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Bible verses about temptation
What Scripture teaches about resisting temptation, the source of temptation, overcoming sin, and the faithfulness of God in providing a way out.
What does the Bible say about temptation?
Temptation is treated as a universal human experience in the Bible. Jesus himself was tempted. James says every person is tempted when drawn away by their own desires. Paul promises that God is faithful and will not allow temptation beyond what you can bear.
These passages are practical rather than abstract. They address how temptation works, where it comes from, and what God has provided for those who face it.
Key passages
"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."
God is faithful and will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Carnal desires gain strength by indulgence, therefore should be checked in their first rise. Let us fear the sins of Israel, if we would shun their plagues.
"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."
Blessed is the one who endures temptation. It is not every man who suffers, that is blessed; but he who with patience and constancy goes through all difficulties in the way of duty. Afflictions cannot make us miserable, if it be not our own fault.
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee. Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in the members. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction.
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Jesus responds to temptation with the word of God. Concerning Christ's temptation, observe, that directly after he was declared to be the Son of God, and the Savior of the world, he was tempted; great privileges, and special tokens of Divine favour, will not secure any from being tempted.
"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
Jesus was tempted in every way yet without sin. Notice the end proposed: rest spiritual and eternal; the rest of grace here, and glory hereafter; in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven.
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Stand fast in the liberty by which Christ has made us free. Christ will not be the Savior of any who will not own and rely upon him as their only Savior. Let us take heed to the warnings and persuasions of the apostle to stedfastness in the doctrine and liberty of the gospel.
Main takeaways
- Temptation is not sin; yielding to it is.
- God promises a way of escape alongside every temptation.
- Resisting temptation involves watchfulness, prayer, and the word of God.
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