James 1:13 states “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.” This verse gives us key insight into the nature and character of God. Specifically, it teaches that God cannot be tempted by evil. Understanding what this means will help us grasp the holiness, righteousness, and sovereignty of God.
God is Holy and Righteous
God is completely holy and righteous. There is no sin or darkness in Him at all (1 John 1:5). He is light and purity to the absolute maximum. As such, it is against His very nature to be enticed or lured by evil. Temptation arises when there is some vulnerability or proclivity toward sin. But God has no vulnerabilties and no proclivity toward evil at all. He is perfect in every way. Temptation requires some inner alignment or resonance with the thing that tempts, but God is completely alien to sin and evil. There are no hooks in God for evil to connect with.
Sin originated in created beings who abused their free will to rebel against God’s good purposes (Ezekiel 28:15; Genesis 3; Romans 5:12). But God did not create evil, He created free will. Evil arises when free agents choose to disobey God’s good laws. But God Himself, by nature, only does what is good, right, loving, and perfect (Psalm 145:17; 1 John 4:8).
So the holiness and righteousness of God means He cannot be tempted or enticed by evil in any way. There is nothing alluring or tantalizing to Him about sin. It is abhorrent and foreign to His perfectly holy nature.
God is Sovereign Over Evil
Not only is God not tempted by evil, but as sovereign over all things, He is also able to use evil plans and purposes for His greater good (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). For example, Joseph’s brothers sinned greatly in selling Joseph into slavery out of jealousy. But later Joseph is able to say to them, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). God was not tempted by their jealousy and betrayal, yet He was still able to incorporate it into His sovereign plan to place Joseph in a position to save many lives.
This pattern is seen over and over in Scripture. Wicked people crucified Jesus Christ unjustly, but God used it ultimately for the greatest good – the salvation of sinners (Acts 2:23). No evil can thwart God’s good plans. He often lets evil run its course for a time while still ensuring it fits into His sovereign purposes. He can do this because He created and defines the boundaries and limits of evil. It can never overstep the leash He has put on it.
So not only is God not tempted by evil, He is also greater than evil. He remains firmly in control over it and coordinates all things in accordance with His perfect will (Ephesians 1:11). Evil does not entice or derail God in any way.
Practical Implications
Recognizing that God cannot be tempted by evil should shape our thinking in several ways:
- We should never blame God for our temptations or claim He is tempting us to sin. The temptation arises from our own sinful desires, not God (James 1:14).
- We should find great comfort that God understands what we go through in being tempted and is ready to provide a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). He sympathizes with our weakness, even though He does not experience temptation directly (Hebrews 4:15).
- Knowing God is undefiled by evil should lead us to worship His moral purity and take steps to be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16).
- God’s sovereignty over evil means we do not have to despair. He can redeem any circumstance for His glory and our good if we trust Him.
- God’s imperviousness to evil means He provides a model of resolute standing against sin. We can resist temptation by God’s grace and the power of His Spirit (Titus 2:11-12).
In summary, the truth that God cannot be tempted provides powerful insight into His holy character. And it offers much comfort that He oversees all things for His glory and our blessing. As we grow in understanding who God is, we can resist sin more effectively and trust Him more completely amid life’s trials.
Addressing Potential Misunderstandings
Some may raise objections to the claim God cannot be tempted. For example:
Doesn’t the Bible Say Jesus Was Tempted?
It is true the Gospels record times when Jesus was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13). However, these temptations were aimed at Jesus’ human nature, not His divine nature. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man in one person (John 1:1, 14). In His humanity, He was able to be tempted just as human beings are tempted. But in His deity, He remained perfectly holy and unable to sin (Hebrews 4:15). The temptations did not originate from within Jesus’ divine nature.
If God Cannot Be Tempted, How Could Adam and Eve Sin in the Garden of Eden?
God gave Adam and Eve the ability to choose obedience or disobedience. They were not created sinful but had the capacity to obey or disobey. Their temptation to sin came from their own desires and from the serpent, not from God (Genesis 3:1-7; James 1:14). God was not doing the tempting but rather giving them the choice whether to trust and obey Him. Sadly they chose to turn from Him, but this was not because God secretly lured them to evil.
Doesn’t God Tempt People in Order to Test Them?
There are verses that speak of God testing people (Genesis 22:1; Deuteronomy 8:2). However, there is a difference between testing and tempting. God tests people to refine their faith and prove their obedience. But He never entices people to do evil. The temptation or enticement to sin comes from our own fallen nature.
For example, God tested Abraham by calling him to sacrifice Isaac. But God never enticed Abraham to distrust Him or sinfully abandon his son. The test revealed Abraham’s faith while no temptation to evil came from God.
What Does God’s Impeccability Mean?
The fact that God cannot be tempted is closely related to His impeccability. This means God is incapable of sinning. Just as it is against God’s nature to be tempted or enticed by evil, so also it is against His nature to commit any sinful act.
Impeccability flows from God’s moral perfection and holiness. There is no thought, word, or deed God could undertake that would be contrary to His righteous character. Sin originated in created beings, not in the Creator. God’s nature is the standard of moral perfection.
Furthermore, if God could sin, it would mean He is not ultimately in control over all things. The possibility of created beings coercing or manipulating God to do evil would exist. But Scripture affirms God’s sovereignty is absolute and not contingent on creatures (Psalm 115:3).
God’s impeccability should give us great confidence that His promises and purposes are trustworthy. God will not waver from His plans or fail to keep His commitments. His holy nature prevents Him from any unfaithfulness to His covenant obligations.
God Can Sympathize with Our Weaknesses
While God does not experience temptation directly, Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus was tempted in every way as we are, yet was without sin. Through Jesus’ humanity, God understands the struggle of temptation from the inside and has deep compassion on our weaknesses.
Jesus walked the same earth we do. He got hungry, tired, and faced opposition from sinners. So even though God does not succumb to temptation, He sympathizes profoundly with the struggle. We can be honest in prayer to God about our temptation without fear of shocking Him. He cares deeply and promises the strength to endure.
We Should Strive to Imitate God’s Purity
Because God is morally perfect in all His being and cannot be tempted or enticed by evil, this should motivate us toward greater holiness. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, “As he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'” God sets the standard of moral perfection we are to strive for.
With God’s help, we can resist temptation and pursue righteousness in our thoughts, words, and actions. Our holiness will always be imperfect in this life, but knowing God is perfectly holy should keep us walking in reverent fear before Him as we seek to please Him more and more.
God’s Sovereignty Overrules Evil Plans
Not only is God untouched by evil desires, but He is also sovereign over evil plans and works. As Joseph said to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
God stands above Satan, wicked people, and corrupt systems, coordinating their rebellious actions into His perfect plan for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28). God even uses evil to discipline those He loves (Hebrews 12:5-11). His sovereignty is complete and ensures nothing can thwart His purposes.
We Should Not Blame God for Temptation
James 1:13 instructs us not to blame God when we are tempted. The temptation does not arise from God’s enticement but from our own sinful desires. It is wrong and irrational to suggest God secretly tempts people or that He has some moral flaw. Temptation is evidence of our fallenness, not God’s.
We should acknowledge that temptation springs from the deceitfulness of indwelling sin (Hebrews 3:13; Romans 7:20). This humbles us and causes us to cry out to God for the way of escape He always provides through Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ Was the Perfect Example of Resisting Temptation
In His humanity, Jesus serves as the perfect model of obedience under temptation. When tempted in the wilderness by Satan, Jesus responded to each trial by quoting Scripture and choosing to obey God rather than give in to sin (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus relentlessly resisted temptation and walked in perfect obedience to the Father by the power of the Spirit (John 8:29).
As we yield our lives to Christ, the Holy Spirit strengthens us to follow Jesus’ example. We have hope of resisting sin because Christ blazed the trail of obedience before us. His flawless victory over temptation inspires us to walk in newness of life.
Conclusion
James 1:13 gives invaluable insight into God’s moral perfection. He cannot be tempted or enticed by evil. Understanding this truth provides assurance of God’s righteousness, faithfulness, and sovereignty. It humbles us to realize God has no weaknesses while inspiring us to grow in holiness. God’s imperviousness to evil motivates our worship, informs our prayers, and reminds us to never blame God for temptation. Fixing our eyes on His moral purity will empower our obedience in the face of temptation’s deceptive allure.