Tempt or Test?

Some of the men at my church have been discussing something from the Bible: Does God tempt people to sin?

It is pretty easy to just push that question aside, and say; "Well, the book of James says no, so the answer is obviously no." The pat answer is: God tests people to show them their weaknesses.

Actually, it is a pretty deep question when you think about it! Here are a couple of facts:

1) Men are tempted to do evil

2) God at least allows them to be tempted

3) God knows beforehand what they will do with the temptation, fall or prevail.


Let's run these facts by the Bible:

Men are tempted to do evil:

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Jas 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
Jas 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Jas 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

That seems pretty unequivocal! So it is settled then, God does not tempt people to do wrong..... But, there is that OTHER pesky verse...


Gen 22:1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
Gen 22:2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

So, God DOES tempt men! So do we say that the Bible is contradicting itself? In the words of the Apostle Paul, God forbid! Let God be true and every man a liar. His Word is completely true and without contradiction, so we need to delve a little deeper.

God at least allows men to be tempted:

Both the Greek word "peraizo" and the Hebrew word "nasah" (the words used in the Bible for "tempt") are used interchangeably for both tempt and test. So God either tempted or tested Abraham, and according to James, He either does not tempt or does not test men. To say that He does not test goes completely against Biblical example. I.E., He set before Israel the choice between life and death, blessing and cursing (Deut. 30:19). Also, James said that He does not tempt men to evil.

So, God does test men, and He does not try to draw men into evil; leaving the question: Who does the tempting if men are tempted, and God is totally sovereign? A good answer lies in Matthew 4:3,

Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mat 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.
Mat 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

One of Satan's titles and chief pursuits in the Bible is as the tempter. He is also compared to a voracious lion, who seeks only the destruction of people foolish enough to believe his lies. So why then does God allow Satan to tempt His people to do evil?

God knows beforehand how men will react to temptation:

Let's take the example of the first temptation to man: Adam and Eve are in the garden, and they are tempted to do evil by the Tempter. Some people look at this account and reason that God DOES tempt men, because He created not only the choice to be able to sin, but even the very agent of temptation, Satan. Also, He knew that Adam and Eve WOULD fall! Back to James; that cannot be, and the Bible remain true.

So why then did God create set this stage for man to fall into sin (testing), and how is that different from tempting?

The answer to that question is closely related to the question of why He created man in the first place. I would be a total fool to even try to answer that question based on my own opinions or rationale. His thoughts are higher than mine, and His ways higher than my ways. The only answer I could have to that question in what I find in His Word that He said about it. These verses came to mind:

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The short answer is, God wants to bring glory to Himself. What this passage says to me is that the greatest way for God to be glorified is through our willing conscious decision to love Him and walk in His way, and be a part of His family. Logically, we cannot choose Him if there is no choice to choose something else. So, He sets before us blessing and cursing. If a Calvinist reads this, he will probably be gnashing his teeth at this point, but I believe that one the greatest gifts given to us is that of free will! Salvation is all of God, but He does not force it upon anyone.

This is testing: God sets before us His perfect way with all of its blessings and benefits, and then allows Satan to offer his sullied wares. Does God tempt? Don't ask me! Read what He said and see what you think! I would love some feedback..... (even if you are a dyed-in-the-wool Calvinist, but be warned, I will just roll my eyes at you and say, "Bless his little heart.")