The following was found on GoogleGroups (a website that archives newsgroups), in a series of articles where a KJV-only supporter was willing to explain any "contradiction" in the KJV that people wanted to submit. It is a perfect example of the "explanations" some KJV-only supporters will use to defend the KJV-only position. In fact, the entire "series of explanations", makes for some entertaining reading.:
Subject: KJV Contradictions 26
From: jwillard44@aol.com (JWillard44)
Date: 1996/08/23
Message-ID: <4vl02t$opm@netsrv2.spss.com>
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Reply-To: jwillard44@aol.com (JWillard44)
Newsgroups: christnet.bible
> Matthew 4:5-8 (The devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of
> the temple, then to a high mountain.)
> Luke 4:5-7 (The devil took Jesus up into a high
> mountain, then to the pinnacle of the temple)
>
> Which did he visit first? the Mountain or the temple?
Note the following comparison of events
Matthew 4
Place Temptation Answer
-------------- ----------------- ----------------------------
Wilderness Stones to bread Not live by bread alone
Temple pinnacle Cast thyself down Thou shalt not tempt the Lord
Exceeding High /Fall down and /Get thee hence,
Mountain \and worship \Worship Lord thy God only
----------- devil leaves --------------------------
Luke 4
Place Temptation Answer
-------------- ----------------- ----------------------------
Wilderness Stone to bread Not live by bread alone
An High Mtn. Worship /Get thee behind me,
\Worship Lord thy God only
Temple pinnacle Cast thyself down Thou shalt not tempt the Lord
-- and when the devil had ended all temptation, devil leaves --
The two mountain temptations differ. The Matthew version is an
exceeding high mountain, the Luke version, an high mountain. In the
Matthew version, the temptation is to "fall down and worship me", in
Luke, "worship me". In Matthew, Christ's rebuke includes the
admonition "get thee hence", and the devil leaves ("Then the devil
leaveth him"). In Luke, the admonition is "Get thee behind me," and
there is yet another temptation.
Their is a clue in Luke that more temptation follows the event on
the temple pinnacle, for the Bible says "When the devil had ended all
temptation," not "Then the devil leaveth him." So the sequence of
events is as follows:
Place Temptation Answer
-------------- ----------------- ----------------------------
Wilderness Stones to bread Not live by bread alone
An High Mtn. Worship /Get thee behind me,
\Worship Lord thy God only
Temple pinnacle Cast thyself down Thou shalt not tempt the Lord
Exceeding High /Fall down and /Get thee hence,
Mountain \and worship \Worship Lord thy God only
----------- devil leaves --------------------------
Now as is true with most passages that appear to be
contradictory, when you spend the time and effort to understand what
is really said, you find a great deal more information. In this case,
note the progression.
1. stones to bread -> Jesus not hungry
2. Worship Satin -> Jesus get kingdoms of the world
3. Attempt Suicide -> Messiahship recognized*
4. Fall and worship -> Kingdoms of the world & the glory
* Promise of protection was for Messiah
Each successive temptation promises a greater reward. But,
temptation 4 seems like a step backwards. If, and I say if, because I
don't think it can be proven, but, if the Exceeding high mountain is a
spiritual mountain (God's throne is spoken of as a mountain), then
Satan transported Jesus to someplace in the Spiritual realm in order
to tempt Him. If he can do that to Jesus Christ (with God's
permission), imagine what power he has over the unsaved (again, with
God's permission). Perhaps, he might abduct some of them? Think
about it.
Joel in Ogden
"Move not the ancient landmarks" - Solomon