Let's READ the Bible with CLEAR eyes

So the one belief that is doing the most damage to our Christian faith is the belief that God spoke English and that the Bible was written in English.  Sure the bible no matter what language is the Word of God but LETS be real and face the fact that Jesus' spoke Aramaic and that the Bible was written in different times and although in Hebrew and Greek - the styles and dialectics of each book make them unique.  God has not ordained any of the English translations as better then the others - and there are thousands of different English translations.  This is a testimony to the fact that it is difficult to translate the nuances of definitions and translations. 
This DOES not make the Word less valuable or LESS authentic but to me MORE! For it forces us to have a true and meaningful conversation with the Word.  A conversation which forces us to really hear God as oppose to only hearing our own will.

With that said, I thought I would bring in Luke today.  For we are in Lent so why not discuss where the traditions of lent started.  Matt, Mark and Luke all have their own variation of the Wilderness story.  Mark only has a few versus.  What is interesting in Matt and Luke but more pronounced in Luke are some things I think will SURPRISE YOU.

First: Jesus might have had MORE then 3 temptations.  In Luke especially it is clear that he may have had temptations for all 40 days and not just the three biggies we hear about at the end.

Second: There might have been more then 40 days.  In the Greek it is unclear and it comes out in the translations here.  You see Jesus fasted for 40 days and after his fasting, the devil came.  So the devil could have come on the 41st day - or the 40th day.  The temptations from the Devil could have lasted longer then one day as well - maybe one each day.  I realize that it may seem like I am reading A LOT INTO this but I would like to counter that instead I am pointing out the things we have been SURE of are things that aren't so SURE.  We often make assumptions or hold beliefs or truths to be in the Bible that aren't really there.

Third: Either Jesus was hallucinating the conversation with the devil OR the devil is versed in the Hebrew Bible.  Either are feasible.   We can all a test to the inner struggle of temptation! But we can also assume the the devil knows the Hebrew Bible - if that is the case then imagine what that says for where we find evil around us?  And how difficult it can be find.

Four: The most shocking revelation may be found at the end of Luke's version. The devil left Jesus for a more opportune time.  The devil didn't give up and would be back.  How true is that about temptation?  In Matthew it says that the angels attended to him but not here, here the devil is awaiting until a better time - a more vulnerable time. That to me is a very telling statement.

I hope that we learned from this blog that what we think is in the Bible and what is actually there is often two different things AND this means that we need to read with OPEN eyes and hearts and minds ready for discussion, question and conversation.  WE could never accept something as Biblical truth just because we read it in one translation, in one moment and without conversation.  


Luke 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." 4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, "One does not live by bread alone.' " 5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered him, "It is written, "Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.' " 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written, "He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' 11 and "On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.' " 12 Jesus answered him, "It is said, "Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' " 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.