I will give it one more try. The issue here is not who won the struggle, Jesus or devil, but the temptation itself. What is temptetion - devil is trying to take advantage of somebody's weakness or sinful nature. If I am not an alchoholic, you can not tempt me with liquor, if I am not materialistic person, you can not tempt me with money. But Jesus was tempted. If devil was not able to tempt him - then we can say he did not have any weeknesses or any sinful nature, but he was tempted and struggle with it. You only struggle if there is a problem or sin, if you have no problems you would never have to struggle with teptations.
2006-11-30 16:04:19 · 17 answers · asked by big head 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Excellent observation. It only demonstrates further how the Christian theology is full of holes [like a spaghetti strainer].
2006-11-30 16:10:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the Garden of Eden there was no sin, and still Adam and Eve were tempted right. If you never had sex, could not a woman still tempt you to have sex? Obviously before they became an alcholocic they were tempted, to drink right? You can be tempted without having a problem with sin, although once you become addicted or fall into sin, its much easier to stay that way.
2006-12-01 00:09:35 · answer #2 · answered by ۞ JønaŦhan ۞ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to be imperfect to be tempted. If someone offered you chocolate to not take your daily dose of vitamins, would you have to be imperfect to find the chocolate appealing? Jesus and Satan both knew that Jesus was to become King in God's heavenly Kingdom after offering himself up as a ransom for our sins. That's why he tried to offer him rulership over the kingdoms of the world. He was also trying to take advantage of Jesus' weakened physical state, which is why he thought that food (turning rocks into bread) might work. Jesus also had free choice, just like Adam and Eve. No one is a robot, hard-wired to do what is right without choice, not even perfect people. Jesus didn't succumb to those temptations, which means that he remained perfect.
2006-12-01 00:13:51 · answer #3 · answered by Epitome_inc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The devil had no idea what type of weaknesses Jesus may have had, so he tempted him in many different ways, just as he most likely did with Adam and Eve..
It was after all his attempts had failed and he was sent away, that he decided to have Jesus killed.
2006-12-01 02:30:26 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is how I view the temptation of Jesus: When gold is being purified it is put heated, tested to the point where the impuries, dross comes out of it. But if the gold is pure, then nothing impure can come out of it. It's the same way with Jesus. Though he could be tempted, tested, put through the fire, there was nothing impure to come out of him. There was no root of sin in him, whatsoever. Jesus could not sin. Besides that, even though he was human, he was God and as God he could not sin. His humanness and Godness could never be seperated.
2006-12-01 00:13:50 · answer #5 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would not say that this is necessarily true. Jesus did have to struggle through, although he was above us all in nature he was subjected to temptation so that he could show us the way. He said "I am the way, the light, and the life. No man cometh unto the father but by me." I think that Jesus needed to struggle, needed to suffer just like the rest of us, so that he could show us the path we should follow. Also so that he could better understand our sorrows and pains. It was also necissary, however, that he should overcome.
2006-12-01 00:10:12 · answer #6 · answered by Richard A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What sort of answers have you in the past received to this question?
To the best of my knowledge (though my Bible interpretation skills aren't the very best), I always saw Satan as TRYING to tempt Christ. We call it the "Temptation of Christ" just as we call Adam and Eve's eviction from Eden the "Great Fall." No one technically "fell," either - that would imply that they were physically high up and tumbled down. Linguistically speaking, the Devil thought he could tempt Christ, so he gave it his best try. He was unsuccessful precisely because Christ had no sin and was not susceptible to temptation. I hope this answers your question.
2006-12-01 00:09:50 · answer #7 · answered by mesasa1978 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Temptation is a trial. It is a chance to prove your guilt or innocence for the very same reason we have trials today. To sin it must first be born in the heart. Sin is plain and simple, disobedience towards God. The Bible states that you can tell what is in a mans heart just by what comes out of his mouth. I think Jesus answered every question right.
2006-12-01 00:24:24 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe that Jesus went through temptation to show us that we dont have to give in to it. I also dont know about a person being tempted by somthing they dont have or do. before i left the church i did not drink or go out but man i was very tempted by both things. its bad to say that i gave in to my temptation. but hey we have to have some types of decisions.
2006-12-01 00:11:06 · answer #9 · answered by ltonyasfun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting point. I wonder what the christians are going to say to this. Maybe they'll say that the Devil didn't have a ghost of a chance, and that he was playing on jesus's human nature.
2006-12-01 00:07:55 · answer #10 · answered by Bhagwad 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You forget that Jesus was both man and God. Jesus human side was tempted because he knew what he had to endure to save mankind from total destruction. This is why he asked God to let this cup pass him, but he also realized if God answered him humanity would have no chance for redemption.
2006-12-01 00:32:51 · answer #11 · answered by lwibby 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋