Temptation
TEMPT; TEMPTATION [isbe]
TEMPT; TEMPTATION - temt, tem-ta'-shun (nacah, "to prove" "try," "tempt" maccah, "a trial," "temptation"; peirazo, "to try" "prove" peirasmos "a trial," "proof"): The words have a sinister connotation in present-day usage which has not always attached to them. Originally the words were of neutral content, with the sense of "putting to the proof," the testing of character or quality. Thus, God is "tempted" by Israel's distrust of Him, as if the people were actually challenging Him to show His perfections (Ex 17:2; Ps 78:18; Acts 15:10; Heb 3:9, and often); Abraham is "tempted," being called upon to offer up Isaac (Gen 22:1); and Jesus is "tempted" to a spectacular Messiahship (Mt 4 and parallel passages (see TEMPTATION OF CHRIST)). No evil is implied in the subject of these temptations. Temptation therefore in the Scripture sense has possibilities of holiness as well as of sin. For as all experience witnesses, it is one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall. To be tempted--one may rejoice in that (Jas 1:2), since in temptation, by conquering it, one may achieve a higher and nobler manhood."Why comes temptation but for man to meet
And master and make crouch beneath his foot,
And so be pedestaled in triumph?"
Holiness in its best estate is possible only under conditions which make it necessary to meet, resist and triumph over temptation. Thus, Jesus Himself became our Great High Priest in that, being tempted in all points like as we are, He never once yielded, but fought and triumphed (Heb 4:15).
One must not deceive one's self, however, in thinking that, because by the grace of God one may have profit of virtue through temptation as an instrument, all temptation is equally innocent and virtuous. It is noticeable in the case of Jesus that His temptation was under the direction of the Spirit (Mk 1:12); He Himself did not seek it, nor did He fear it. Temptations encountered in this way, the way of duty, the way of the Spirit, alone constitute the true challenge of saintship (Jas 1:12); but it is the mark of an ignoble nature to be perpetually the center of vicious fancies and tempers which are not of God but of the devil (Jas 1:13-15). One may not escape entirely such buffetings of faith, but by any sound nature they are easily disposed of. Not so easily disposed of are the trials (temptations) to faith through adversity, affliction, trouble (Lk 22:28; Acts 20:19; Jas 1:2; 1 Pet 1:6); and yet there is no lack of evidence to the consoling fact that God does not suffer His own to be tempted above what they are able to bear (1 Cor 10:13) and that for every crisis His grace will be sufficient (2 Cor 12:8,9).
Charles M. Stuart
Temptation [nave]
TEMPTATION.Gen. 3:1-13; Gen. 20:6; Ex. 34:12 vs. 13-16.; Deut. 7:25; Deut. 8:11-14, 17, 18; Deut. 13:3; 1 Chr. 21:1; 2 Chr. 32:30, 31; Psa. 119:165; Prov. 1:10-17; Prov. 2:10-12, 16; Prov. 4:14, 15; Prov. 5:6-21; Prov. 6:27, 28; Prov. 7:7-23; Prov. 9:15-17; Prov. 12:26; Prov. 14:27 Prov. 13:14. Prov. 16:29; Prov. 19:27; Prov. 28:10; Eccl. 7:26; Isa. 33:15, 16; Jer. 2:24, 25; Jer. 35:5-7; Hos. 7:5; Amos 2:12; Matt. 4:1-11 Luke 4:1-13. Matt. 5:19; Matt. 12:45; Matt. 13:22 Luke 8:13, 14. Matt. 18:6-9; Matt. 26:31, 41 Luke 22:40. Mark 4:15, 17; Mark 10:21-25; Mark 13:21, 22; Luke 11:4; Luke 22:3, 31, 32, 46 Mark 14:38. John 16:1, 2; Rom. 6:12-14; Rom. 7:5; Rom. 8:35-39; Rom. 12:21; Rom. 14:13, 15, 21; 1 Cor. 7:5; 1 Cor. 8:9-13; 1 Cor. 10:13, 28-32; 2 Cor. 2:11; 2 Cor. 11:3, 14, 15; 2 Cor. 12:7 Gal. 4:14. Gal. 5:17; Eph. 4:27; Eph. 6:11, 13-17; 1 Thess. 3:5; 1 Tim. 5:15; 1 Tim. 6:9, 10; 2 Tim. 3:13; Heb. 2:18; Heb. 4:15; Heb. 12:3, 4; Jas. 1:2-4, 12-16; Jas. 4:7; 1 Pet. 1:6, 7; 1 Pet. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:8, 9; 2 Pet. 2:9, 18; 2 Pet. 3:17; 1 John 2:16, 26; 1 John 4:4; Rev. 3:10; Rev. 12:10, 11, 17 See: Demons; Faith, Trial of; Satan.
A Test
Gen. 22:1 vs. 2-14;; Heb. 11:17. Deut. 8:2, 5; Deut. 13:1-3; 2 Chr. 32:31; Job 1:8-22; Job 2:3-10; Psa. 66:10-13; Dan. 12:10; Zech. 13:9; Jas. 1:2, 3, 12; 1 Pet. 1:6, 7 See: Affliction, Design of; Faith, Trial of.
Leading into
Prayer against being led into, Matt. 6:13; Luke 22:40.
Instances of:
Abraham leads Pharaoh, Gen. 12:18, 19; Abimelech, Gen. 20:9.
Balak tempts Balaam, Num. 22; 23; 24.
The old prophet of Beth-el, the prophet of Judah, 1 Kin. 13:15-19.
Gideon leads Israel into sin, Judg. 8:27.
Jeroboam leads Israel into, 1 Kin. 15:30.
See: Resistance to; Yielding to, below.
Resistance to
Gen. 39:7-10; Neh. 4:9; Job 31:1, 5-17, 19-34, 38-40; Psa. 17:4; Psa. 73:2-26; Psa. 94:17, 18; Psa. 119:101,110; Amos 4:12; Matt. 4:1-11 Luke 4:1-13. Matt. 24:42-44; Matt. 25:13; Matt. 26:38-42; Mark 13:33-37; Mark 14:37, 38; Luke 12:35-38; Luke 21:33-36; 1 Cor. 16:13; 1 Pet. 4:7; Rev. 3:2, 3
Instances of:
Joseph resists the temptation to commit adultery, Gen. 39:7-12.
Balaam, in refusing to curse the children of Israel, Num. 22:7-18; 24:12, 13.
The prophet of Judah, 1 Kin. 13:7-9.
Micaiah, 1 Kin. 22:13-28.
Job, Job 1:6-21; 2:4-10.
Rechabites, Jer. 35.
David, to injure Saul, 1 Sam. 26:5-25.
the people of Jerusalem, not to trust Jehovah, 2 Kin. 18:30-36.
Jesus, Matt. 4:1-11.
Yielding to
Instances of:
Adam and Eve, Gen. 3:1-19.
Sarah, to lie, Gen. 12:13; 18:13-15; 20:13.
Isaac, to lie, Gen. 26:7.
Jacob, to defraud Esau, Gen. 27:6-13.
Balaam, Num. 22:15-22; 2 Pet. 2:15.
Achan, Josh. 7:21.
David, to commit adultery, 2 Sam. 11:2-5; to number Israel, 1 Chr. 21.
Solomon, to become an idolater through the influences of his wives, 1 Kin. 11:4; Neh. 13:26.
The prophet of Judah, 1 Kin. 13:11-19.
Hezekiah, 2 Kin. 20:12-20; Isa. 39:1-4, 6, 7.
Peter, Matt. 26:69-74; Mark 14:67-71; Luke 22:55-60.
Temptation [ebd]
(1.) Trial; a being put to the test. Thus God "tempted [Gen. 22: 1; R.V., 'did prove'] Abraham;" and afflictions are said to tempt, i.e., to try, men (James 1:2, 12; comp. Deut. 8:2), putting their faith and patience to the test. (2.) Ordinarily, however, the word means solicitation to that which is evil, and hence Satan is called "the tempter" (Matt. 4:3). Our Lord was in this way tempted in the wilderness. That temptation was not internal, but by a real, active, subtle being. It was not self-sought. It was submitted to as an act of obedience on his part. "Christ was led, driven. An unseen personal force bore him a certain violence is implied in the words" (Matt. 4:1-11).
The scene of the temptation of our Lord is generally supposed to have been the mountain of Quarantania (q.v.), "a high and precipitous wall of rock, 1,200 or 1,500 feet above the plain west of Jordan, near Jericho."
Temptation is common to all (Dan. 12:10; Zech. 13:9; Ps. 66:10; Luke 22:31, 40; Heb. 11:17; James 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:7; 4:12). We read of the temptation of Joseph (Gen. 39), of David (2 Sam. 24; 1 Chr. 21), of Hezekiah (2 Chr. 32:31), of Daniel (Dan. 6), etc. So long as we are in this world we are exposed to temptations, and need ever to be on our watch against them.
TEMPTATION [bridgeway]
In the original languages of the Bible, the words commonly translated ‘temptation’ had a range of meanings. These words were concerned basically with testing. In some cases the purpose of the testing may have been to prove the genuineness or quality of a person or thing. In other cases the purpose may have been to persuade a person to do wrong. In today’s language, ‘temptation’ is usually used in the latter sense, and it is this sense that is the subject of the present article. (For other meanings of the word see TESTING.)To be expected
God may allow people to meet temptations and trials in order to test their faith, but he will never tempt them to do evil. Rather he wants to deliver them from evil (Matt 6:13; 1 Cor 10:13; James 1:13; 2 Peter 2:9). Satan, not God, is the one who tempts people to do wrong (Gen 3:1-6; 1 Cor 7:5; 2 Cor 11:3; Eph 4:27; 6:11; 1 Peter 5:8-9). Some people blame God when they give in to temptation. The Scriptures point out that the source of their problem lies not with God, but with the sinful desires within their own hearts (James 1:13-14).
Sinful human nature creates within people a natural tendency towards sin. This increases the opportunities for temptation and makes them more likely to give in to it (Rom 7:11,14,21; Gal 5:17; Eph 4:22; 1 John 2:15-16; see FLESH).
But the temptation itself is not necessarily a sin. Jesus’ nature was not corrupted by sin, and his behaviour was never spoiled by sin, yet he met temptation constantly (Luke 4:1,13; cf. Matt 16:23; 22:15; Mark 14:35; Luke 22:28; John 6:15; 12:27). In fact, the absence of sin in Jesus was the reason Satan attacked him all the more. Satan had tempted the sinless Adam, and now he tempted the sinless Jesus. But where Adam failed, Jesus triumphed (Matt 4:1-10; cf. Gen 3:1-6).
Israel failed temptation in the wilderness, but Jesus, the true fulfilment of Israel, triumphed over temptation in the wilderness (Matt 4:4,7,10; cf. Deut 6:13,16; 8:3). Jesus suffered the sorts of temptations that are common to human beings in general, but because he was victorious over them, he is able to help his people when they are tempted (Heb 2:18; 4:15).
No excuses
Temptation comes in many forms. Satan has many cunning methods, and people can easily get caught in his trap (2 Cor 2:11; 1 Thess 3:5; 1 Tim 6:9). But there can be no excuse for giving in to temptation, as some way of escape is always available (1 Cor 10:13).
Christians should not be over-confident in their own ability to overcome temptation (1 Cor 10:12). Instead they should be aware of the weakness of sinful human nature, and give it no opportunity to satisfy its desires (Rom 6:12; 13:14).
Although the sin lies in giving in to temptation rather than in the temptation itself, Christians must do all they can to avoid those situations likely to produce temptation (1 Cor 15:33; 2 Tim 2:22). This will require self-discipline as they develop better habits in their behaviour (Col 3:12-13; Gal 5:16), thinking (Rom 8:5; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 4:8), talking (Eph 5:11-12; Titus 2:8) and praying (Matt 6:13; Mark 14:38). The guiding influence in helping God’s people develop these better habits is the Word of God (Ps 119:11; 2 Tim 3:16-17).
The struggle against temptation is more than merely a struggle with the problems of everyday life. It is a battle against the evil powers of Satan (Eph 6:10-12). God has given his Word to his people to equip them for this battle (Matt 4:3-7; Eph 6:16-17), and he has given them the assurance of victory, provided they make the effort to resist the tempter. Each victory strengthens them and enables them to live more confidently and positively in a world still full of temptations (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9-10).
