Temptation — John Murray

The Blessedness of Enduring Temptation

The general epistle of James, the first chapter, beginning at the twelfth verse, Blessed is the man that endures temptation, that when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

And so on to the end of the fifteenth verse. You will notice that in this text the word tempt, or temptation, is used on seven occasions. Blessed is the man that endures temptation. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God.

For God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempted he any man. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. And so it is quite apparent that the leading theme of this passage is that of temptation.

Testing, Inducement, and the Meaning of Temptation

The word tempt is used in the scripture in at least three distinct senses. It is used in the sense of trying or proving. You remember that we read in Genesis that God did tempt, that is, he proved, he tried.

And of course that is a perfectly legitimate of the word tempt. It has a perfectly legitimate meaning because God himself does it. And the purpose that God has in view in testing or trying or proving a person is confirmation in righteousness and life.

Resisting Temptation Through Job's Example

But it is also used in two other distinct senses. And these two senses appear in this particular text. And one of these is the sense of inducement in which it is structured in that again it was the great archangels that the great archangels must love their right house of life.

Finally, that is beyond the issue. Blessed is the way to be seen. That is good pedagogy to us, not at all. Blessed is the man who is to be remembered. If you are any of you aware of the book of Job, I would advise you to read the 23rd chapter very carefully.

The 23rd chapter of the book of Job, which I think, which I think it points at the resistance which Job offered temptation. Job was an upright man. And he, it is said of him that he really endured the temptation.

He inherited the patience of Job. That is the endurance of Job. And we have seen the end of the Lord. But the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy and repented him of the evil. Job did endure, notwithstanding all his complaints.

Notwithstanding all the wise things that he put his head out of his mouth. I read from the earlier verse, held his steps, his way out of his lips. I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

That said, my little secret. I will read the conclusion. We all know the familiar. He and his friends.