In this article I will discuss how strong proof that Yahshua (Jesus) is NOT G-d is found in the single issue of Yahshua's temptation. Indeed, the temptation issue goes much further than that. When this issue is openly discussed, instead of intentionally ignored, it can be shown that the dominant teaching that Messiah is G-d is actually openly blasphemous! Yes. Despite the fact it is undoubtedly unintentional, the true G-d is nonetheless blasphemed by those that teach Yahshua Messiah is G-d!
I invite you to TRULY consider this issue, perhaps for the first time in your life. I ask that you deeply and sincerely ponder the ramifications of the temptation of Messiah. IF you do you cannot avoid the clear fact that it is a crucial truth that proves beyond doubt Yahshua the Messiah is most certainly NOT G-d! You will also be confronted with the decision as to whether or not you will openly blaspheme G-d. Yes my friend. You will see that when the enormous implication of Yahshua's temptation to sin is extracted from the closet of censorship and silence traditional Christianity and counterfeit Messianism prefers it to remain it, the teaching that Messiah is G-d can easily be shown to truly be blasphemy of the One and ONLY Eternal G-d!
This discussion will start with the recorded temptation of Messiah found in the Gospel of Matthew.
Parallels are found in Mark 1:12-13 and Luke 4:1-12
Matthew records Yahshua quoting a passage from Torah (Deuteronomy 6:16) when he responds with "Thou shalt not tempt the LORD thy G-d." The NASB translation more properly renders this verse, as "You shall not put the Lord your G-d to the test." Just in case a person should consider that this suggests G-d can be tempted, I will endeavor to explain the differences between the temptation of Messiah and "tempting" G-d.
The temptation of Messiah was of the sort James defines.
Thus, this form of temptation can be described as being enticed to sin. It is obvious from the readings in Matthew and Luke that this was precisely the nature of Satan's temptation of Messiah.
The "tempting" of G-d, however, has a completely different meaning. It does not involve enticement to sin since G-d cannot sin. The New American Standard Version (NASB) more correctly renders it as testing G-d with our sin and thus risking His wrath. We have all seen children "test" their parents by trying to find and perhaps expand the boundaries of permissible behavior beyond which discipline is imposed. Well, this is exactly what "testing" YHVH (G-d) means. We are commanded, as His children, to not test the limits of His grace (favor) because there ARE LIMITS. This form of "testing" is what G-d deals with daily as He sees and hears our every thought and action. Indeed, we test G-d continuously, and we continue to exist solely because "his mercy endureth forever".
Traditional Christianity, by teaching that Yahshua is "G-d in the flesh," not only teaches that G-d was "drawn away of his on lust" by being tempted (enticed) to sin, but that He was tempted by evil! Leaders of traditional Christianity and counterfeit Messianism very much imply G-d WAS tempted since they teach Yahshua the Messiah is G-d! Thus, Christian pastors and counterfeit Messianic rabbis directly contradict what James says! What most traditional Christian and counterfeit Messianic leaders say occurred is what James says is impossible. Let's see what the verse from James 1:13 says again.
"...For G-d cannot be tempted with evil..."
So, the grand deceiver through Christian tradition, which is also the basis of counterfeit Messianism, is blatantly promoting G-d can be:
So by teaching Yahshua is "G-d in the flesh," most Christian and Messianic leaders (as well as most Christians and Messianics) contradict James in each of the 2 points he makes about G-d's immunity from temptation!
- Tempted to sin through enticement and lust, and
- Tempted BY evil
Friend, it is a matter of a simple reading of the Scripture and common sense! The fact that Yahshua was tempted even though G-d cannot be tempted should disprove any suggestion that Yahshua is G-d. What is so hard to understand about the VERY clear facts learned from this single issue? Those that still believe Yahshua is G-d after considering this issue are quite simply refusing to bend to the facts or worship the TRUE G-d and His separate human Messiah. Instead, they willfully choose to worship tradition and the false G-d and antichrist being promoted by it!
The writer of Hebrews presents us with further irrefutable evidence that Yahshua is NOT G-d when he tells us Yahshua was tempted in all points as we are.
And
The fact that Messiah was not only tempted but was tempted in all points (every way, all ways, all manner) creates an immediate and severe problem for those that claim Yahshua is G-d - a problem that raises the following question:
The Holy Scriptures repeatedly describe the absolute, incomprehensible perfection of the Eternal Father and that He is totally immune from temptation - characteristics of G-d that those believing Yahshua to be G-d implicitly deny. Any that deny the absolute perfection, righteousness, and Holiness of the Living G-d may be beyond hope. Unfortunately, traditional Christianity does appear to deny it by claiming Yahshua - whom they claim is G-d - is not immune to being tempted just as often as we are (in all ways). The false teaching that Yahshua is G-d not only elevates a man to being G-d, it also blasphemously degrades G-d to being a man! Yet most Christians and Messianics seem incapable of recognizing the serious blasphemy this concept entails!
Please excuse my persistence on this point, but it must be hammered deeply into the mind of the reader. I sincerely regret if my comments appear offensive; however, the Scriptures also plainly teach that the truth is often an offense. Offense is unavoidable when truth is proclaimed in this present evil world. Additionally, I am of certain opinion the offense committed against G-d by most Christian and Messianic leaders is FAR more serious. Given the choice between offending the TRUE G-d or offending my fellow man, I will choose offending my fellow man every single time. So, I pray your indulgence as I proceed with my defense for G-d and His Son and Messiah. I will respond as Peter did in Acts to those that complain:
So here we have an immovable barrier standing in the path of those that wish to believe or teach that Yahshua is "G-d in the flesh." The single fact that Yahshua was tempted in all points becomes a "dooms day device" in the camp of all Trinitarians and/or proponents of the traditional "Christology" that Yahshua is G-d. There is no way around it other than resorting to the theological ejection button of the "mystery" or "Kabbala mysticism" defense. Any reader of Scripture that is sincere in his/her attempt to study this issue without bias need go no further than the temptation issue to prove that Yahshua is very definitely, clearly, unambiguously, without doubt, not G-d! If tradition, family, peer pressure, denominational fervor, reverence for your spiritual leader, or whatever tactic the devil hurls at those seeking truth still has you in its power, allow me to strive to show you what requires your serious thought.
If A is NOT equal to C, and B IS equal to C; then A is NOT equal to B!
Now, since Scripture plainly teaches
It is impossible for G-d (A) to be tempted (C) - A is NOT equal to C
Yet Yahshua (B) was tempted (C) - B IS equal to C
Therefore Yahshua (B) is not G-d (A) - A is NOT equal to B
Recalling the phrase, "What part of NO do you not understand"? I cry, "what part of tempted do you not understand?" Ok, one more time...
G-d --- CANNOT BE TEMPTED AT ALL, EVER, IMPOSSIBLE
YAHSHUA --- WAS TEMPTED - BY THE DEVIL - HERE AND MANY OTHER TIMES SPECIFICALLY NOT RECORDED
THEREFORE --- YAHSHUA IS NOT G-d!
If you are annoyed at my persistence perhaps you should actually lay aside any biased notions you may have and sincerely ponder the simplicity of this issue! Your possible irritation may be a sign of the outlandish nature of the claim that Yahshua is G-d. Cast off the ridiculous and unexplainable "mystery" and accept instead the VERY explainable, non-mysterious truth. We that see this elementary truth never have to deal with the embarrassment of having to hit the "ejection buttons" of distorted Kabbalistic mysticism or use the "it's a mystery" argument to defend our beliefs.
It never ceases to amaze me how people will accept concepts, which do not originate from Scripture or must be painstakingly "derived" from distortion of alleged Scriptural "clues", that would otherwise be ridiculous anywhere else except within Traditional Christianity, even when other concepts are FAR more realistic and Scriptural. Much worse is how others actually teach these doctrines of the Anti-Messiah spirit of error. It seems the more "mysterious" and outlandish a concept is, the more open people are to accepting it. Proof of this is the latest craze of using Kabbalah mysticism as "proof" of Yahshua's deity. Kabbalistic mysticism is even more outlandish than Christianity's Traditional Trinity "mystery" and shows that the depths of desperation have yet to be reached by those refusing to release their grip on the false teaching that Messiah is G-d (Elohim). Read my article on Kabbalah if you want more info on this newest mind altering "drug of choice" among Messianic believers.
My fellow worshippers of the One and ONLY True Eternal Father G-d and followers of the man Yahshua the Messiah, upon whom G-d put His Spirit and bequeathed all power and authority, can see no possible way anyone can ever prove - regardless of how much "mystery" jargon or theological slight-of-hand is used - that Yahshua is G-d yet was tempted. If minds were truly open and tradition not so powerful this single issue would end our discussion. But, alas, I have no doubt the "mystery argument", pride, butchery of Scripture, and powers of tradition will maintain their grip on many of you. So, let us continue, and hold on because the same argument is applicable when we read of Yahshua's death because of the implication by Trinitarians that G-d can die - an implication even more blasphemous than that He can be tempted to sin!
Noteworthy is how Satan actually temps Yahshua to worship him! So, not only was Yahshua tempted (even though G-d cannot be tempted), but he was actually enticed by the devil to worship him!
Satan may be the epitome of evil but he is most certainly not stupid. He, apparently unlike the majority of traditional Christians and counterfeit Messianics, is fully aware that G-d cannot be tempted; thus, he would not waste his time trying! Forgive my directness, but I must ask what kind of irreverent mind could possibly believe that the prince of evil would ever dare entice the Almighty Creator into sinning or - even worse - worshipping him? Unfortunately, the powerful grip of tradition breeds Traditional Christians that are unknowingly more irreverent in ways than even the devil since, by teaching that Yahshua is G-d, they promote that G-d can be tempted and even enticed to worship by Satan! Indeed, such unwholesome thoughts about G-d show how very far Traditional Christian (and even common Messianic) teaching has fallen from understanding the magnificence, glory, immutability, Holiness, and infinite power of the Eternal G-d.
I beseech you with all sincerity and love to please pause and give the most careful thought you can to this issue. If you believe that Yahshua is G-d then you are openly proclaiming through that belief that the devil can tempt the Almighty Creator and even tempt G-d to bow down and worship him! Only The Living G-d, Himself, knows the eternal consequences of such blasphemy, and I pray you will put aside the Trinity idolatry of Traditional Christianity and false Messianic groups before it is too late to do so.
Of course, there is another ridiculous notion those who promote that Messiah is "G-d in the flesh" would have us believe. They would have us believe that Satan offered to give "Messiah G-d" a world that G-d already own! ?? Remember the Devil's offer? He stated, "... the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it."
Come on! Get real! Why would the Devil offer to give "G-d" a world G-d already owns? Such a concept is crazy! G-d does not need to receive anything from anyone - most of all Satan!
At this point I must raise an issue that may be even more disturbing but which must be exposed. Exactly who benefits from the teaching that Satan can tempt G-d? Who receives the true glory from such a belief? What individual gets the most satisfaction from persuading mankind that Satan was able to tempt the Almighty YHVH G-d? Therefore, who really would be behind the fanciful and wicked concept that Satan was literally tempting G-d when he tempted the Messiah? If you have not yet arrived at the only possible answer, perhaps I should assist you.
The obvious answer is Satan! Without a shred of doubt Satan is gloating with a triumphant and despicable grin as he looks upon a scene on earth where he is shown to be - at the very least - powerful enough to tempt the Creator and request G-d bow down to worship him! He and he alone receives glory when he is able, through his countless - often unintentional - agents disguised as angels of light, to persuade mankind that he possesses such power. Could someone out there that accepts the Trinity, or Deity of Yahshua please explain how G-d is glorified by the scenario promoted by a belief, which shows Satan exerting such power over G-d! And please, don't attempt to dodge the issue by saying "G-d" (as Messiah) is glorified because "he" did not sin when tempted to do so, because along with such a weak argument you must admit you DO accept and teach that Satan CAN tempt G-d and CAN ask G-d to worship Him!
My friend, as I said earlier, there is NO WAY around the implications of the crucial issue! Just how much power are Trinitarians and others that believe Messiah to be "G-d in the flesh" willing to give Satan? If you feel Satan can tempt the Almighty and solicit worship from Him, you are LITERALLY giving Satan (at least during that instance) MORE power than G-d! Most assuredly Satan is very much glorified, usually unintentionally, by those promoting Yahshua is G-d (or G-d).
Yahshua rids himself of Satan by quoting Torah - a quote Christians should heed, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy G-d, and Him only shalt thou serve."
Yahshua, during his temptation, made reference to Torah passages and showed himself to be the perfect obedient servant of YHVH the Living G-d even under temptations that none of us have probably ever had to endure. Remember, this is the only record we have of Yahshua's temptations; however, the writer of Hebrews plainly implies there were innumerable others.