What is Temptation?

Temptation

Matthew 6:13 ESV

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Is God behind our Temptation?

Temptation has different parts..

Temptation that comes from God as a Trial to strengthen our faith..But can’t be temptation because God does not temp us but can allow us to be tempted?

Temptation from our own sinful lusts

Temptation that comes directly from Satan(from his hoards of minions that would be trying to tempt us to fall away from the faith.

James 1:13 ESV

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

Clearly James says that is not possible. If that be so then what is vs. 13 of chapter 6 referring to?

Is temptation an unavoidable part of human existence?

Sermon on the Mount—The Message of the Kingdom “Lead Us Not into Temptation”

The key to what “Lead us not into temptation” means is found in the fact that the word translated “temptation” has two meanings. It can denote an enticement that has the goal of causing one to sin, or it can refer to a test or trial of the validity of one’s faith

Sermon on the Mount—The Message of the Kingdom “Lead Us Not into Temptation”

Thus the meaning of “Lead us not into temptation” is simply, “Do not allow us to come under the sway of temptation that will overpower us and cause us to sin

The Word for temptation from the Greek is translated..the sentence could read “Let us not sin when we are tested....rather than let us not be tested.

Matthew 26:41 ESV

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

James 4:7 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Would you agree that temptations are good for us? How do we often view them?

Temptation molded Christ...

2 Corinthians 11:14–15 ESV

And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

How do we overcome temptation? Submit to God and Resist the devil.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

What is it to submit to God?

The Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5–7): An Expositional Commentary Submit and Resist

Quite simply it means to surrender one’s will to God; and since this cannot be done in isolation apart from a personal relationship to him, it means that we must spend time conversing with God through prayer.

How do we resist? How did Christ resist when tempted?

The Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5–7): An Expositional Commentary Submit and Resist

The answer is: by God’s Word, by means of the Bible. The Lord Jesus Christ said to his disciples, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (John 15:3), meaning that purity of life can be ours to the degree that we feed upon the Bible and study it. The psalmist said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Ps. 119:11). Paul wrote specifically of our spiritual warfare saying, “Take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17).

The Lord is tempted in Matthew 4...

Scripture—The Lord gave Satan back Scripture

1st temptation

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV

And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

2nd temptation

Deuteronomy 6:16 ESV

“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah.

Final one..

Deuteronomy 6:13 ESV

It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear.

Confidence not found in ourselves but in Christ

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.