James 1:13-15

Read verses 12-18.

Look at verses 13 – 15.  In this study, we will focus primarily on verse 13.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Let no one say when he is tempted,

So far in James, we have seen positive commands and one with a negative qualifier (But let him ask in faith, with no doubting), now we are given a negative command with a warning.

To whom is he speaking and in what context?

Let no one say…

In one sense, he is speaking to believers and unbelievers. It is understood that both are in the congregation. However, we can know that primarily he is speaking to believers (v. 2 my brothers; and in v. 16, he says my beloved brothers).  He continues to address them together as a whole body but makes it clear that each person is individually accountable before God as well (v. 1 no one, v. 14 each person, his own desire).

when he is tempted,

Remember James is teaching within the context of the trials of various kinds met during the testing of our faith (v. 2,3). The implication is that those who are in Christ will be tempted. It is not a matter of if but when. Jesus our Lord himself warned his disciples of this (Luke 17:1).

We see this in verse 14 along with a definition of tempt: 

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

Also, there is the definition of tempt in my handy Webster’s 1828:

TEMPT – to incite or solicit to an evil act; to entice to something wrong by presenting arguments that are plausible or convincing, or by the offer of some pleasure or apparent advantage as the inducement.

[I do not instinctively think of this definition when I read or commonly say this word in regular conversation.]

So, to tempt is to lure and entice to evil by presenting arguments or offering certain gain as a reason to engage in the evil.  In the context of this passage, the implication is that the temptation does not come from God, but from our own sinful desire.  If we are honest, we will attest to this truth.  We know that we have done this in our own hearts. More on this later.

Back to verse 13:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”

Why are we not to say, “I am being tempted (enticed to evil) by God”?

James immediately directs us to the character of God:

[Once again, I am reminded that God is not like man. True, I am made in his likeness, but he is God and I am not. I must be careful not to view him through the eyes of man and in my own understanding, but instead through what he himself has said in his Word about who he is and how he works.]

for God cannot be tempted with evil…

He speaks definitively:  God cannot… It is impossible for God, who alone is holy, righteous, and good to be tempted with evil:

  • Psalm 25:8 – In his goodness and righteousness God himself is the one who instructs sinners to do what is right and good.
  • Psalm 145:17 – The LORD is righteous and kind in all that he does.
  • Matthew 4:1-11 – Christ proves this when he endured the temptation of Satan in the wilderness.  God the Son showing us the Father by the power of the Holy Spirit with the Word of God resisting Satan who immediately leaves him.

and he himself tempts no one.

Since God is holy and cannot be tempted with evil, it follows that he himself does not tempt others to do evil.

Instead:

  • Psalm 23:3 – God as shepherd leads his sheep in doing what is right for the sake of his own name.
  • Psalm 51:6 – He delights in the truth he puts in our hearts and teaches us wisdom
  • Matthew 6:13 – Christ teaches us to pray to the Father that we would not be put in the way of temptation but delivered from evil.
  • Luke 17:1,2 – He even pronounces woe on those who tempt others to do evil.

So, with this understanding of what it means to tempt and then considering the character of God, we can see that to say that God is tempting us is essentially the same as accusing God of evil or saying that he is evil.

As an example, we can look at Adam and Eve in the garden when God confronted them after they had sinned against him (Genesis 3: 12,13).  Adam essentially blamed God for his sin:  The woman you gave me…; Eve did the same by blaming the serpent which was made by God (see 3:1):  The serpent deceived me…

When temptation comes for those who are in Christ, it comes in the context of the testing of our faith by God who is holy. God is testing us not tempting us. In fact, God himself will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, but, with the temptation that comes under his sovereign hand, he will provide the way to escape it that we may endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13). Christ himself is the one who helps us when we are tempted (Hebrews 2:18).

These examples of God’s testing come to mind:

  • Abraham (Genesis 22:1-19) – God tested him when he commanded him to sacrifice his only son. At the final moment, God prevented him from doing this and provided the sacrifice himself.
  • Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 50:15-21) – They did what they did to Joseph out of the evil in their own hearts. God did not tempt them. But they and Joseph were put to the test because God had a greater plan for his glory and their good and ultimately for the good of all God’s people.
  • Job (Job 1:8) – Satan came before God but could not tempt God into action against Job. God himself pointed out his servant Job. [Important to note, that even when everything he loved and owned had been taken away and he was finally afflicted terribly in his own body, Job did not sin with his lips and curse God (2:9-10).   In the end, Job was humbled into repentance (even though he had not sinned by cursing God, he had sinned in other ways).  After all this, God, by his grace, chose to bless Job even more. Job was tested for the sake of God’s own name. God was glorified and Job benefited]
  • Israelites in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:1-13; for some examples see Exodus 15:25; 16:4; 20: 10-13; 21:4-9; 32:35) – Through their testing and his punishment of their sin, God showed himself faithful.  Making it clear the he alone is holy, righteous, and good.
  • Peter (Luke 22; 31, 32) – Satan demanded that he could take Peter down.  But Christ prayed for him that his faith (the faith that God had given him) would not fail.  Peter was tempted and he denied Christ, but he was brought to repentance and was restored in order that he might strengthen others in their faith.
  • Jesus – It was the plan of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that Jesus would be tested. The Father sent the Son. The Spirit led him and worked powerfully in him. Jesus himself went willingly, humbling himself by becoming obedient (Philippians 2:8). He did this not only as an example to follow but for and in the place of the sinners he came to save (Hebrews 2:17). He continued to be tested by God and tempted by Satan all the way to the cross. This was purposely done that he would suffer for the sins of his people to redeem them and because he has suffered, he is able to help them when they are tempted (Hebrews 2:18).  He is the one who in every respect was tempted as we are, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:14-16).