Bible Verses About Temptation

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide an escape, so that you can stand up under it.”

Paul assures believers that what they face is common to people, that God is faithful and that he provides a way out. You are never as alone in the struggle as it feels.

“When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

James says God does not tempt anyone; desire drags a person away, and left unchecked it grows toward death. He traces the path step by step so it can be interrupted early.

“Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field that the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” The woman answered the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not surely die,” the serpent told the woman. “For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.”

The first temptation begins with a question that plants doubt about God's word and goodness. Notice how the desire is stirred through what looks pleasant and wise.

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.”

John names three pulls of the world and reminds readers that they pass away while doing God's will lasts. The passage helps you see what a temptation is really promising.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry. The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’ ” Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.”

After fasting in the wilderness, Jesus meets three tests and answers each from Scripture. He shows that knowing God's word is a practical defense.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin.”

Jesus was tempted in every way yet did not sin, so he sympathizes with our weakness. The one who helps you has been where you are.

“For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people. Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.”

Because he suffered when tempted, Jesus is able to come to the aid of those being tempted. His experience is turned into help for us.

““Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.””

In Gethsemane Jesus tells his sleepy disciples to stay alert and pray so they do not fall into testing, because the flesh is weak. Prayer and watchfulness go together.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’”

The prayer Jesus taught asks God not to lead us into testing and to deliver us from the evil one. Asking for help before the fight is part of the plan.

“Flee from youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

Paul tells Timothy to run from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord sincerely. Fleeing is paired with running toward something.

“and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” But he refused. “Look,” he said to his master’s wife, “with me here, my master does not concern himself with anything in his house, and he has entrusted everything he owns to my care. No one in this house is greater than I am. He has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such a great evil and sin against God?” Although Potiphar’s wife spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be near her. One day, however, Joseph went into the house to attend to his work, and not a single household servant was inside. She grabbed Joseph by his cloak and said, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside.”

Joseph is pressed day after day and finally leaves the room rather than argue. Sometimes the wisest response is simply to get out of the situation.

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; do not let me stray from Your commandments. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

The psalmist asks how a young person can keep a pure path and answers with living by God's word and storing it in the heart. What is stored in advance is available in the moment.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us. A fall is not the end of the story.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.”

James encourages believers to confess to one another and pray for each other so they may be healed. Honesty with a trusted friend often breaks the secrecy temptation depends on.