Was the devil tempting Jesus literally?

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Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
26,074
13,773
113
#21
Well, because being transported to a high mountain and to the pinnacle of a temple in Jerusalem cannot be literal. It must be symbolic or visions.
Only in your imagination. You might as well not believe anything in the Bible. How could Christ feed over 5,000 people with five small loaves of bread, and a few tiny fish? That must be symbolic according to you.
 

MaryM

Well-known member
Nov 25, 2022
505
299
63
#22
Only in your imagination. You might as well not believe anything in the Bible. How could Christ feed over 5,000 people with five small loaves of bread, and a few tiny fish? That must be symbolic according to you.
I am not sure, it needs reflection.
 

SomeDisciple

Well-known member
Jul 4, 2021
2,256
1,046
113
#23
In Luke Chapter 4, verses 1 - 13.
We are told Jesus is taken to a high mountain, also to Jerusalem onto a pinnacle of the temple.
Were these visions, through hunger and thirst or are we to believe literal events? It is not stated.

On a separate point, 40 days without food is surely impossible, yet nothing is said of weakness or sickness and how He recovered. Granted He is Lord of all, but He was in human form and thus temporarily as frail as we all are. Shown by his death on the cross where His body suffered just as any man would.
There's no mountain from where you can naturally see all of Israel, let alone "all the kingdoms of the earth": so there is almost definitely some visions involved. But all the rest seems naturally plausible.
 

Pilgrimshope

Well-known member
Sep 2, 2020
14,004
5,679
113
#24
In Luke Chapter 4, verses 1 - 13.
We are told Jesus is taken to a high mountain, also to Jerusalem onto a pinnacle of the temple.
Were these visions, through hunger and thirst or are we to believe literal events? It is not stated.

On a separate point, 40 days without food is surely impossible, yet nothing is said of weakness or sickness and how He recovered. Granted He is Lord of all, but He was in human form and thus temporarily as frail as we all are. Shown by his death on the cross where His body suffered just as any man would.
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:14-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Jesus faced the same temptations we do it comes through our flesh when he took on flesh he took on temptation also the difference is when he was tempted he obeyed God and never sinned

“Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:7-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬
 

2ndTimeIsTheCharm

Well-known member
Feb 17, 2023
1,926
1,107
113
#25
It can yes, but there is no good reason to do that.

Apparently Moses neither ate nor drank for 40 days. This is hard to believe. Though I want to believe and think the Bible is the inspired word of God.

That's perfectly fine that you want a better understanding of what the Bible says.

Concerning Moses, I think God sustained him while Moses was on the mountain with Him. God is the source of life, Himself. I would have loved to have been sitting in on the meeting.... Maybe someday when this is all over I can ask them!


🦄
 
Sep 24, 2012
604
160
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#26
I am not sure, it needs reflection.
I might get where you're coming from. There's not much of anything as far as I know with regards to evidence for the plagues in Egypt and the Exodus, but Jews celebrate passover.
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,776
624
113
#27
In Luke Chapter 4, verses 1 - 13.
We are told Jesus is taken to a high mountain, also to Jerusalem onto a pinnacle of the temple.
Were these visions, through hunger and thirst or are we to believe literal events? It is not stated.

On a separate point, 40 days without food is surely impossible, yet nothing is said of weakness or sickness and how He recovered. Granted He is Lord of all, but He was in human form and thus temporarily as frail as we all are. Shown by his death on the cross where His body suffered just as any man would.
Ask Christ. He talked in the OT NT what He does for one He will do for all. Now if it was a vision He would have said so. We do tend to hear Satan is toothless things like that. But its written "Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,"

I tend to believe God gave gifts what ever you wish to call it to angels He created. Well if He gifted man and some use that gift for God others for self. Never known fasting to cause more open visions things like that..well never.