James 1:13-15

LET NO ONE SAY WHEN HE IS TEMPTED, "I AM BEING TEMPTED BY GOD": medeis peirazomenos (PPPMSN) legeto (3SPAM) hoti apo theou peirazomai; (1SPPI): (James 1:2,12; Genesis 3:12; Isaiah 63:17; Habakkuk 2:12,13; Romans 9:19,20)

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As William Kelly observes...

The Epistle then turns from our holy trials to our unholy ones, and shows their source to be, not in God, but in sinful man. (Comment: The former must be endured, the latter resisted.)

Wuest has an interesting paraphrase adding the word "sin" (not in the Greek) to emphasize that the test is not for good but for evil. God does test men, but He does not tempt men to do evil. There is a substantial difference and that is what Wuest's paraphrase accentuates...

Let no man be saying when he is being solicited to sin, "By God I am being solicited to sin", for God is incapable of being solicited to sin, the source of the solicitations being evils, and He himself solicits no one to sin

Let...say (3004) means to speak or talk, with an apparent focus upon content of what is said. Note that this is not a suggestion but a command in the present imperative with a negative, which means in essence "Stop accusing God!". "Cease saying when you are being tempted that it's God's fault!"

When he is tempted - Notice he does not say "if" but "when". Temptation is a sure thing! If you feel you are not being tempted then chances are you are already deceived by the temptation and you don't even realize your dire state!

As J C Ryle writes...

Let us beware of making light of temptation because they seem little and insignificant. There is nothing little that concerns our souls.

F P Wood wisely says instructs us regarding the "value" of temptations when he says...

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 5:8-note "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.

Peter warned his readers (who were being tested/tempted - 1Pe 1:6,7 notes 1Pe 1:6; 1:7)...

Beloved (note his affectionate address [similar to James] before he explains a serious, hard truth), I urge (present tense = continually. Parakaleo = I come alongside you. I know the power and pull of temptation first hand. I fell. But God poured out mercy and gave grace to repent and return that I might now strengthen you with this warning. See Luke 22:32, 33, 34, Mt 26:74, 75, Acts 2:14ff, cp Acts 3:19, 20) you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war (continually = present tense) against the soul. (see note 1 Peter 2:11)

John Quincy Adams wrote that...

Every temptation is an opportunity of our getting nearer to God.

Martin Luther spoke of what the flesh means for evil God can use for good writing that...

My temptations have been my masters in divinity....Temptation and adversity are the two best books in my library.

Tempt (3985)(peirazo from the noun peira = test from peíro = perforate, pierce through to test durability of things) is a morally neutral word simply meaning “to test”. Whether the test is for a good (as it proved to be in Heb 11:17) or evil (Mt 4:1 "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil") depends on the intent of the one giving the test and also on the response of the one tested. (See study of similar word dokimazo)

W H Griffith said that...

Satan tempts to bring out the bad; God tests to bring out the good.

Or as someone else has said

Satan tempts us to bring out the worst in us but God tests us to bring out the best.

Wiersbe writes that...

A temptation is an opportunity to accomplish a good thing in a bad way, out of the will of God. We think of sin as a single act, but God sees it as a process. Adam committed one act of sin, and yet that one act brought sin, death, and judgment on the whole human race. James described this process of sin in four stages. (Desire, Deception, Disobedience, Death) (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos)

Note that the verb peirazo here translated as tempted is in the same word group as the noun peirasmos which is translated trial (James 1:2-note; James 1:12-note).

Peirazo/peirasmos when used of God reflects His testing or trying a believer's faith, but never in the sense of tempting the believer to sin. In Peter's first epistle it is clear that God's purpose is not to cause to sin or to destroy but to refine.

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary (his implication is trials are necessary), you have been distressed by various trials (peirasmos), that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (see notes 1 Peter 1:6; 1:7)

Beloved (he is addressing believers), do not be surprised (present imperative + a negative = "Stop being surprised") at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing (peirasmos), as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing (present imperative = command to make rejoicing your "lifestyle" even in trials - only possible by the manifold grace of God and the inner strengthening by the indwelling Holy Spirit); so that (introduces the purpose of the testing) also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (see notes 1 Peter 4:12; 13; 14)

Comment: God has never promised that we would miss the storm, but He has promised that we would make the harbor. When God puts His own people into the furnace, He keeps His eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat. He knows how long and how much. (Warren Wiersbe)

Peirazo is used 3 times in this passage each in the present tense ("continually tested"). In the first use, it is clear that this tense indicates that the test is never-ending in this life but it will end in the life to come when we are delivered not only from the presence of sin but the pleasure of sin.

Peirazo can have several nuances depending on the context: (1) trials with a beneficial purpose and effect, (2) divinely permitted or sent, (3) with a good or neutral significance, (4) of a varied character, (5) definitely designed to lead to wrong doing, temptation, (6) of men trying or challenging God.

As alluded to above, the trials may come from God or under His permissive will from Satan (cp Job 1:6,7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12) or may be the result of our own wrong doing. The solicitations to do evil come from the world, the evil nature (the "flesh"), or the Devil. When the Scriptural context clearly indicates the testing is an enticement to evil, the word is most frequently translated by a form of the English tempt, which carries that negative connotation and to reemphasize this NEVER refers to a test from God.

In a sermon titled Faith Tested and Crowned (on Genesis 22:1-14) the able expositor Alexander Maclaren distinguished between being tempted and being tried writing that

the former word (tempted) conveys the idea of appealing to the worst part of man, with the wish that he may yield and do the wrong. The latter (tested) means an appeal to the better part of man, with the desire that he should stand." "Temptation says, 'Do this pleasant thing; do not be hindered by the fact that it is wrong.' Trial or proving says, 'Do this right and noble thing; do not be hindered by the fact that it is painful.'

Character is revealed by what you do in secret, when no one else is around to see. If you are not a person of integrity (think of integer - whole, entire) then you will not be a person of character. Maturity is revealed by what you do in your free time. A person of integrity uses their free time wisely.

The testing of one's faith/obedience is not unique to the New Testament but is a basic principle found throughout the Scriptures. For example...

"(Moses warning Israel) And you shall remember all the way which the LORD your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not." (Deuteronomy 8:2)

(Speaking of King Hezekiah) And even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone only to test (Lxx = ekpeirazo, same verb used of testing Jesus Mt 4:7, Lk 4:12) him, that He might know all that was in his heart. (2 Chronicles 32:31)

Comment: King Hezekiah acted foolishly and in pride showed the Babylonian envoys his treasures, arousing their desire to possess them, a desire that would soon be fulfilled. See 2Ki 20:12-19

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests hearts. (Proverbs 17:3)

The point that is emphasized in these verses on testing is that with the tests God provides opportunities for His children to demonstrate and grow their faith. In fact it is fair to state that every test the Father allows becomes either a stumbling block (King Hezekiah) or a stepping stone (as in Abraham's case in this passage).

In an interesting passage in 2 Samuel, at first one might conclude that this passage appears to contradict the idea that God does not tempt anyone. However, examination of the best commentary (which is always Scripture) reveals that the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 21:1 teaches that Satan did tempted David, not God. The truth is that God is sovereign and as the absolute Ruler of the universe, He allowed Satan to tempt David. Below are these parallel passages...

Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah' (2 Samuel 24:1)

Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel (1 Chronicles 21:1)

Jonathan Edwards wrote that...

The surest way to know our gold is to look upon it and examine it in God’s furnace, where He tries it for that end that we may see what it is. If we have a mind to know whether a building stands strong or no, we must look upon it when the wind blows. If we would know whether that which appears in the form of wheat has the real substance of wheat, or be only chaff, we must observe it when it is winnowed. If we would know whether a staff be strong, or a rotten, broken reed, we must see it when it is leaned on, and weight is borne upon it. If we would weigh ourselves justly, we must weigh ourselves in God’s scales, that He makes use of to weigh us.

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Cookies or Radishes? - A study of temptation was conducted at Case Western Reserve University. Some participants were told to skip a meal before being left alone with a plate of radishes and a plate of cookies. The radishes could be eaten; the cookies were forbidden.

Everyone resisted the urge to eat the cookies, but in some cases not without a struggle. Interestingly, the temptation made it difficult for them to perform intellectual tasks immediately after the test.

Dr. Roy Baumeister, who directed the research, drew the conclusion that self-control is "something that gets used up. It needs time to get replenished before you use it again."

Temptation--the urge to do something we know is wrong--troubles all of us. It may be some terrible evil, or it may be something we tend to excuse, like impatience, pride, gossip, or a short temper.

Victory over temptation is not simply a matter of willpower. Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22,23). Our weak human spirit cries out for the Spirit's strength.

There's only one sure way to beat temptation. We must rely on God's help continually. As we trust Him and do what we know is right, He will guide us into His truth and holiness. — Vernon C. Grounds (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

HOW TO RESIST TEMPTATION
Use God's Word (Mt. 4:1-11).
Pray for the Holy Spirit's help (Jn. 14:26).
Make a daily commitment to walk with God.

Every temptation is an opportunity to say no to sin and yes to God.

The Forest and the Tree - All of us have been so close to a temptation that we've lost our perspective. It may have involved something as small as a rumor that we knew shouldn't be passed along, but the urge to gossip blocked out our sense of love and good judgment.

Adam and Eve faced a similar problem. They became so preoccupied with one plant in their garden paradise that they couldn't see the forest for the tree.

Just look at what it cost them. The Garden of Eden had been created especially for them. In it they knew no evil, no trials, no sickness, no death. They enjoyed the company of the Creator Himself. Yet they gave up everything they had—just to eat the fruit of that one forbidden tree.

Their mistake still plagues us. How often do we miss the whole forest of God's goodness for a single tree of testing? The moment of temptation seems so overwhelming, the idea so irresistible, our twisted logic so justifiable.

Think about all that Adam and Eve left behind in the Garden. Fill your mind with the truths of God's Word and rely on the Holy Spirit's moment-by-moment guidance and strength. Then you'll experience the lasting joy of God's blessing rather than temporary pleasure.— Mart De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

How To Handle Temptation
Seek God with your whole heart (Psalm 119:9-16).
Listen to wisdom (Proverbs 8:1-11).
Resist the devil; draw near to God (James 4:7-8).

Your response to temptation will make you or break you.

FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED BY EVIL AND HE HIMSELF DOES NOT TEMPT ANYONE: o gar theos apeirastos estin (3SPAI) kakon, peirazei (3SPAI) de autos oudena:

For (gar) means because and introduces an explanation. It is always worth taking a moment to pause and ponder (meditate), asking "What is the author explaining?" In this case James is explaining why the claim that God tempts us to do evil is bogus and without merit. First reason - God's character. He is "untemptable" by evil. He is pure and holy in His very essence. Second reason - God does not engage in tempting people to perform evil deeds or to sin. God's character makes this conduct impossible.

Hiebert explains that...

The words of James are an important declaration concerning God's nature. Seesemann notes that it is "a statement about the nature of God which we do not find elsewhere in the Bible."' It is thoroughly in keeping with the biblical presentation of the divine nature as good, perfect, and unchangeably holy. God is unsusceptible to evil; evil never has any appeal for Him. It is repugnant and abhorrent to Him. The fact that God is untemptable of evil is the foundation for the Christian belief in a moral universe. Carpenter well observes:

In the stainless purity of His character lies our security. If saints can give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness, struggling men may take courage also, since God's purity is not against us, but for us in our conflict with evil. It is madness to throw away this sheet anchor of faith. This anchor holds.'

Johnstone calls attention to the contrast between this picture of God and the character of the gods in pagan mythology:

The gods of heathen imagination are always conceived both as liable to temptation to moral evil, and as themselves tempters. The conception of their character comes from man's wicked heart, and the stream cannot rise higher than its source. (Commentary on James)

Tempted (551) (apeirastos from a = negative + peirazo = to test) is an adjective which means literally untempted or untried. It speaks of not being able to be tempted.

Himself (autos) emphasizes God and the fact that He never solicits to sin. As stated elsewhere, God does allow "tests" in our life, but His purpose is never to cause us to stumble, but to humble us and refine us and make us more like His Son. We are the problem when the tests come, not God! Every test is an opportunity to grow in grace or stumble into sin. In the present context however James has shifted from actual tests to true temptations to do evil.

Cannot be tempted - Combines the adjective apeirastos with eimi (to be) in the present tense (estin). God's is continually untempted by evil. Wuest says "God is incapable of being solicited to sin".

God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5)

Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You can not look on wickedness with favor (Hab 1:13)

Evil (2556) (kakos) basically denotes a lack of something and so it means bad or not as it ought to be. Kakos is a neuter plural adjective without an article which denotes those things that have the moral quality of being base, bad, degrading, and clearly the very opposite of those things that are ethically and morally good, wholesome and beneficial.

In the "Lord's Prayer" we pray “And lead us not into temptation” (Mt 6:13) but this is not implying that God tempts us to do evil. What it means is something like “don’t allow us to come under the sway of temptation that will over power us and cause us to sin.” (see note Matthew 6:13)

MacDonald comments that...

Man is always ready to shift responsibility for his sins. If he cannot blame God, he will adopt an approach of modern psychology by saying that sin is a sickness. In this way he hopes to escape judgment. But sin is not a sickness; it is a moral failure for which man must give account. Some even try to blame inanimate things for sin. But material “things” are not sinful in themselves. Sin does not originate there. James tracks the lion to its den when he says: “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” Sin comes from within us, from our old, evil, fallen, unregenerate nature (flesh). Jesus said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Mt. 15:19).

Matthew Poole explains some objections that might be raised...

“Objection.” God is said to be tempted, Ex 17:2, 7 Deut 6:16 Ps 78:41; and to tempt, Ge 22:1, (KJV "tempt", NAS - "test") Deut 8:2 13:3.

“Answer.” Both are to be understood of temptations of exploration, or for the discovery of something that was before hidden. Men tempt God, that they may know what he will do; God tempts men, that they (not he, for he knows it already) may know what themselves will do, which then appears, when the temptation draws it out; but neither is to be understood of the temptation here spoken of, viz. of seduction, or drawing into sin. God tempts by giving hard commands, Ge 22:1; by afflicting, as in Job’s case; by letting loose Satan or other wicked instruments to tempt, 1 Ki 22:22; by withholding his grace and deserting men, 1Sam 28:15; by presenting occasions which corruption within improves unto sin, and by ordering and governing the evil wills of men, as that a thief should steal out of this flock rather than that, that Nebuchadnezzar should come against Jerusalem rather than Rabbah, Eze 21:21, 22. But God doth not tempt by commanding, suggesting, soliciting, or persuading to sin. (Matthew Poole's Commentary on the New Testament)

F B Hole writes...

God Himself is above all evil. It is absolutely foreign to His nature. It is as impossible for Him to be tempted with evil as it is impossible for Him to lie. Equally so it is impossible for Him to tempt anyone with evil though He may permit His people to be tempted with evil, knowing well how to overrule even that for their ultimate good. The real root of all temptation lies within ourselves, in our own lusts. We may blame the enticing thing which from without was presented to us, but the trouble really lies in the desires of the flesh within.

Let us lay hold of this fact and honestly face it. When we sin the tendency is for us to lay a great deal of the blame on our circumstances, or at all events on things without, when if only we are honest before God we have no one and nothing to blame but ourselves. How important it is that we should thus be honest before God and judge ourselves rightly in His presence, for that is the high road to recovery of soul. Moreover it will help us to judge and refuse the lusts of our hearts, and thus sin will be nipped in the bud. Lust is the mother of sin. If it works it brings forth sin, and sin carried to completion brings forth death. (James Commentary -Plymouth Brethren)

A B Simpson writes that...

While temptation is not directly from God, yet it is overruled by God, and made one of His instrumentalities of blessing to us. God does not "tempt any man, neither is tempted with evil," yet God permits us to be tempted. God put our first parents into temptation and He made it possible for them either to choose or refuse; gave them a nature subject to temptation, and while it might overcome them, it might also be overcome. God does not tempt any man, yet He does allow this to be one of the classes in the school of faith and holiness. He even led Jesus Christ, His own Son, into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted of the devil. Think it not a strange thing then, dear friends, if your life is called to pass through the ordeal of the conflict, evil from within and from without, not merely things that grieve, afflict and distress you, but things that tend to make you do wrong and draw you from the path of righteousness, truth and godliness. They will come. God wants you to be forewarned and forearmed, and to know it is better that they should come to you, if you but take the panoply of God and come through in victory. (A. B. Simpson. Christ in the Bible - James)