SUBJECT:  Temptation and Sin

QUESTIONS:  Explain the difference between temptation and sin.  Is temptation, in and of itself sin?  Why does Jesus pray, in the Lord’s prayer, “lead us not into temptation.”?

ANSWER:

Let us first look at a few scriptures showing us not to sin.

Psalm 4:4

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Ezekiel 3:21

Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not  sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

1 Corinthians 15:34

Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Ephesian 4:26-27

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

1 John 2:1-2

1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Related or similar verses

1 Corinthians 10:13-14

13 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.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Luke 22:40

And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.

Matthew 26:41

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:...

James 4:17

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

Hebrews 4:15

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.

CONCLUSION:  The Word of God is clear.  We are to sin not.  Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).

Scriptures on Temptation:

James 1:2-4

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

2 Peter 2:9

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of  judgment to be punished:

Revelation 3:10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Here is some commentary on temptation:

TEMPTATION

TEMPT, TEMPTATION

(temt), (tem-ta'-shun) (nacah, "to prove" "try," "tempt" maccah, "a trial," "temptation"; peirazo, "to try" "prove" peirasmos "a trial," "proof"): The words have a sinister connotation in present-day usage which has not always attached to them. Originally the words were of neutral content, with the sense of "putting to the proof," the testing of character or quality. Thus, God is "tempted" by Israel's distrust of Him, as if the people were actually challenging Him to show His perfections (Ex 17:2; Ps 78:18; Acts 15:10; Heb 3:9, and often); Abraham is "tempted," being called upon to offer up Isaac (Gen 22:1); and Jesus is "tempted" to a spectacular Messiahship (Matt 4 and parallel passages (see TEMPTATION OF CHRIST)). No evil is implied in the subject of these temptations. Temptation therefore in the Scripture sense has possibilities of holiness as well as of sin. For as all experience witnesses, it is one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall. To be tempted-one may rejoice in that (James 1:2), since in temptation, by conquering it, one may achieve a higher and nobler manhood.

"Why comes temptation but for man to meet

And master and make crouch beneath his foot,

And so be pedestaled in triumph?"

Holiness in its best estate is possible only under conditions which make it necessary to meet, resist and triumph over temptation. Thus, Jesus Himself became our Great High Priest in that, being tempted in all points like as we are, He never once yielded, but fought and triumphed (Heb 4:15).

One must not deceive one's self, however, in thinking that, because by the grace of God one may have profit of virtue through temptation as an instrument, all temptation is equally innocent and virtuous. It is noticeable in the case of Jesus that His temptation was under the direction of the Spirit (Mark 1:12); He Himself did not seek it, nor did He fear it. Temptations encountered in this way, the way of duty, the way of the Spirit, alone constitute the true challenge of saintship (James 1:12); but it is the mark of an ignoble nature to be perpetually the center of vicious fancies and tempers which are not of God but of the devil (James 1:13-15). One may not escape entirely such buffetings of faith, but by any sound nature they are easily disposed of. Not so easily disposed of are the trials (temptations) to faith through adversity, affliction, trouble (Luke 22:28; Acts 20:19; James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6); and yet there is no lack of evidence to the consoling fact that God does not suffer His own to be tempted above what they are able to bear (1 Cor 10:13) and that for every crisis His grace will be sufficient (2 Cor 12:8-9).

(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia)

From a Bible dictionary...

TEMPT, TEST

 TEMPT, TEST (Heb. nasa; Gk. peirazo, both meaning to "test or try"). The word is used

in different senses; it does not always involve an evil purpose, as an inducement to sin.

 1. "God tested Abraham" <Gen. 22:1> in commanding him to offer up his son Isaac,

intending to prove his obedience and faith, to confirm and strengthen him by this trial, and

to furnish in him an example of perfect obedience for all succeeding ages. When it is

recorded that God tested His people, whether they would walk in His way or not <Exo.

16:4>, and that He permitted false prophets to arise among them, who prophesied vain

things to try them whether they would seek the Lord with their whole hearts, we should

interpret these expressions by that of <James 1:13-14>, "Let no one say when he is

tempted, 'I am being tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself

does not tempt anyone."

 2. Satan tempts us to every kind of evil and lays snares for us, even in our best actions. He

lays inducements before our minds to solicit us to sin <1 Cor. 7:5; 1 Thes. 3:5; James

1:13-14>. Hence Satan is called "the serpent of old," "the devil," and "the tempter" <Rev.

12:9; Matt. 4:3>. He tempted our first parents (see Temptation); our Savior (see

Temptation of Christ); he tempted Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit <Acts

5:3>.

 3. Men are said to tempt God when they unreasonably require proofs of the divine

presence, power, or goodness. It is proper for us to seek divine assistance and to pray to

Him to give us what we need, but we are not to tempt Him or expose ourselves to dangers

from which we cannot escape without miraculous interposition. God is not obliged to work

miracles in our favor; He requires of us only such actions as are within the ordinary

measure of our strength. The Israelites frequently tempted God in the desert, as if they had

reason to doubt His presence, His goodness, or His power, after all His appearances in

their behalf (<Exo. 16:2,7,12; Num. 20:12; Ps. 78:18,41>; etc.).

 4. Men tempt or try one another when they would know whether things or men are really

what they seem or are desired; also when they wish them to depart from the right. The

queen of Sheba came to prove the wisdom of Solomon by giving him riddles to explain <1

Kin. 10:1; 2 Chr. 9:1>. The scribes and Pharisees often tested our Lord and endeavored

to catch Him in their snares <Matt. 16:1; 19:3; 22:18>.  ~from New Unger's Bible Dictionary

CONCLUSION:  Temptation has more than one meaning.  God tests.  Satan tempts.  God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to overcome the temptation.  Temptation, in and of itself is NOT sin.  Jesus was, Himself, tempted.

Regarding Jesus’ statement in the Lords Prayer asking God to “lead us not into temptation”:

Matthew 6:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Notice the commentary:

Matthew 6:9-13

Verse 13. [And lead us not into temptation] A petition similar to this is offered by David, Ps 141:4: "Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with the workers of iniquity." God tempts no man. See James 1:13. This phrase, then, must be used in the sense of "permitting." Do not "suffer" us, or "permit" us, to be tempted to sin. In this it is implied that God has such control over the tempter as to save us from his power if we call upon him. The word "temptation," however (see the note at Matt 4:1), means sometimes "trial, affliction," anything that "tests" our virtue. If this be the meaning here, as it may be, then the import of the prayer is, "Do not afflict or try us." It is not wrong to pray that we may be saved from suffering if it be the will of God. See Luke 22:42.  ~from Barnes' Notes

Notice the scriptures referred to in this commentary:

Psalm 141:4

Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

James 1:13

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:

Luke 22:42

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

CONCLUSION:  The meaning of this verse is, “Do not suffer or permit us to be tempted to sin.”  The temptation comes from elsewhere and not God.  Notice the second half of the verse, “but deliver us from evil.”  God can and does do this.