Why did Satan tempt Jesus?

[NWL]

Why would Satan knowing this person he's tempting might be God, ask Jesus to do an act of worship to him knowing that God can't worship anyone and that its a pointless thing for him to ask.

Its like Satan asking Jesus - "If you are God Jesus then lie", even though Satan knows that God cannot Lie, so its a pointless question to ask. (Numbers 23:19) “..God is not a man, that He should lie.."

The temptations Satan was tempting Jesus with would only make sense in him asking them to him if, Jesus is not God, otherwise the temptations aren't temptations. And we all know Satan is stupid, he's a master deceiver so there's a reason for those questions.

Also it cannot be explained by saying that Jesus was human etc, because then your basically saying that God can Sin! When the Bible makes clear that God cannot sin!

So again if Satan knew that God is incapable of sining, then why would he try and tempt him? Is it because Jesus isn't God?

What are your thoughts?

(Matthew 4:8-9) "..Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.”

 

[Closemyeyes2cU]

Why would Satan knowing this person he's tempting might be God, ask Jesus to do an act of worship to him knowing that God can't worship anyone and that its a pointless thing for him to ask.

Because satan wanted to be God and what better way to be God than by having God worship you. Not stop pushing your Jehovah witness nonsense.

 

[NWL]

Because satan wanted to be God and what better way to be God than by having God worship you. Not stop pushing your Jehovah witness nonsense.

Its crazy to think that anyone is entitled to having there own opinion, but yet you think that I'm not, do you hear me telling you to stop pushing your nonsense? What makes your so much better than me that I'm not allowed to speak and yet you are, maybe you should imitate you exemplar and humble yourself treat people the way you yourself would like to be treated.

Anyway I'm not to fussed about what your human views are regarding the subject, however if you could back your thinking up by scripture that would be great friend, no where in the Bible does it say(to my knowledge) that the reason for Satan betrayal was because he wants to be worship, its actually for a different reason, which I'm not sure you know. But if your willing to show me otherwise than great, I wanna know.

Thanks for your comment.

 

[episcopotic]

So again if Satan knew that God is incapable of sining, then why would he try and tempt him? Is it because Jesus isn't God?

These aren't temptations primarily to sin, but to alter his plans. Find an easier way out.

First, turning bread into stones. Jesus could have easily satisfied the needs and wants of humanity and gained a following by seducing their stomachs. This is the path of satisfaction, which Jesus rejects. God does take care of us, like the flowers that survive even while not worrying about the future, but this is not a path of salvation.

Second, going to the top of the temple in Jerusalem and flinging himself to the pavement, only to be saved by angels. By doing this sort of thing, he could have wowed the crowd into following him with flashy miracles. Jumping off the temple like some Matrix Messiah wouldn't have done anything permanent. This is the path of showmanship, which Jesus rejects. He does occasionally do signs, but eventually he does get tired of our lust for them and says we'll only receive one - that of Jonah.

Finally, by worshiping Satan. This is the path of capitulation and appeasement, which Jesus rejects. This definitely wouldn't accomplish anything. Jesus' kingdom is not of this world, and he has to explain this to his followers, to Satan, to Romans, etc. There's nothing that says Satan understood his larger plans.

 

[episcopotic]

Its crazy to think that anyone is entitled to having there own opinion, but yet you think that I'm not, do you hear me telling you to stop pushing your nonsense?

NollywoodLover(?),

As a piece of advice, the problem is not that you have an opinion, but in how you try so unsubtly and frantically to convert everyone to it. No real "hello," just "you should be JWs," repeatedly.

Suppose I went to a Catholic chat room and started a thread about how it's wrong to pray to Mary, how the priesthood shouldn't be celibate, how the Apocrypha shouldn't be included in the Bible, etc., etc. Then, when someone asks me if I'm, say, a Baptist, I ignore them completely and spawn more anti-Catholic threads. I apologize that I'm making everyone upset, even when they're not, and plead some kind of persecution.

We are people who are, for the most part, at home in our own denominations and have thought about the issues you're putting forward. It seems, however, like you've suddenly discovered an enclave of heretics and must convert us en masse. Your evangelical zeal is appreciated, but you're going about it all wrong.

When you finally burn yourself out, and you will, all you will have done is pushed people further from your doctrines. We will be less likely to listen to any of your brothers and sisters. You have been identified and we know you church happens to disagree with many of our churches. This is unlikely to resolve itself any time soon.

You may want to calm down before you get an ulcer. Try a cup of tea. Recognize you're among adults who weren't just sitting around for you to tell us to think. We've read your script before, thank you, though you're invited to stay and chat if you're able to restrain yourself.

 

[Closemyeyes2cU]

Its crazy to think that anyone is entitled to having there own opinion, but yet you think that I'm not, do you hear me telling you to stop pushing your nonsense? What makes your so much better than me that I'm not allowed to speak and yet you are, maybe you should imitate you exemplar and humble yourself treat people the way you yourself would like to be treated.

Anyway I'm not to fussed about what your human views are regarding the subject, however if you could back your thinking up by scripture that would be great friend, no where in the Bible does it say(to my knowledge) that the reason for Satan betrayal was because he wants to be worship, its actually for a different reason, which I'm not sure you know. But if your willing to show me otherwise than great, I wanna know.

Thanks for your comment.

You a jehovah witness yes or no? You have been asking dishonest questions from the beginning yes or no? I believe you didn't come here to learn, but to teach people heresies. You push your views across in the form of a question.

 

[episcopotic]

By the way, it wouldn't be a sin for God to worship Satan. It would have been an intentional subjugation of his own nature and glory, which Christians believe God actually did. Christians believe Jesus humbled himself and put himself under the authority of others, even submitting to a wrongful death - this was not a sin, but God's choice to do with his own nature and glory as he saw fit.

Worshiping Satan is only a sin because a created being deprives his creator of his rightful worship. This is not possible for God, who does not owe himself worship and therefore cannot deprive himself of it. It would be a sin for a human to worship Satan.

Satan was not asking God to sin, but for him to subjugate himself to Satan and thereby get Satan's help in controlling the world. He didn't reject this because it was a sin, but because it wasn't his plan.

 

[episcopotic]

Wikipedia explains much better what I was trying to say above. Please see the second paragraph:

Another view popular for a time (for example, see Dostoyevsky's The Grand Inquisitor in The Brothers Karamazov) was that the devil wasn't so much tempting Jesus as presenting him with the different options he could take to be a Messiah, and making him choose one. Evangelicals point to the word usually translated as tempt as being more accurately translated as test, i.e. that the devil was testing Jesus' understanding of his role rather than trying to lure him to sin. Rejected options under this interpretation are:

-Someone who alleviates physical hardships, as manifested by miraculously feeding himself when hungry

-A magician and miracle worker who wins converts by spectacular acts, as manifested by surviving a jump from a high pinnacle. That the devil places Jesus in a very public location, rather than the numerous high pinnacles in the desert, gives credence to this view.

-A political liberator from the oppression of the Romans, as manifested by having power over the kingdoms of the world

 

[Closemyeyes2cU]

Its crazy to think that anyone is entitled to having there own opinion, but yet you think that I'm not, do you hear me telling you to stop pushing your nonsense? What makes your so much better than me that I'm not allowed to speak and yet you are, maybe you should imitate you exemplar and humble yourself treat people the way you yourself would like to be treated.

Anyway I'm not to fussed about what your human views are regarding the subject, however if you could back your thinking up by scripture that would be great friend, no where in the Bible does it say(to my knowledge) that the reason for Satan betrayal was because he wants to be worship, its actually for a different reason, which I'm not sure you know. But if your willing to show me otherwise than great, I wanna know.

Thanks for your comment.

I'm sorry if I came off harsh. If you are truly seeking answers and other peoples point of view, then forgive me. However, if you are here to push your JW views in the form of questions, I don't apologize.

 

[Katy-follower]

Imagine a bird that keeps flying into your window. No matter how hard you try to shew it away it continuously bangs into the glass. You want to help it but it can’t understand you. You think to yourself, if only you could be a bird for just a second so you could communicate with it because all you want to do is help it. Bingo! God became flesh (Jesus), not only to die for our sins, but so He could communicate with us and teach us. No one can ever say that God has no idea what we go through as He went through it all Himself – persecution, even the most awful death... because He loves us. “There is no greater love than laying down your life for your own” (John 15:13)

Scripture tells us we need to be more like Jesus Christ, we need to follow in His footsteps. We’re not perfect like Him, so we will occasionally sin (although we feel bad about it) but we try our best. Here in the garden we learn from Jesus’ actions. Jesus could’ve easily responded with a miracle or by banishing Satan away but instead He chose the word of God. Amazing. Because the word of God is powerful. It’s a sword. We are to do the same. Turn away from the lusts of the flesh. Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”

Satan was successful in tempting Adam and Eve. They were made perfect but were given free will, the ability to make choices just like we also have choices (but we are not perfect due to inheriting a sin nature). They chose to disobey. God knew the only way we could have freedom was to be given free will, otherwise we would be robots. Love is only true when given freely, you can’t condition someone to love you.


The world is Satan’s dominion. He was cast out of heaven for being proud and wanting to be like the most high. This was in his heart and still is. If you look around you, can’t you see the pride and sin in the world, the very characteristics of Satan working in this world? Sin has corrupted this world but Satan’s time is almost up. Isaiah 14:12-14: "“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High"

1 John 5:19: “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one”

2 Cor 4:4: “........whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them” - This refers to Satan, who rules over the unbelievers, with the goal of stopping them from finding God. He's known as the prince/ruler of the world. But not to mistake him with our one true God, who we know is in charge, but allows Satan to operate within the boundaries He has set him.


Jesus Is God...

John 8:58: “Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”
John 1:14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth”
Acts 20:28: “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood”
John 20:28: “And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

 

[Dude653]

Because he was just doing his job

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Why he did it? My theory:

Why does the 3- year old ask mummy or daddy for candy even after being told no a zillion times? Because even if they KNOW it will, fail, there is always that hope that maaaybe if I do it just right it will get me what I want.

Now I am not comparing kids to the devil, I am saying that even if the devil knew (logic) that his attempt would fail , he still tried (just in the off chance it did work).

 

[Graybeard]

......... And we all know Satan is stupid, ........

Satan is by no means stupid, don't fool yourself, as for the rest of your questions I won't be drawn into the argument of Christ's Deity.

 

[jkalyna]

HE IS FULL OF HATE AND DESTRUCTION, AND TRIED ONE LAST STRAW TO HAVE THE FINAL AUTHORITY. WE SHOULD THANK JESUS ALWAYS FOR HIS DECISION TO LOVE US NO MATTER WHAT CAME. JESUS MY EVERTHING.

 

[Ariel82]

Katy I like these verses:

Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

 

[enochson]

THERE ONLY ONE BEING THAT COULD DO WHAT WAS BEING ASK AND THAT THE CREATOR JESUS CHRIST SO IT WAS THE FLESH NATURE OF MAN THAT WAS DOING THE ASKING! WAIT WASN'T JESUS MADE FLESH? SO IT WAS JESUS FLESH NATURE OF MAN ASKING AND JESUS SPIRIT MAN SAYING UP YOURS.

 

[psychomom]

My, my, such a question. *sigh* Since we (short of a mighty miracle of God) will not be able to undo the "training" you've had, I'll just answer this question to the best of my ability:

So again if Satan knew that God is incapable of sining, then why would he try and tempt him? Is it because Jesus isn't God?

Jesus not God? No, a thousand times, NO! God IS incapable of sinning, because sin is what is opposed to His own nature and will.
Jesus IS God, a point on which the JWs who come to my door each week and I regularly have to agree to disagree.
He emptied Himself of independent authority when he came as a man, obeying only the voice of His Father, both to fulfill His purpose and to show us how we must live.
As a man (yet fully God in attributes), Jesus was able to be tempted yet resist said temptation, modeling for us in the instance you speak of the use of the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

And as I pray for those who knock at my door, but don't seem to wish to speak too long to me, I pray for you, NWL.
I also pray for the young in the faith here, that they will not be led astray by such leading "questions" as the ones you pose.

May the peace and Truth of the true God be upon us all.
~ellie

 

[starfield]

That was Satan's second attempt to hinder the work of the Messiah on earth and he thought he would succeed but Jesus the sinless Lamb set before us an example on how to overcome temptation. Equip yourself with the scriptures, resist the devil and he will flee.

 

[resurrection33]

Why would Satan knowing this person he's tempting might be God, ask Jesus to do an act of worship to him knowing that God can't worship anyone and that its a pointless thing for him to ask.

Its like Satan asking Jesus - "If you are God Jesus then lie", even though Satan knows that God cannot Lie, so its a pointless question to ask. (Numbers 23:19) “..God is not a man, that He should lie.."

The temptations Satan was tempting Jesus with would only make sense in him asking them to him if, Jesus is not God, otherwise the temptations aren't temptations. And we all know Satan is stupid, he's a master deceiver so there's a reason for those questions.

Also it cannot be explained by saying that Jesus was human etc, because then your basically saying that God can Sin! When the Bible makes clear that God cannot sin!

So again if Satan knew that God is incapable of sining, then why would he try and tempt him? Is it because Jesus isn't God?

What are your thoughts?

(Matthew 4:8-9) "..Again the Devil took him along to an unusually high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him: “All these things I will give you if you fall down and do an act of worship to me.”

Perhaps it needed to be demonstrated to us all that Jesus did not give in to temptation.

 

[misterdannybanny]

Because satan wanted to be God and what better way to be God than by having God worship you. Not stop pushing your Jehovah witness nonsense.

We're learning about ad hominem fallacies in on of my courses. This is when someone makes a verbal attack against a person rather than their message. This statement sounds very ad hominem-like to me. Even if NWL is a JW, that doesn't mean that the things he says aren't of value. Instead of focusing on the fact that he is a JW, why not focus on what he's trying to say. I feel like he makes a good point, that makes you stop and think. What he is saying is very reasonable, and logical. Maybe Jesus and God are two separate people; maybe Jesus really is God's son. It is an enormous act of love for one to sacrifice their own life for you, but any parent would agree that it would be harder to sacrifice the life of their son for someone than to sacrifice their own life. So, if Jesus really is God's son, then the fact that God made the sacrifice of his beloved son in our behalf... wow I can't think of a bigger sacrifice than that.