In Matthew 4:-11//Luke 4:1-13, Jesus is portrayed as engaging in a “Scripture-bash”
with Satan. Many errant Protestant apologists have used this as “proof” that Jesus
viewed Scripture as the final authority. For a refutation, see:
In Jewish works, Satan and a righteous figure sometimes engage in a similar
dispute. For instance, in the Talmud Sanhedrin 89b, we read the following exchange between Abraham and
Satan:
Satan preceded
Abraham to the path that he took to bind his son and said to him: “If one
ventures a word to you, will you be weary…you have instructed many, and you
have strengthened the weak hands. Your words have upheld him that was
falling…but now it comes upon you, and you are weary” (Job 4:2–5). Do you now
regret what you are doing? Abraham said to him in response: “And I will walk
with my integrity” (Psalms 26:11). Satan said to Abraham: “Is not your fear of
God your foolishness?” (Job 4:6). In other words, your fear will culminate in
the slaughter of your son. Abraham said to him: “Remember, please, whoever
perished, being innocent” (Job 4:7). God is righteous and His pronouncements
are just. Once Satan saw that Abraham was not heeding him, he said to him: “Now
a word was secretly brought to me, and my ear received a whisper thereof” (Job
4:12). This is what I heard from behind the heavenly curtain [pargod], which
demarcates between God and the ministering angels: The sheep is to be
sacrificed as a burnt-offering, and Isaac is not to be sacrificed as a
burnt-offering. Abraham said to him: Perhaps that is so. However, this is the
punishment of the liar, that even if he speaks the truth, others do not listen
to him. Therefore, I do not believe you and will fulfill that which I was
commanded to perform.
A similar triple dialogue between a prophet and a supernatural messenger
(whether good or evil) can be seen in Deuteronomy Rabbah 11 between Moses
and the angel Samael before Moses’ death.
