Verse 14 [young's literal translation] and each one is tempted, by his own desires being led away and enticed. [kjv] But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Strong's #1828. ἐξέλκω ĕxĕlkō, ex-el´-ko; from 1537 and 1670; to drag forth, i.e. (fig.) to entice (to sin):—draw away.
The term led away or drawn away is a fisherman's term. You bait the hook, throw out the line and wait for the fish to bite. That is the term that James is using here. The fish sees the bait and he is going on his path but is drawn away [by the lust] cuz he is hungry and instead of being able to enjoy the worm he is snagged by the hook. He is deceived and caught. Isn't that true of sin? You're going along the path, enjoying the abundant life, everything is going great, you feel like your relationship with God is strong but then something or someone off the beaten path allures you...it's tempting so you go off the straight course and you catch that bait and you are hooked. In fact, James is saying that we are drawn away and enticed by our own lust.
Lust-
Strong's #1939. ἐπιθυμία ĕpithumia, ep-ee-thoo-mee´-ah; from 1937; a longing (espec. for what is forbidden):—concupiscence, desire, lust (after).
Most of the time in scripture it is used for evil things, evil desires. Sometimes it can be used for good but mainly for evil desires. Desire is not wrong, but it is what you do with that desire that can get you into big time trouble.
Notice James says, "your own lust". What tempts me doesn't necessarily tempt you. It's my own lust. Just like Hebrews talks about running the race and setting aside your besetting sin...your own lust. Your baited hook might be sexual sin, it's your own lust. Maybe your baited hook is lying...maybe you're tempted with lying...that is your own lust. Maybe it's inappropriate television...it's your own lust. Maybe it's gossip...it's your own lust. Maybe it's wasting time...that is your own lust. Maybe it's laziness or lack of submission to your husband [for women], again, that's your own lust. Some baited hooks are more alluring to us than others. The word entice here means to be entrapped or caught.
Strong's 1185. δελεάζω dĕlĕazō, del-eh-ad´-zo; from the base of 1388; to entrap, i.e. (fig.) delude:—allure, beguile, entice.
We're like that fish. We take the bait and we are surprised when we are caught. Why? You know what sin promises? Satisfaction, excitement, pleasure. It allures, it captures us and we are caught. How can I resist temptation? Paul wrote in I Cor. 10:13 [fyi I included in the link the context so read the other verses too as it is talking about lust/desiring evil things]- "No temptation hath taken you—except human; and God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what ye are able, but He will make, with the temptation, also the outlet, for your being able to bear it.
Young, R. (1997). Young’s Literal Translation (1 Co 10:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
The next verse [14] says..."Flee my beloved brethren....flee-flee"! There is a way of escape from temptation but the problem is we don't want to take it. We want to dabble in it just long enough, like that fish, to get the bait and then we are caught and many times the results are disastrous.
How can I resist temptation? Let's look at Genesis 39:7-12. There are 6 great principles from the example of Joseph. [side note - in Genesis 38, Judah (Joseph's brother) planned to commit sin with a prostitute but he didn't know that was his daughter in law. So here we have Judah planning to sin with a prostitute not knowing it was his daughter in law and then in the next chapter, you have Joseph fleeing the same sin with Potiphar's wife-the sin of adultery.]
OK I linked the verse above so read them and then here are 6 principles for resisting temptation:
1. Just say no. Joseph refused Potiphar's wife. Everyday she pressed him to have sex with her....EVERY SINGLE DAY! and he said no!
2. You MUST KNOW the WORD of GOD. Joseph did. How do we know that? Look at verse 9 [There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”] Joseph knew that adultery was a great sin...how'd he know that? He knew the OT law, "thou shalt not commit adultery." So if you are going to resist temptation you need to know what the Bible says especially if you want to obey God.
3. Set your heart on pleasing God in all things. Joseph did. He said, "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” He wanted to please God that's why he didn't go to bed with Potiphar's wife.
4. Never Give Up! If you are struggling with temptation and it is trying to eat you for lunch, never give up! Joseph didn't. How many times did he say no? Day after day after day, this woman pressed him to have sex with her yet he did not weaken his resolve.
5. Remove yourself from the place of temptation. Joseph did. It said he fled. He got out and ran!
6. Do not flirt with the potential of temptation. Look at verse 11. Joseph mistakenly allowed unnecessary temptation in his life when he entered Potiphar's house and there was no one in the house but him & her [Potiphar's wife].
If you are struggling with a certain area of sin, don't expose yourself to that temptation! For example, if you struggle with lust, make sure you have protection installed on your computer. If television is a struggle, turn it off. If you spend too much money, don't be shopping at the mall everyday [or even online!]. It creates more lust when you know it's things you shouldn't or can't have. If you're trying to lose weight [I'm not saying that is a sin], you might not want to go to an all you can eat restaurant...that is just putting temptation right there!
Joseph paid a price for resisting temptation...remember, he was thrown into prison? He was there for years! It is better if it is the will of God to suffer for doing what is right than to suffer for doing what is wrong. It is what Peter says in I Peter 3:17.
Ok so now you might be thinking, what's going to happen to me if I say yes to sin and take the baited hook? Notice what James says in verse 15 - something very sobering will happen to you.
"Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."
James switches to the metaphor of a pregnant female who gives birth to a child.
Those of us who have had children understand this. You conceive, & you're pregnant and your belly gets big-really big! and then what happens? You bring forth a child! Only, here in this verse there are 2 births that occur and it's not life. The first birth is sin and the second birth is death. The root idea of giving birth means it ceases to be pregnant which emphasizes the inevitability of the process running its course. The idea here is the embryo grows rapidly, it grows to maturity and when sin is full-grown the state of pregnancy ends, but the horror here in this passage is that it does not give birth to life. Sin does not give birth to life but sin gives birth to death. Sin produces a monstrous offspring which is death. Isn't that an interesting contrast between the death mentioned in verse 15 and the crown of life in verse 12?
If you are going through a trial and you endure and you perseveres, James says that you will be blessed with life! a crown of life! But if you surrender to sin in the trial you are facing, James says that you are cursed with death, you bring forth death. So now you say, what is sin? I need to know if I am sinning.
Sin is missing the mark or knowingly being disobedient to the will of God [better definition]. Sin usually just starts with a desire and emotion -"that looks pretty good" or "I want that" -"I think....you know, it won't be so bad if I tell that lie" and what we do is we start rationalizing it and then you know what happens next? You do it! "I will have that", "I will tell that lie", "I will have relations with that man/woman that I'm not married to" and then it follows the behavior and then the act of disobedience and so you sin...it is done and it has been committed.
As believers in Jesus we need to deal with sin the very moment it arises within us. The very moment you are tempted, have a thought in your mind - take captive of it. Do not let your thoughts and emotions govern your life. Paul says to the church in Corinth in II Cor. 10:3-6:
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Paul is saying we war in this body. It is the flesh against the spirit. Paul said the good that I want to do, I don't do. The evil that I hate I end up doing. What is wrong with me?? Paul says O wretched man that I am...I am a sinner and I know that. He says bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
Now you might be saying, how do I do that? You have a desire...say that a lie forms in your mind, you say to yourself You know you are not to lie. Paul says smash it! Put it to death, bring it captive. Guard your thought life. Don't let that sin conceive and bring forth death. What happens if you don't guard your heart and thoughts, if you take the bait? Notice what James says - when sin is full-grown it brings forth death. After desire has brought forth sin, and sin brings forth death and sin is born, it is born a murderer. Sin is a killer. Paul says in Romans 6:23, "The wages of sin is death..." In Proverbs 7 Solomon is warning his son- strong warning. He says, "son stay away from that strange woman ...stay away from the adulterous woman...do not go to her house-her house is the way to hell-Don't go there!" Yes, this is talking about adultery but ALL sin leads to hell. The wages of sin is death. Still in Proverbs 7 [if you read the whole chapter] you will see that the son immediately followed her like a ox to the slaughter...but he did not know it would cost his life.
Now adultery may not be your sin - your baited hook, it might be another sin but you're thinking to yourself, I can just dabble in this sin...God is never going to take me home, He is never going to let anything happen to me. Paul has another word for us as he did to the church in Corinth [11:28-30]. He says -
Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (1 Co 11:28–30). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
So what is Paul saying here? There were some at the church in Corinth who were coming to the Lord's Supper and they were in sin and they refused to repent of their sin. Paul said this is why some of you are sick and some have even died. There is a sin unto death. What a tragic way to end your life. God takes you and you stand before Him...He had to bring you home because you refused to repent of your sin. I don't know when God decides that...that is up to Him, I'm not God but we should all be fearful. Our God is a consuming fire. God will not allow you to continue in sin. The Bible says He will either take you home or He will discipline you. Paul says whom the Lord loves He chastens [just like we do with children when they are naughty] and scourgeth [to spank]. In Acts 5 Ananias & Sapphira were ones who sinned unto death. Do you remember what they did? They agreed together as a husband & wife to hold back some of the money from the land they sold. But when they stood in front of the apostles they told them here was ALL the money from the sale of the land. It was not the keeping back of the money, it was the fact that they lied. Do you know what happened next? Ananias went 1st...he was stuck dead right where he stood! Then Sapphira comes along and tells the same lie & she is struck dead! And they carry them both out! And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. I'd be afraid too! That was church discipline right there! There is a sin unto death! If you study I John he talks about it too.
If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life—to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is sin that leads to death;
If you are God's and you are playing with sin He will chasten you ... I guarantee it. I have been chastened & I can tell you it is NOT fun. When we reflect on this passage that sin brings forth death it should cause us to check every evil thought & desire at the beginning of our temptation. Not for one minute should we indulge in it for soon sin may master us and we might end up in the grave.
What are the 2 rewards for enduring trials?
A blessing & crown of life
What are the 2 reasons not to blame God?
Because He can't be tempted with evil, nor does He Himself tempt to do evil
What are the risks of entertaining temptation?
It conceives sin & gives birth to death
What is your baited hook? If you are in the grip of temptation, take the 1st step by admitting that you are to blame - no one else has made you sin. Then confess it before the Lord and repent. If you need to go to others & ask forgiveness...do that as well. Repent! Confess! Do What Is Right! Then appropriate the grace God has given you to be victorious over sin by the power of His Son Jesus Christ.
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