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Muslims try to make the point that the Temptation of Jesus on Matthew 4:6-10 proved Jesus is only human, saying that if Jesus bowed down to Satan, he would be sinning against God.

Let's examine this.

In verse 6, Satan says:

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    and they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Satan is trying to get Jesus to prove himself.  Jesus is being tempted to be tested here.

Let's see what Jesus' reply is in verse 7:

Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

So Jesus is saying that the Lord shall not be tested when he is being tested.  This is a claim of deity here.

Satan tries to tempt Jesus again:

"Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

Look what happens next:

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’[e]”
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Muslims will say that Jesus worshipping God only negates worshipping Jesus here.  Their logic is faulty.

Worshipping God only does not negate Jesus being God.

Persons does not equal God.  It is a quality that someone can have.

If I live in England, and I say "I'm going to the United States."  Then I say later, "I'm going to New York City."  Did I contradict myself?  

No, because New York City is in the United States.  If I go to New York City, I go to the United States.

Now Get this.  I can say the United States is Greater than New York City.  Yet, if I go to New York City, I go to New York City.

In the same way, Jesus can be God and say:

"My Father is greater than I" ( John 14:28)
or
"My Father is greater than all" (John 10:29)

Normal people could say they do things all on their own accord.  But, only if Jesus was God, could he be limited to doing only God's work as he said:

"I can of my own self do nothing" (John 5:30)

Now, let's go back to the Temptation of Jesus.  

Look what happens when Jesus commands Satan to leave him:

"Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him."

Did Muhammad have the ability to command Satan what to do?  Jesus did.  Who has such authority?

Muslims will refer to Matthew 19:16-17 to point out that only God is good and Jesus is diclaiming that.  Let's look at these verses.

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

Notice that Jesus does not say that he is not good. Even if Jesus said that only God is good,that still does not negate himself. If he implies that, Jesus is also implying that he is God since the man came to him with the question of what good must he do to enter heaven.



 

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