[x]

Jesus was tempted, but it’s not a sin to be tempted. Most of us probably dwell too long on some sinful desires even if we don’t yield in the flesh so I can see how people think there’s a sort of continuum.

Yes. It's not so strange that people believe this. There's a lot of uncertainty about whether being tempted counts as a sin in itself or one has to act on the temptation.

[DManA]

You can be tempted internally or externally.

I might be tempted to eat a candy bar because I’m hungry and I smelled one. I guess if I entertained the possibility in my mind I sinned.

or

I might be tempted by John with a candy bar but not dismiss him out of hand. If said no and didn’t entertain the possibility in my mind I didn’t sin.

I think Jesus’s temptations were the latter.