The preachers quoted here define temptation as an enticement to satisfy a desire in a forbidden way. They are careful to say that being tempted is not itself sin, and that temptation exposes what is weak in us.
The New Testament word, peirasmos, covers both testing and enticement to evil.1 The same event may be both: God tests to prove and strengthen, as when "God did tempt Abraham" (Genesis 22:1), while the devil tempts to destroy. James is clear which is which: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man" (James 1:13).
James also traces how it works. "Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death" (James 1:14-15). The pattern is as old as Eden, where the woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasant to the eyes and desirable to make one wise (Genesis 3:6). John names the three avenues: "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1 John 2:16). Thomas a Kempis described the stages in the same way: "first cometh to the mind the simple suggestion, then the strong imagination, afterwards pleasure, evil affection, assent."2
To be tempted is not to sin. Jesus "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). In the wilderness he answered each suggestion with Scripture, "It is written" (Matthew 4:4). Because he has been there, "he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
God sets limits to it. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).
The believer's part is watchfulness and prayer. "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). The Lord's Prayer asks, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (6:13). John Owen's treatise on the subject distinguishes being tempted from entering into temptation, and builds on this petition: 'it is "entering into temptation" that we are to pray against.'3 Some temptations are to be resisted (James 4:7); others are to be fled (2 Timothy 2:22).
Scripture also promises a good end. "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him" (James 1:12).
- Strong's Greek 3986, peirasmós: "a putting to proof (by experiment (of good), experience (of evil), solicitation, discipline or provocation)...".
- Thomas a Kempis, Imitation Of Christ, "CHAPTER XIII Of resisting temptation".
- John Owen, Of Temptation, "Chapter II: What it is to "enter into temptation"--Not barely being...".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Temptation is the proposition presented to the mind to satisfy a good appetite in a forbidden way.
Paris Reidhead
in (So Great a Salvation) Temptation and Sin
Listen at 16:25
Temptation is not sin, though often confounded with it.
Charles Finney
in Christ Tempted, Suffering, and Able to Succor the Tempted
Read in context
Temptation is an invitation or an enticement to commit an immoral act.
David Wilkerson
in The Reason for Temptation
Read in context
And temptation is the experience of seeing a forbidden thing to be good.
Earle Maxwell
in Holiness and Temptation
Listen at 22:18
Temptation is not only a means of exposing our weakness, which it most certainly does.
Stuart Briscoe
in Temptation
Listen at 3:38
What Scripture says
- James 1:13-15 God tempts no one; each is drawn away by his own lust
- 1 Corinthians 10:13 God is faithful, and will make a way to escape
- Hebrews 4:15 tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin
- Matthew 26:41 watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation
- James 1:12 blessed is the man that endures temptation
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