every man = each one. when, &c . = being drawn away. Greek. exelkomai. Only here. of . App-104 . lust . See John 8:44 , and compare Romans 7:7 . enticed . Greek. deleazo. Only here and 2 Peter 2:14 , 2 Peter 2:18 . read more
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.Blessed is the man that endureth temptation ... We noted under James 1:2, that "temptation" has a double meaning, that of external trials, and inward tendency to evil; but Lenski did not accept such a distinction. He said, "Both linguistically, and in thought, James 1:12 is to be associated with James 1:2-4."[29] If, as Lenski thought,... read more
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempteth no man:The purpose of this verse is to take away from men any excuse for their yielding to sin. There is not any need for the commentators to dig up references in the Talmud, or in Wisdom, or in Sirach, or in mythology for something which might have led to James' inclusion of this admonition. The book of Genesis records the fact of Adam's blaming Eve for his sin, with the implied... read more
... but each man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.The seat of all wrong-doing lies in human selfishness. As long as men seek only what pleases them, what they desire, what they crave, what gratifies them, that lust, which seeks the fulfillment of such desires, motivates all the sin on earth. Herein lies the basic conflict involved in spiritual living. Man's ego must be suppressed, denied, and brought under subjection to the will of God. In instances where this is... read more
James 1:12. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation— Happy is the man who persevereth under temptation, or trial; for, being approved, he shall receive, &c. read more
James 1:13. St. James had said so much about the benefit of temptations, or trials, that he thought it necessary to guard his readers against so dangerous a mistake, as that of making God the author of sin, or ascribing temptations to him, as they signify "a seducing men to what is evil:" In that sense they proceed not from God, but from the lusts of men, which, if complied with, end in death, instead of bringing men to a crown of life. Though, therefore, trials may be ascribed to God, yet... read more
James 1:14. When he is drawn away of his own lust, &c.— "Drawn out of the water, and taken with the bait;" εξελκομενος και δελεαζομενος : in both these words there is an allusion to the catching a fish with a bait; and lusts, or sensual pleasures, are here represented as the bait with which wicked men are caught. Grotius observes, that the best Greek authors have used this phrase, "To be ensnared by the belly, and by fair words." Plato said, "That pleasure is the bait of evil;" to which... read more
12. Blessed—Compare the beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:4; Matthew 5:10; Matthew 5:11). endureth temptation—not the "falling into divers temptations" (Matthew 5:11- :) is the matter for "joy," but the enduring of temptation "unto the end." Compare Matthew 5:11- :. when he is tried—literally, "when he has become tested" or "approved," when he has passed through the "trying" (Matthew 5:11- :), his "faith" having finally gained the victory. the crown—not in allusion to the crown... read more
13. when . . . tempted—tried by solicitation to evil. Heretofore the "temptation" meant was that of probation by afflictions. Let no one fancy that God lays upon him an inevitable necessity of sinning. God does not send trials on you in order to make you worse, but to make you better (James 1:16; James 1:17). Therefore do not sink under the pressure of evils (James 1:17- :). of God—by agency proceeding from God. The Greek is not "tempted by," but, "from," implying indirect agency. cannot be... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - James 1:13
no man = no one. Greek. medeis. of = from. App-104 . cannot be, &c . = is incapable of being tempted. Greek. apeirastos. Only here. evil . App-128 . neither tempteth he any man = and He Himself tempteth no one (Greek. oudeis) . read more