Digging Deeper James 1:14-15

James is full of practical theology. I hope you are being blessed by our meditation through this book. Time in the Word of God is never wasted. You may walk away from your devotional time not feeling that you "got" anything from your reading, but it is never wasted. Press on Sister. For consistency let me back up one verse.
James 1:13-15 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. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

Commentary:
"The process of Temptation. James turns to the other side of trials, namely, when testing becomes temptation...1:13 God tests his people...so that their character is strengthened, but he never tempts (i.e. lures people into sin). Since God cannot be tempted with evil, and he is unreservedly good, he would never entice human beings to sin or seek to harm their faith. Tempted...is the verb form of the noun translated 'trial'...in James 1:12, but the context shows that different senses of the word are intended. God brings trials in order to strengthen the Christian's faith. He never tempts, however, because he never desires his people to sin. Christians should never blame God when they do wrong.

1:14 lured and enticed. A fishing metaphor for drawing prey away from shelter in order to trap them with a deadly hook. Here it is the person's evil desire that ensnares...Sin is never God's fault...1:15 the picture changes to a birth/rebirth metaphor, as full-grown desire bears its own child, sin, which itself grows into maturity and bears the grandchild, death. This dramatic depiction shows the terrible result when one gives into temptation." [ESV Study Bible pg. 2392]

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt is the Director of Addiction Recovery and Development at America's KESWICK. In addition to her Keswick responsibilities which keep her busy, she loves to read, write and teach, travel and laugh with her grandchildren. Diane has been married to her husband John over 26 years. She has 2 children, 3 grandchildren, 3 step-children, and 7 step-grandchildren.