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The Temptation of Christ and the Number 153

Dr Jito Vanualailai

During Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew (Matthew 4:1-11) and Luke (Luke 4:1-13), He responded to Satan’s temptations by quoting verses from the Old Testament, specifically from the book of Deuteronomy. Here are the verses He quoted:

  1. First Temptation (Turning Stones to Bread):
    • Satan’s Temptation: Satan challenges Jesus to turn stones into bread to prove His divinity and to satisfy His hunger after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights.
    • Jesus’ Response: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
      • This is a quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3. Jesus emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment over physical sustenance.
  2. Second Temptation (Pinnacle of the Temple):
    • Satan’s Temptation: Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem and challenges Him to throw Himself down, quoting Psalm 91:11-12 about God’s protection.
    • Jesus’ Response: “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
      • Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:16, stressing the principle that one should not test God’s faithfulness or demand miraculous signs as proof of His care.
  3. Third Temptation (Kingdoms of the World):
    • Satan’s Temptation: Satan shows Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and offers them to Him in exchange for worship.
    • Jesus’ Response: “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”
      • This is taken from Deuteronomy 6:13. Jesus reaffirms the commandment to worship and serve only God.

In each instance, Jesus counters Satan’s temptations by citing Scripture, demonstrating His deep understanding of the Scriptures and His commitment to living in accordance with God’s will. This narrative also serves as an example of using Biblical truth to resist temptation.

Astoundingly, Jesus’ responses narrated in the two Gospels point to the number 153, as follows:

VerseJesus’ Response (NKJV)Identifier
Matthew 4:4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”40+4+4=48
Matthew 4:7Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”40+4+7=51
Matthew 4:10Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”40+4+10=54
48+51+54=153
Temptation of Christ in the Gospel of Matthew, which is the 40th book of the Bible

VerseJesus’ Response (NKJV)Identifier
Luke 4:4But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ”42+4+4=50
Luke 4:8And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”42+4+8=54
Luke 4:12And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”42+4+12=58
50+54+58=162
Temptation of Christ in the Gospel of Luke, which is the 42th book of the Bible

Surprisingly, the two Gospels yield 153+162=315, the digits of which form a permutation of {1,5,3}.

Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:13, and 6:16:

VerseNew King James Version (NKJV)Identifier
Deuteronomy 8:3So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord.5+8+3=16
Deuteronomy 6:13You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.5+6+13=24
Deuteronomy 6:16You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah.5+6+16=27
16+24+27=67
During His temptation, Jesus quoted verses in the Book of Deuteronomy, which is the 5th book of the Bible.

The sum of the identifiers is 153 + 162 + 67 = 382, which is the 306th composite number.

It is astounding that 306 = 153 + 153.

Conclusion: If one is unable to remember Scripture to resist Satan’s temptation, reciting the Lord’s Prayer is both effective and essential in countering such temptation.

Discussions

In the biblical narrative, Jesus’ encounter with Satan in the wilderness, as recounted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark1 and Luke, is a profound demonstration of His mastery and deep understanding of Scripture. In this account, Jesus effectively counters Satan’s temptations by citing relevant passages from the Scriptures. This act is particularly noteworthy considering the context of His time.

During the era in which Jesus lived, literacy rates were generally low, and the ability to read and interpret Scripture was typically confined to a specific societal group, primarily the priests and scribes who served in the temple.2 These religious leaders were not only literate but also extensively trained in the complexities of religious law and the Hebrew Scriptures. For the average person in the streets of Judea or Galilee, access to the Scriptures was limited, and the skill to read, much less memorize and interpret these texts, was rare. Hence, the ability to recall and accurately cite Scripture, as Jesus did, would have been an exceptional feat, highlighting His extraordinary knowledge and spiritual authority.

Even in contemporary times, memorizing and appropriately applying Scripture is a challenging task for many. The Bible, comprising a vast array of books, chapters, and verses, requires dedicated study and understanding to recall and apply its teachings effectively. This challenge underscores the significance of Jesus’ adept use of Scripture in His ministry and His teachings.

Recognizing the challenges his disciples and followers would face, Jesus provided them with tools to navigate spiritual challenges, including the Lord’s Prayer. This prayer, taught by Jesus as a model of prayer in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, encapsulates key elements of Christian faith and practice. It is a succinct and profound prayer that encompasses praise, submission to God’s will, requests for daily needs, forgiveness, and guidance away from temptation.

In teaching the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus provided a practical and accessible way for His followers to connect with God and seek divine assistance in overcoming temptation and living according to God’s will. It serves not only as a guide for prayer but also as a spiritual resource that believers can easily memorize and recall, especially in times of need or spiritual struggle. The Lord’s Prayer, therefore, stands as a testament to Jesus’ understanding of the human condition and His desire to equip His followers with the spiritual tools necessary for their journey of faith.

  1. Mark’s account is very brief, merely noting the event. ↩︎
  2. Were most early Christians illiterate? How, then, did they understand Christianity if they could not read the Bible? – Evidence for Christianity ↩︎

Quoting K. Irish: “The Lord’s Prayer: A Study in Christian Theology”, 2019

Dr Jito Vanualailai

… our Lord Jesus Christ instructed His followers to dwell on the basic theology of our faith when he asserted that we should daily pray the prayer he taught His disciples. Christians may be surprised to learn that the Lord’s Prayer is not a magic incantation of perfect words, but an exercise in understanding Christian theology while we ask the all-powerful God of the universe to listen to our pleas. In other words, if all we do when praying the Lord’s Prayer is mouth the words without a deep understanding of the meaning, we have become the very thing Jesus told us not to be: Gentiles (heathen or pagans). Matthew tells us that Jesus said, “And in praying do not heap up empty phrases [italics mine] as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matthew 6:7).

Let us study, then, the theology, the meaning, of the Lord’s Prayer.

Dr. K. Irish is a Professor of American History at George Fox University. His paper can be downloaded here.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised (Psalm 113:3)

Dr Jito Vanualailai

Psalm 113:3 is a beautiful proclamation of our love of our Father in Heaven!

Since the Book of Psalms is the 19th book of the bible, the identifier of Psalm 113:3 is 19+113+3=135.

Conclusion: The Lord’s Prayer is a means to praise the name of the Lord from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets.

Discussions

The essence of Psalm 113:3, which calls on the faithful to praise the name of the Lord from the rising of the sun to its setting, resonates deeply with the spirit of the Lord’s Prayer. The Lord’s Prayer, given by Jesus as a model for how to pray, begins with the words “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,” which is a call to reverence and praise the name of God, much like the Psalm invites us to do continuously throughout the day.

The unceasing praise of Psalm 113:3 reflects the ongoing and eternal nature of God’s kingdom, which is invoked in the Lord’s Prayer through the line “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Both texts invite the believer to participate in a perpetual state of worship, recognizing God’s sovereignty and holiness in every aspect of life, from the daily cycles of the sun to the broader hope of God’s will being realized in the world.

Moreover, the Lord’s Prayer requests daily sustenance — “Give us this day our daily bread” — paralleling the daily rhythm of praise in Psalm 113:3. This daily dependence on God for physical needs becomes an act of praise and trust in His provision.

The Psalm’s emphasis on God’s enduring faithfulness from dawn till dusk also complements the concluding lines of the Lord’s Prayer, “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” This doxology echoes the eternal praise described in the Psalm, underscoring the timeless and infinite dominion of God, to whom praise is due at all times.

In this way, Psalm 113:3 and the Lord’s Prayer are linked by their shared themes of reverence, constant worship, divine providence, and the eternal nature of God’s kingdom. For those who deeply love God, both passages inspire a life lived in continuous adoration, shaped by prayer and the acknowledgment of God’s glorious presence from morning till evening and beyond.

Declare His Glory Among the Nations (Psalm 96:3)

Dr Jito Vanualailai

The New Catholic Bible provides an insightful commentary on Psalm 96:

All peoples are invited to acknowledge him (God) as the sovereign Master; all are summoned to the liturgy, to adoration. Deep emotion will grip the entire universe when God comes as Judge; he who has brought into being an unshakable world will establish all human beings in justice and righteousness.

This song of universal joy is always new with the newness of God himself; the New Testament (see Acts 17:31; Rev 19:11) refers to verse 13 in announcing the final coming of Christ on the day of judgment, when he will make all things new. Thus, by means of it, Christians call upon the whole universe to praise God the Father as well as the risen Jesus, whom the Father has made “Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36), “leader and Savior” (Acts 5:31), and “ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev 1:5).

Verse 3 reads “Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous deeds to every people.”

HebrewEnglishValue of Hebrew Word
סַפְּר֣וּ
sap-pə-rū		Declare346

בַגּוֹיִ֣ם
ḇag-gō-w-yim		among the nations61
כְּבוֹד֑וֹ
kə-ḇō-w-ḏōw;		His glory38

בְּכָל־ הָֽ֝עַמִּ֗ים
hā-‘am-mîm, bə-ḵāl		among all peoples217
נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃
nip̄-lə-’ō-w-ṯāw.		His wonders583
1245

There are 203 primes less than or equal to 1245; that is, the Prime Pi estimated at 1245 is 203. The Euler Totient of 203 is 168. That is, there are 168 positive integers (less than 230) that are coprime with 203. But 168 is the identifier of the Lord’s Prayer in the Gospel of Luke.

Conclusion. The Lord’s Prayer is a means to declare our heavenly Father’s glory among the nations and His wondrous deeds to every people.

Discussions

Psalm 96:3, with its exhortation to “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples,” and the Lord’s Prayer are both profound calls to recognize and proclaim the sovereignty and providence of God.

The Psalm urges believers to share the glory of God and His wondrous deeds with every nation, emphasizing the universality of God’s dominion and the inclusivity of His love. It’s a call to evangelize, to spread the good news of God’s greatness and His mighty works to every corner of the earth.

This call to proclaim God’s glory to all nations harmonizes with the petition in the Lord’s Prayer that says, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This line from the Lord’s Prayer is a plea for God’s sovereign rule to be established across the world, reflecting the same universal scope as the Psalm’s call for God’s glory to be known among all nations.

Furthermore, the Lord’s Prayer begins with “Our Father,” implying a collective relationship with God that transcends national or ethnic boundaries, embracing all of humanity. This universality is mirrored in Psalm 96:3’s emphasis on reaching “all peoples,” suggesting that the message of God’s glory and His deeds is for every human being, irrespective of their background.

Both texts also share a common theme of worship and acknowledgment of God’s mighty works as a basis for praise. The proclamation of God’s deeds in the Psalm can be seen as a form of prayer and worship, akin to the prayerful reverence shown in the Lord’s Prayer.

In essence, both Psalm 96:3 and the Lord’s Prayer encourage believers to live out their faith in a way that glorifies God not just in private devotion, but also through active declaration and demonstration of His love and majesty to others. They are linked by a mission that is both worshipful and evangelical, aimed at bringing the reality of God’s kingdom to people everywhere.

Complaint Against the Enemy

Dr Jito Vanualailai

Psalm 64 is a powerful prayer to God, voicing our complaint against those who are unjustifiably plotting against us, and threatening and attacking us:

1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
    protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
    from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
    and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.

4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
    they shoot suddenly, without fear.

5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
    they talk about hiding their snares;
    they say, “Who will see it?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
    “We have devised a perfect plan!”
    Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
    they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
    and bring them to ruin;
    all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
    they will proclaim the works of God
    and ponder what he has done.

10 The righteous will rejoice in the Lord
    and take refuge in him;
    all the upright in heart will glory in him!

Since the Book of Psalms is the 19th book of the Bible, the identifier of Psalm 64 is 885.

BookChapterVerseSum
1964184
1964285
1964386
1964487
1964588
1964689
1964790
1964891
1964992
19641093
885

There are exactly 153 prime numbers less than or equal to 885. Hence, we have the following result.

Conclusion. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, our Father in Heaven hears and answers our complaints against our enemies; He delivers us from evil.

Discussions

Psalm 64 and the Lord’s Prayer intersect in their mutual recognition of God’s sovereignty in the face of adversity and the deliverance from evil that only God can provide.

In Psalm 64, the psalmist is calling out to God for protection and justice, expressing a deep need for divine intervention against the plots of the wicked. This is a heartfelt plea for God’s shielding presence against unjust attacks and a cry for the righteous judgment that God alone can administer.

The Lord’s Prayer, specifically in the petition “deliver us from evil,” echoes this theme of seeking God’s protection. It acknowledges God’s power to preserve us from the dangers and evils that we may face in life. Just as the psalmist seeks refuge from the “threat of the enemy,” the Lord’s Prayer requests deliverance from the evils that surround us.

Moreover, the Lord’s Prayer opens with the invocation “Our Father,” indicating a personal and communal relationship with God. This relationship is characterized by trust in God’s care and providence, which is also evident in Psalm 64, where the psalmist shows trust in God’s ability to protect and vindicate the righteous.

Both passages also end with a note of hope and praise. Psalm 64 concludes with the righteous rejoicing and taking refuge in the Lord, while the Lord’s Prayer ends with a doxology in some traditions: “For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” This doxology is a statement of confidence in God’s eternal reign and His ultimate victory over all forms of evil, aligning with the psalmist’s assertion that people will recognize and fear the works of God.

The link between Psalm 64 and the Lord’s Prayer is found in their common appeal to God’s justice and protection, their affirmation of trust in God’s righteous rule, and their assurance that ultimately, God’s purposes will prevail, leading the faithful to rejoice and find their refuge in Him.