” Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” -{James 1:13}

Temptation is common to all, as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man…” Everyone experiences temptation of some kind, it is common to all people, believers are not excluded just because they come to the LORD. There is no “Temptation free zone!”

Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman said -Temptation is the tempter looking through the keyhole into the room where you’re living; sin is your drawing back the bolt and making it possible for him to enter.

F P Wood  said,…

Temptation is not sin; it is the call to battle.

The point is that we are in a war, a continual war against our soul, and it is not simply a momentary skirmish. Our flesh, the evil world system and the evil one are resolutely determined to take us down (cp 1Pe 5:8note “devour”)! Stop being deceived (James 1:15) regarding this strategic truth, lest you be swept downstream by the strong pull of the temptation that comes from within.”

James helps us in our thinking regarding Temptation…

“Let … say.”  The focus being on what is said. This is a command, stop saying this! It is a present imperative with a negative which means “stop accusing God!”

“Tempted” -{Peirazo}. Is a neutral term, depending on the context. The word speaks means “to test.” It was used for evil as in Matthew 4:1. “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” It was also used in a  good sense.  It is a neutral word, a “trial” to build up our faith, develop it as in James 1:2-4. And in verse 13 used to speak of a solicitation to evil! Temptation is not sin, but only when we yield to it is it sin! At times it can be a temptation to get something but by the wrong means. While God tests to develop us and build us up in the faith,  the evil one tempts to trip us up and sin against God through disloyalty! Wiersbe put it this way, “A temptation is an opportunity to accomplish a good thing in a bad way, out of the will of God.”

James uses the word “tempted”is used three times in this passage and all in the “present tense” which speaks of being “continually tested.” It is never ending in this life only in the life to come where the follower of the LORD Jesus will be freed from  not only the presence but pleasure which sin offers.

Wrong thinking leads to wrong conclusions and this is why it is imperative that we “renew” our mind through His Word.{Read Romans 12:2}. Such wrong thinking leads to falsely believing that God tempts us to sin, In other words it’s God’s fault. Hmm where have we heard that before?  When God confronted Adam over his sin of disobedience, Adam passed the blame, and tried to blame God, that it was His fault, “The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”-{Genesis 3:12}. Like Adam we often try to blame God for our sin! James answers the false concept  with, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”…” “Let NO ONE… doesn’t matter who you are, or think you are, no one has grounds for believing this lie to blame God! He goes on to give the reason why by using the word “For” which is a term of explanation.

For for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.”

“Cannot be Tempted.” – {apeirastos with eimi (to be)} It is  in the present tense (estin). Never, ever is God tempted to succumb to evil! There is nothing in Him that desires, craves or wants to yield to sin.

God because of His nature is impenetrable from temptation to sin. There is nothing in Him which is attracted to sin, It is repulsive, offensive to Him in all it’s form.

“Tempted” – (apeirastos from a = negative + peirazo = to test) is an adjective which means literally untempted or untried.  This speaks of the incapabilty of not being able to be tempted.

“Evil” –{kakos}. Speaks of those things that are bad, evil, degrading , the opposite of those things that are morally good and wholesome.

The Reality is God cannot be tempted by evil. Because sin has no attraction to Him. Indeed He hates it and the cross of his Son shows it. ‘The soul that sins must die.” “the wages of sin is death.” Sin is an affront to Him. Sin has no appeal to Him that it may gain entrance. God is impenetrable to sin because of His nature, His character.

God tempts no one to sin. Because of His nature, Holiness, righteousness, love, it is not in HIM to seek to solicit others to yield to that which is an affront, offensive to Him. the lawlessness of sin! God is not going to tempt you to sin because of His nature, remember that the next time you are tempted! Indeed James 1:14 shows us the one to blame when sin is yielded to is not God but…self! The person in the mirror!

Indeed 1 Cor 10:13 shows us that when temptation comes, whatever form it comes in,  God is faithful to provide “The” way of escape so we do not have to yield to the temptation and sin against God. Note in the verse the temptation is specific, “the temptation… and note also the escape He provides is specific, “The way of escape…”

” No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it “-{1 Cor 10:13}

Note the Three TRUTH’S From this passage for you to know when Tempted;

  1.  You are NOT the Only one – It is Not Exclusive to you only.”But such as is common to man”
  2. God Is faithful – He can be relied upon- “who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able.” In other words you will never find yourself in a situation where the only way out of the temptation is to sin against God!
  3. God provides the Way Of Escape – From yielding and sinning in the temptation.”…But with the temptation will provide the way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it.”

James agrees with this. God does not tempt us to evil, and Paul shows that as a matter of fact God is faithful who provides us always with “the” way to escape “the” temptation, so we need not sin against God!