What are the more subtle forms of being tempted?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Arbovirus
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Arbovirus

Guest
There’s the obvious temptations of the flesh and pride. What else can we be tempted with that aren’t so obvious?
 
Everything relates back to the temptations that the Devil offered to Jesus.
One can be tempted with things of the flesh/ of the world.
Or with things relating to pride or ego, such as power, reputation, the desire to be or appear “holy”, etc.

That’s pretty much all there is.
 
What looks obvious to everyone else is not so obvious to ourselves. Take the temptations of Christ for example, it’s not clear when I read the account in the Bible that Christ actually knows he’s being tempted. It’s not until the last temptation that Christ recognizes Satan, and then sends him away.
 
Last edited:
1Lord1Faith said:
Take the temptations of Christ for example, it’s not clear when I read the account in the Bible that Christ actually knows he’s being tempted.
Click to expand...
Christ is God. How could he possibly not know who he is dealing with? He’s not a foolish human who gets bamboozled by Satan. He just plays along till the end, probably knowing that him considering and rejecting these temptations is part of the Father’s plan.
 
I notice sometimes when I’m upset with myself I tend to reject everything. If I’m trying to pray, I would fall into the trap that nothing I say would mean anything to God and before you know it, I hardly prayed.

Distraction can be a pretty sneaky one too. Sometimes the devil does not want you to go out and do bad things. Could just distract you so you don’t do the good.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
40.png
1Lord1Faith:
Take the temptations of Christ for example, it’s not clear when I read the account in the Bible that Christ actually knows he’s being tempted.
Click to expand...
Christ is God. How could he possibly not know who he is dealing with? He’s not a foolish human who gets bamboozled by Satan. He just plays along till the end, probably knowing that him considering and rejecting these temptations is part of the Father’s plan.
Click to expand...
Would it be foolish of Satan to tempt God? What is the point of that? I don’t see the point in Jesus having to play along just so a box can be checked.

I think Jesus’ human side genuinely had to be tempted, without him knowing where these thoughts were coming from. I don’t think Jesus got a pass because he was divine, I think he was tested in the true sense of the word, just like he says in the ‘Our Father’, and he passed the test.

I think Jesus was trying to figure out how he would carry out his ministry. I don’t think he knew everything ahead of time, or received explicit instructions from the Father, all that would deny his humanity.

The account in Mt makes it seem this way. Luke is different, the temptations seem out of order with the most obvious one from Satan coming second instead of last. Once Satan tries to convince Jesus to bow down to him, the jig is up, Jesus recognizes Satan.
 
Last edited:
There are three root sins from which originate almost all temptations.
They are: pride, vanity and sensuality.
 
1Lord1Faith said:
I think Jesus was trying to figure out how he would carry out his ministry. I don’t think he knew everything ahead of time,
Click to expand...
I agree with you there, and I don’t think He knew everything about the Father’s plan right off the bat any more than I think he was born out of the womb walking, talking and preaching without having to learn these skills as any human would learn (albeit maybe he was smarter, better and faster at learning).

But I can’t imagine that Jesus who was fully divine would not recognize Satan. He recognized Satan in every other bad or hypocritical thing all through the Bible. He may well have been actually tempted due to his human side, but my opinion is that he did recognize Satan at work and that is why he rejected each temptation.
 
Envy is huge. It destroys people’s lives, often by nurturing other vices like anger and lust.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
But I can’t imagine that Jesus who was fully divine would not recognize Satan. He recognized Satan in every other bad or hypocritical thing all through the Bible.
Click to expand...
Yes, but the temptations are the first. Another reason for the temptations is that Jesus needed to be able to recognize Satan. From then on He does recognize Satan.

Jesus sees Satan at work where ordinary people would not see him at work. Jesus rebukes Peter in a way that, to Peter, must have seemed harsh. How could Jesus come to recognize these subtle advances of Satan?
 
Last edited:
Worldly attachments like politics. For some reason I love to hear and listen to politics though many times it makes me ill. It’s like I can’t get enough of a scandal. I feel like it’s disordered and try to give it up. I don’t want it to control me. Is that like addiction? Is there a cure?

Think more of Jesus, I’m guessing. One thing that helped me get loose of politics lately was the newest evidence on the Shroud of Turin. Not whether I believe it or not… but what IF… and the newest news to me was so exciting… makes me think of Jesus and his suffering more, anyway! 🙂
 
Is it Church teaching that satan tempted Jesus subtly without appearing in the physical senses? Did satan literally take Jesus to the top of the temple, or was it metaphorical in the sense of being tempted with earthly glory by being placed on top of all the kingdoms?
 
I think that, as many mention, capital sins could influence us the most since they are our seven main weaknesses. Personally, I think the most subtle forms are the ones filled with doubt, or better said, the limits between vice and virtue, wether if it is by thought, wish or action.

Also, another subtle form is the one you mention. When you can have something good, but the way you achieve it is not good, in other words, when “the end justifies the means”. You think you could do a lot of good if you get something specific but the way you get it is wrong. Still, you begin justifying yourself until you approve these ways of doing it. That’s how people with good intentions end up scandalizing others and promoting evil things like abortion, contraception, use diplomacy for “the benefit of all” or even protect their family or country while damaging innocents
 
All kinds of ways. I’m often tempted to put off my appointed time of prayer until eventually it’s too late to begin. I’m sure that makes the devil happy.
 
The devil tempts and should one fall he then accuses suggesting that one is so sinful that God could not possibly love the person. This is so as to stop the person from confessing and making things right with God again. This can be a very subtle tactic.
 
I think I am tempted to self-control — things have to turn out the way I envision or everything is ruined. Then there’s the impatience, envy, shame, fear of not measuring up to others, boss being angry, and so forth.

Being human on this earth kind of sucks.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top