katie and the kids leave in the van at the same time I get to leave in my car, we all know it’s a race to get home first.
I am always looking for the shortest way home.
Of course, sometimes the shortest way home can become the longer of the two ways depending on traffic and lights and construction.
People who know shortcuts like to brag about their little secrets.
“That’s the long way, but I know a shortcut.”
Shortcuts are fun.
They’re time-savers.
They may even keep us from headaches such as traffic or having to get chewed out by someone because we came in late.
Everyone loves a good shortcut.
But when it comes to God’s will, there are no shortcuts.
As we get into the text this morning, we find the devil trying to circumvent God’s will by tempting Jesus with a shortcut.
He was promised power if he’d get in the right position.
We could say, he’d gain power if he’d take the right posture.
As part of this temptation we find the devil taking Jesus up to a place, giving him a promise, and charging him a price.
And in return Jesus gives him a prescript.
Place
Promise
Price
Prescript
The Devil Took Jesus to a Place
This may not seem to be the most important point in the text, but it does give us some insight as to the devil’s workings and mindset.
Every time the devil tempted Jesus, he took him somewhere new.
He changed the scenery and it wasn’t for no reason.
Each time, he took Jesus to a place that would enhance the temptation.
Each time he took Jesus to a place that made the temptation feel real or at least feel possible.
The first time around, the devil had Jesus in front of a rock.
And he pointed to (or maybe even held) that rock and said, “If you are the Son of God, turn this stone into bread.”
He didn’t have to go look for a rock.
He didn’t even have to choose one rock out of many.
This one right here.
You have the power.
I have the rock.
All ready to go.
It’s possible. . .
In this case, the devil took Jesus up.
We aren’t told exactly where, but we know they went up.
They went higher than they were before.
Can you hear the conversation that went on as they walked?
“Let’s go for a walk.”
“Where are we going?”
“Just up the hill a little ways.”
As they walk, Jesus asks, “Where are we going again?”
“We’re almost there, don’t worry.”
“Why are we going?”
“I just want to show you something.”
Have you stopped to wonder why the devil couldn’t have shown Jesus where they were?
If he could make the kingdoms appear up high, would he not be able to make them appear down low?
There had to be a reason. . .
We’ll come back to that in a moment.
Until then, where does the devil like to take you?
He took King David up onto his roof when he should have been in battle.
He took the young man down Fool’s Alley instead of Wisdom Way.
Where does he like to take you?
In other words, what will enhance his temptation against you?
One who struggles with lust, does he take you to a dark room?
Or maybe it is a certain way home from work with billboard signs providing eye-candy?
For those who struggle with despair in this world, perhaps it is social media or 24-hour news.
Those who are angry, is it YouTube and TikTok political videos?
What place (or places) does the devil take you?
Those who abuse alcohol, it may be an “innocent stroll” by a bar or liquor store.
The abuser of drugs, near an alley or a club.
Those who want to get rich, he takes to the stock market ticker.
The Devil Made Jesus a Promise
The first part of the devil’s temptation was to take Jesus to a place.
The second part of the temptation was to make Jesus a promise.
He showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
In other words, the devil flashed the kingdoms of the world before Jesus quickly.
Perhaps, do you think, because he didn’t want Jesus to take a closer look to see how messed up the kingdoms were?
Perhaps he didn’t want to remind him how badly the people were in need of redemption.
But he flashes through the kingdoms and tells him that all the inhabited world belongs to himself and he can give it to whomever he desires.
And he was willing to give it to Jesus.
“To you, I will give, all this authority and their glory.”
The emphasis is on “to you” and “all.”
The word “To you” begins the sentence, showing it’s importance.
No one else gets what I’m willing to give to you.
You, Jesus are special.
You deserve this.
You are unique.
You’re different than all the others.
To you, I will give all this authority and their glory.
All of it.
This is actually an emphatic version of the word “all” in Greek.
This is the Maxwell House of authority.
It’s all yours, down to the last drop.
Isn’t this what Jesus would one day have.
Later, in Matthew, he told his disciples, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”
But that authority was given only by way of suffering.
He had to go to the cross, suffer and die in the most excruciating way imaginable.
Heaven wasn’t the devil’s to give, but he was the god of this world, was he not?
He was the prince of the power of the air on earth, wasn’t he?
He couldn’t promise heaven, but he could promise the world.
After the sermon last week, John Cornett came up to me and pointed out how the devil can only offer second best if that.
He cannot offer what only God can give.
But here is Jesus being tempted with authority—power! and all the glory of this world!
And there would be no cross.
No suffering and shame.
No pain.
No death.
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