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NASB | Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the [Holy] Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. [Luke 4:1-13] |
Subject: What was the point of the temptation ? |
Bible Note: Trust me, this horse has been whipped enough, and the best we can all do is to agree to disagree. Most of the points made have been valid ones. However, my concerns remain. If you examine the earthly life of Christ, there are many things that he did that does not hold true to the commonly taught doctrines of God. I listed many of them earlier. God is all knowing, yet Jesus admitted to not knowing when the second coming was. God is the creator, yet Jesus got hungry and thirsty. God is the eternal Judge, yet Jesus fled from self-righteous and sinful jews intent on stoning him. God is all powerful, yet Jesus was weakened by the fasting during his 40 days of the temptation. He was weakened and hurt prior to the death on the cross. During the temptation, Satan questions Jesus's authority. Jesus could have called down 10 thousand legions of angels to his side to subdue and be rid of Satan. It was well within his power and authority to do so. However, it was exactly what Satan wanted him to do. Satan wanted Jesus to use his powers, but Jesus refused to. He answered every temptation with scripture. Every time he is met with a temptation by Satan, Jesus falls back onto the Word. By Jesus having the capacity to giving into temptation, but using the Word of God to rebuke temptation, it is a much stronger statement of what is possible. Jesus is supposed to understand our struggles and trials. He is supposed to know what it's like to be tempted to compromise and give in just a little bit in order for things to turn out better. Yet .. if he's not capable of giving into temptation, then he cheated here. "OH yeah .. it was easy for Jesus rebuke temptation, he's God and such wouldn't even phase him. That's not our case! We don't have that luxury." With the capability to give into temptation while during his earthly life, even if it's a small chance, Jesus can reply "But I do understand. You know what I did? I did the same thing you can do. I had the same options you had. Give in .. or fall back onto the Word of God." Jesusman |