James Expounds on Faith Volume 8

 Receiving Wisdom from God Part 5

James 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: KJV

The Apostle James makes it emphatically clear next that no human being anywhere or in any ⌚ time or era can ever declare their luring into sin of any kind or sort to ever be because God made them that way or led them into those sins, for as it is clearly written here by the Apostle James with these words, "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:" (James 1:13) (KJV). God is incapable of doing any kind of evil. But many naysayers will disagree because of all the times recorded in the Old Testament where God destroyed whole cities of people like Sodom and Gomorrah or the times that He commanded the Army of Israel to kill all the inhabitants of a city including women and children, well this is not God performing evil, but instead Him rendering His just Judgement to a continuously wicked and rebellious people, as it is written and declared in these two verses of Scripture, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them." (Romans 1:32) (KJV) and "But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things." (Romans 2:2) (KJV). Also, let us not forget these words from our Lord Jesus Christ, "Which of you convinceth (or convicts) me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?" (John 8:46) (KJV) and also these words, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me." (John 14:30) (KJV).

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of James 1:13, "We are here taught that God is not the author of any man's sin. Whoever they are who raise persecutions against men, and whatever injustice and sin they may be guilty of in proceeding against them, God is not to be charged with it. And, whatever sins good men may themselves be provoked to by their exercises and afflictions, God is not the cause of them. It seems to be here supposed that some professors might fall in the hour of temptation, that the rod resting upon them might carry some into ill courses, and make them put forth their hands unto iniquity. But though this should be the case, and though such delinquents should attempt to lay their fault on God, yet the blame of their misconduct must lie entirely upon themselves. For, 1. There is nothing in the nature of God that they can lay the blame upon: Let no man say, when he is tempted to take any evil course, or do any evil thing, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil. All moral evil is owing to some disorder in the being that is chargeable with it, to a want of wisdom, or of power, or of decorum and purity in the will. But who can impeach the holy God with the want of these, which are his very essence? No exigence of affairs can ever tempt him to dishonour or deny himself, and therefore he cannot be tempted with evil. 2. There is nothing in the providential dispensations of God that the blame of any man's sin can be laid upon (James 1:13): Neither tempteth He any man. As God cannot be tempted with evil Himself, so neither can He be a tempter of others. He cannot be a promoter of what is repugnant to His nature. The carnal mind is willing to charge its own sins on God. There is something hereditary in this. Our first father Adam tells God, The woman thou gavest me tempted me, thereby, in effect, throwing the blame upon God, for giving him the tempter. Let no man speak thus. It is very bad to sin; but is much worse, when we have done amiss, to charge it upon God, and say it was owing to Him. Those who lay the blame of their sins either upon their constitution or upon their condition in the world, or who pretend they are under a fatal necessity of sinning, wrong God, as if He were the author of sin. Afflictions, as sent by God, are designed to draw out our graces, but not our corruptions."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…