Temptation

Temptation is enticement to sin. This page lists verses on the first temptation, where temptation comes from, Jesus being tempted, enduring and resisting temptation, and watching and praying.

In the garden

• Genesis 3:1-6
  ¹Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ²And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: ³But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. ⁴And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ⁵For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. ⁶And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
  Show context · Read Genesis 3 →

Where temptation comes from

• James 1:13-15
  ¹³Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: ¹⁴But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. ¹⁵Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
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• 1 John 2:16
  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
  Show context · Read 1 John 2 →
• Galatians 5:17
  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
  Show context · Read Galatians 5 →

Jesus tempted

• Matthew 4:1-4
  ¹Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. ²And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. ³And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. ⁴But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
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• Matthew 4:8-10
  ⁸Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; ⁹And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. ¹⁰Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
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• Hebrews 4:15
  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 4 →

Enduring temptation

• 1 Corinthians 10:13
  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
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• Hebrews 2:18
  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
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• James 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.
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• 2 Peter 2:9
  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
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Resisting temptation

• James 4:7
  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
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• Ephesians 6:11
  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 6 →
• 1 Peter 5:8-9
  ⁸Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: ⁹Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
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• 2 Timothy 2:22
  Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
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Watch and pray

• Matthew 6:13
  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
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• Matthew 26:41
  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
  Show context · Read Matthew 26 →
• Luke 22:40
  And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
  Show context · Read Luke 22 →

See also

• Sin
• Lust
• Satan
• Spiritual warfare

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.