I am still/or back with the three temptions LOL After reading in I AM That something that Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj said, I thought it would be worthwhile to create a separate thread from the Jesus teachings thread.

From the Bible we know that Jesus fasted for 40 days and then was tempted three times "by the devil". I think this part of the bible is metaphorical: 1) Who wrote this? 2) If Jesus was alone in the desert, who witnessed it to tell it? 3) If Jesus told it, why was it not capture as a conversation between Jesus and someone?

In I am that I read that Maharaj of himself says:" I am nothing, I have nothing and can do nothing".

Are the temptations :
To believe I am "something" (false Identification), To believe I have "something" (attachment) and to believe I can do "something" (add or subtract to that which IS)?

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May your awareness be perfection

Most Biblical scholars that I have read recently suggest that this was not actually referring to a real event, but was instead a subjective way of putting forth the belief that Jesus was above temptation, was not concerned about materialistic gain, nor was he concerned with accumulating political power. IOW, their view is that it's probably a myth meant to convey what they believed Jesus was really about to his followers.

The art of storytelling, which should not be viewed as "lies", was alive and well back then, and was considered a legitimate way of putting forth teachings, much like Jesus' parables were used in the same manner.

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"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."-- Mahatma Gandhi

Metis, thanks for the reply. So, you don't think there is a deeper meaning to the three specific ways Jesus was "tempted"?

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May your awareness be perfection

I don't know since I simply do not know the mindset of the authors. Part of our problem with the use of symbolism is that any symbol may possibly be interpreted differently by different people.

For example, were Jesus' parables real events or myths used to convey teachings? The early church struggled with that question, with some of the theologians stating that Jesus would not tell a lie so there must have been a real "Good Samaritan", for example. Others said that it was irrelevant whether the "Good Samaritan" actually existed or not because it's the teachings that are most important. The latter group won out.

Anyhow, have a great weekend-- I'll be gone until next Wednesday.

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"Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well."-- Mahatma Gandhi

I agree with you Metis. Have a blessed weekend!

__________________
May your awareness be perfection

It's hard to imagine that anyone was with Jesus when he was tempted, so (just a possible interpretation) it's possible that he shared an experience he had in the language of the day. It's also very possible that it was embellished over the years. Then again, who know's? It may have happened very much like the Bible tells it.

I thought about this just the other day, while caught up in worry over finances. One of the ego's games is to get us all worked up about worldly things, only to miss the beauty and love that is our true inheritance. Whatever the case may be, Jesus was obviously trying to tell us that the "Kingdom" within is worth far more than any worldly treasures.