TEMPTATION COMMON TO MAN

Temptation comes to all men – all categories of men and women, providing such people have reached the age of discerning between good and evil (the age of accountability), and are sane  (1Cor. 10:13).

The devil does not respect persons. This accounts for why Jesus Christ Himself (when He was a human) was tempted (Matt. 4:1-11).  Hence, the mighty and the weak, the rich and the poor, the enlightened and the illiterate, the wholesome (physically) and the unwholesome (physically), etc., are all tempted.

 

Temptation is simply a suggestion that one should do or say a thing that is against the will of God, or something evil in the sight of God (e.g. Matt. 4:1-11; Gen. 3:1-5; 1Chron. 21:1-3). Temptation is not sin in itself, but could lead to yielding which is sin. Usually, temptation, either directly from the devil or resulting from the fallen nature of man comes through situations (e.g. Matt. 4:1-11; Gen. 3:1-5; 1Chron. 21:1-3; Jas. 1:13-14; 1Cor. 7:3-5, implied in 1Thess. 5:22).  This means that everyone of us must watch and pray against temptation (Matt. 26:40-41).

 

Apart from the above, we are also informed that God will not allow temptations that are above what we are able to bear or resist to come to us (1Cor. 10:13). But this is only so if we obey the injunction of fleeing every appearance of evil, praying and watching against temptations (cp. 1Thess. 5:22; Matt. 26:40-41; 6:9-13). What happened to Peter happened because he trusted in his zeal, disbelieved the Lord and did not watch and pray against temptation (Matt. 26:31-35,40-41,69-74).

 

It follows then that if we abide in the Lord, do what He has commanded in this regard, He will ensure that temptation above what we are able to bear do not come to us. It also means that whenever we are tempted, we should know that we have the capability of overcoming the temptation otherwise God would not allow it.

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