Temptation of Jesus
by R.L. Whiteside
Annual Lesson Commentary, 1939, Gospel Advocate Co., page 246.
Temptation is the act of tempting or of being tempted. In studying this lesson, it is well, therefore, to consider some of the meanings and uses of the word tempt. To tempt a person does not always mean to stir up in him an inclination or a desire to do a thing, nor even that an effort is made to do so. Some of the older meanings of tempt were to prove, test, or try. Webster also gives these definitions: To endeavor to persuade; incite. To lead, or endeavor to lead, into evil. To provoke, as anger, or a person to anger; to act presumptuously toward; as, to tempt God.
In various ways, God tested or proved His people to see whether they were truly obedient to Him. The devil always tempts people in the sense that he seeks to lead them to do evil. In that sense, God tempts no one. When the devil presents inducements to get a person to do wrong, the person is said to be tempted, even though the devil’s offer may not have affected the person at all. No one ever tempts Jehovah in the sense that he seeks to induce Him to do evil; but the Israelites frequently tempted Him in the sense that they were presumptuous toward Him, and also in that they demanded unreasonable signs of His presence with them. They thus tempted Him to anger.
We frequently speak of being tempted to do something, whether good or bad, when we are inclined to do it, and so we get the idea that a person is not tempted unless they feel an inclination to do something. In what sense was Jesus tempted? His temptation is sometimes compared with the temptation of Eve in the garden. In her temptation, there was an appeal to the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. In this respect, the temptation of the Savior was much like hers, but here the likeness stops. She lent a willing ear to what the devil said; Jesus met every attempt of the devil with an indignant rebuff. And there is no proof that he at any time had the least inclination to do the thing the devil suggested. Can anyone believe that the devil stirred up any evil desires in the Savior’s heart? Is it not a desire to do an evil thing wrong in itself? (See Matthew 5:27). Can anyone believe that evil thoughts or desires contaminated Jesus?
He was indeed tempted in all points, just as we are, but that does not necessarily mean that He felt as we do when tempted, nor that He had the same impulse to do wrong that we sometimes feel. Offer a bottle of whiskey to a toper and to one who never drinks; the same temptation is presented to both, but certainly it does not affect them the same. Here is one comforting thing about our temptations; "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempt ed above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it" (I Corinthians 10:13). If we do not take advantage of the way of escape, the fault is ours.
