Was Isa Mesih “Touched” by Satan?
Being “touched by Satan” and being tempted by Satan are two very different matters. The Bible and the Quran both teach that Isa Mesih was without sin (Qs 19). Indeed Isa Mesih was tempted by Satan to commit sin but unlike other humans He never fell into sin. Seemingly to ‘be touched by sin’ means that sin finds some area to grasp a person. It indicates that there is a tendency toward sin. It means that there is a sinful nature. It also means that acts of sin are committed. Isa Mesih was ‘not touched’ by Satan. He was indeed holy and without sin. One Hadith quotes Muhammad as saying, “Satan touches with his finger the side of every human being at his birth; except Isa Mesih, son of Mary, when he went to touch him he touched the curtain instead” (Bukhari).
Satan did tempt Isa Mesih on various occasions, but Isa Mesih overcame every temptation. We read in Matthew chapter 4 how Isa Mesih overcame Satan when He was tempted by him in the wilderness. But He also overcame Satan when he was tempted to avoid the cross and when He rose out of the sealed Roman tomb (Matthew 27:63-66). Satan tried in many ways to foil God’s plan of redemption by tempting Isa Mesih but Satan always failed.
Temptation is not sin. A proverb says, “We cannot stop the birds from flying over our head but we can stop them from building a nest in our hair.” According to the Bible Isa Mesih “had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted (Hebrews 2:17-18).” Hebrews 7:26-28 gives further clarification about Isa Mesih being “holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners” so He could offer Himself as the perfect Savior.
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1.) How is being “touched” by Satan and being “tempted” by Satan two different things?
2.) Why can’t Isa be “touched” by Satan?
3.) How did Satan tempt Isa?