If Jesus is Really God, How can he be Tempted? - Response (Francis)

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If Jesus is Really God, How can he be Tempted - Response (Francis) Transcript: When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, does it prove Jesus is not God? --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A common objection against the Divinity of Jesus is that James 1:13 says "God cannot be tempted by evil" but in Matthew 4:1-11 we read that Satan tempted Jesus, so Jesus cannot be God! Before we come to a conclusion we need to understand that the word "Tempted" or "Temptation" can mean different things in different contexts. For example, Deuteronomy 6:16 says "You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah". So there is an instruction given to Israel not to tempt the LORD. But do we find any instances in the Old Testament (OT) whether God is tempted? Yes, that is what we read in Exodus 17:1-2; Malachi 3:15 and Psalm 106:14. So the God of the OT was tempted. Does that mean according to James 1:13, Yahweh of the OT is not God because He was tempted? No. We need to understand in what context James was saying God cannot be tempted. To understand the context let us read the verse FULLY: "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." (James 1:13) In James 1:13, James was clearly indicating that God cannot be tempted to commit evil. So there are two types of temptation - Internal and External. Internal temptations can mean "temptations that come due to internal enticements, desires to fulfill lusts or to commit sin/evil". So James here trying to point out that "God cannot be tempted through internal desire/enticements to commit evil/sin". External temptation can mean "to test". So whenever we read in the OT that God was tempted, it was the temptation that came from the "external source" (Israelites or from wicked people). God was never tempted "internally" to commit any kind of sin in the OT. Similarly, when we read Matthew 4:1-11 we agree Jesus was tempted, but His temptation was not "internal" (internal desires/enticements to commit sin/evil), rather this temptation came from "external" (Satan), to test the LORD Jesus Christ. In Psalm 106:14 we read that people tested God in the wilderness. Similarly, Satan tested LORD Jesus Christ. Yahweh of OT: (1) did not succumb to the temptation that came "externally" (2) never committed sin/evil from His "internal" desires/enticements LORD Jesus Christ: (1) did not succumb to the temptation that came "externally" (2) never committed from His "internal" desires/enticements So temptation always cannot mean one thing, it can mean different thing. How do we know that? The context determines the meaning of "temptation". So if you are a good person and really want to know the bible, start reading the bible in context and understand the word in its immediate context and you will be able to see the true light of Gospel.