Is Jesus God? Part 35: "Jesus was tempted, but God cannot be tempted"

Return to the previous - Part 34: "Jesus and others died and were raised back alive, but God cannot die"

Hebrews 4:15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.”

Jesus was tempted (but didn’t sin).

James 1:13-15 “When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full -grown, gives birth to death.”

This verse states that God can’t be tempted (it doesn’t say fall into sin, but merely tempted). Jesus was tempted in Hebrews 4:15 , and Matthew 4:1 . Jesus can’t be God if he was tempted.

Matthew 4:1 “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Can God be tempted by the devil? In James 1:13-15 , it says that if you're tempted, you have "evil desires" in you.

Mark 1:12-13 “At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.”

If Jesus was tempted by Satan, it means he had evil desires in him, and God can’t be tempted by the devil, so it is a clear indication that Jesus can’t be God.

Continue to the next Section – Part 36: "Jesus Sinned"

Return to the Main Directory Listing Page for this Series

Recommended Reading:

Bible Corruption Series:

Part 1 – Intro to Bible Version Differences

Part 2 – 1 John 5:7, The Three That Bear Record in Heaven (Comma Johanneum)

Part 3 – John 7:53-8:11, Pericope of the Adulteress

Part 4 – Mark 16:9-20, Resurrection of Jesus

Part 5 – Conflicting Gospels on the Empty Tomb & Ascension of Jesus

The Corruption of the Torah

Is the Crucifixion of Jesus Really Foretold in the Old Testament?

Do Muslims Believe in the Bible?