Temptation
Temptation in Scripture is the pull toward what the flesh, the world, or the devil present as good but that would draw us from God. Jesus was tempted in all points (Hebrews 4:15); he met each temptation with Scripture. The biblical pattern for resisting is neither willpower nor withdrawal but watchfulness, prayer, and — sometimes — flight (Joseph, 2 Timothy 2:22).
Key verses (14)
- Genesis 39:12Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife
“And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fle...”
- Matthew 4:1Jesus led up into wilderness to be tempted
“Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
- Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation
“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is we...”
- 1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation but common to man — way of escape
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not s...”
- 2 Timothy 2:22Flee also youthful lusts
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on th...”
- Hebrews 2:18Able to succour them that are tempted
“For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. ”
- Hebrews 4:15Tempted like as we are, yet without sin
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was ...”
- James 1:12Blessed is the man that endureth temptation
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of lif...”
- James 1:13Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither...”
- James 1:14Every man is tempted by his own lust
“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”
- James 1:15Lust conceives and bringeth forth sin
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth d...”
- James 4:7Resist the devil, and he will flee from you
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
- 1 Peter 5:8Adversary as a roaring lion
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking w...”
- 1 Peter 5:9Whom resist steadfast in the faith
“Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethr...”
Relevant characters (5)
Jesus Christ
Wilderness temptation, answered with Scripture (Matthew 4)
Joseph
Fled Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39)
David
Bathsheba narrative (2 Samuel 11)
Eve
Beguiled by the serpent (Genesis 3)
Achan
Took the accursed thing at Jericho (Joshua 7)
Further reading
- John Owen — Of Temptation (1658)
- Dallas Willard — The Spirit of the Disciplines, HarperSanFrancisco (1988)
- Jerry Bridges — Respectable Sins, NavPress (2007)
Pastoral commentary
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