When considering the Word “tempted” in relation to Christ’s experience after Him fasting 40 days in the wilderness, the two Greek words translated into the English “tempt/ed” give a clearer view of James 1:13-14 and Luke 4:2

James 1:13-14
Let no man say when he is tempted (peirazō), I am tempted (peirazō) of God: for God cannot be tempted (apeirastos) with evil, neither does he tempt (peirazō) any man. 
But every man is tempted (peirazō), when he is drawn away of his own lust (epithumia G1939 :desire, craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, lust), and enticed (deleazō G1185: to bait, catch by a bait).

In this passage, the 1st, 2nd, 4th & 5th use of the word “tempted” are in relation to people (Not God) and are translated from the Greek word peirazō G3985 which is described by
J. H. Thayer (American biblical scholar, 1828—1901), as:

  1. to try whether a thing can be done
    1. to attempt, endeavour
  2. to try, make trial of, test: for the purpose of ascertaining his quantity, or what he thinks, or how he will behave himself
    1. in a good sense
    2. in a bad sense, to test one maliciously, craftily to put to the proof his feelings or judgments
    3. to try or test one’s faith, virtue, character, by enticement to sin
      1. to solicit to sin, to tempt
        1. of the temptations of the devil

The third use of the word “tempted (apeirastos G551)” is used in relation to God, and is not able to be applied to mortal man. Thayer describes it as:

  • that can not be tempted by evil, not liable to temptation to sin.

The presence of desire for an object or action in the person being tempted, doesn’t guarantee the success of the tempter. How hard it can be to resist temptation, but how peaceful is the mind that perseveres in self-control. I expect that Christ’s body of flesh, would have desired to eat, especially after having not eaten for 40 days, but the natural desires of Christ’s body of flesh, were not going to be the dictator of His actions, He was the supreme example of fulfilling the instruction of God in 1 Corinthians 9:27 “… I discipline my body and make it my slave,…”

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.“

2 Peter 1:5-8

God can’t be tempted* with evil. (*apeirastos pronounced ap-i’-ras-tos). There is absolutely no desire, craving, longing, lust or shadow of sin in God. Our human thoughts and words can be regularly influenced by our sinful nature so we need God’s Word to divide what is corrupt from what is holy; but Christ never had this problem, Christ isn’t like us who suffer as described in the following verses:

“I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.”.

Romans 7:21-23

Luke 4:1-2 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days He was tempted (peirazō G3985) of the devil. And in those days he ate nothing: and when they were ended, afterwards he hungered.

To consider a little of this occasion of Christ being tempted: I have no doubt that Christ could have continued to fast indefinitely in God’s power if that had been the Fathers will, this would have been a “small” miracle compared to raising a man from the dead or creating the universe; But the response Christ gave to the temptation provided instruction for us as He acknowledged in word and action the will of the Father, while proving the practical reality of the promise of applying that instruction; We’re to prioritise His will above ours and trust Him who sustains us as we do it, we should trust, rely-on and obey God’s Word as priority above the physical comforts and needs of our lives:

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things will be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

To consider a little further the gracious provisions of God; When the Israelites were in the wilderness all their needs were provided, but they weren’t content with just having all their needs met, they desired to have all their needs plus all their wants granted!

Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments. 3 He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you or your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 So know in your heart that just as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you. 6 Therefore you shall keep the commandments of the LORD your God, walking in His ways and fearing Him. “

4 The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6 But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!”

Deuteronomy 8:2-6 & Numbers 11:4-6

Christ in His perfection still experienced adversity, and challenges to His comfort while being full of Holy Spirit, so righteousness is clearly no guard against such things attempting to disturb peace in us either; You may be experiencing troubles in relationships (family, church, neighbour or work), troubles with health, business or finance, but these troubles aren’t muddy dark turbulent thundering streams that have randomly or inappropriately interrupted an idealistic cruise on calm mirror like clear waters. Those adverse waters are actually allowed by God and serve His providential means of answering our prayers to make us less of our old selves and more of Christ’s beauty, faith, humility, obedience and light, and it’s in these adversities we get to experience and appreciate greater depth of His peace that passes all understanding.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

God’s transforming work in His children changes us from poor to pure:

...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

What would we know of the value of this peace if there were no measure of disturbance? What would we know of the beauty of humility if there were no ugliness of pride? I expect many of us would live similarly to the Israelites in becoming self absorbed or self sufficient, thinking as many do that “we don’t need God at all”, and would prefer to make gods of our own design for the satisfaction of our own conscience.

But it’s amazing to consider the blessing of having eyes of faith compared to the blindness which accompanies practising sin and evil. Unless God opens eyes to see Him and appreciate His works as His, all are limited to base “intelligence” which is of no eternal value to the blind, regardless of the number of endorsements granted by any earthly educational institution; In the case of the devil who had witnessed heavenly expressions of God’s glorious kingdom, he still had no reverence for God and the same disrespect he expressed has also been recorded as coming from men who said in various ways as he did, “If you’re the Son of God,…”, such as the high priest when he and the Jewish council tried Christ before His crucifixion Matthew 26:63, those who heaped abuse on Christ as they passed by Him while He was hanging on the cross Matthew 27:39-40, the chief priest, scribes and elders similarly as He hung on the cross Matthew 27:41-43 and by the criminals hanging next to Him Matthew 27:44. But by God’s grace He has opened the eyes and ears of those who He has redeemed through Christ Jesus, and it’s through wisdom and strength He helps His children to make straight paths for our feet, as we are we guided by Holy Spirit:

… thanks be to God that though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 6:17-18

So as slaves to righteousness, we can reject temptation and walk on a pathway of peace & contentment shining as lights on a hill in fellowship with God:

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; 
he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. 
But when you are tempted, 
he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation.
For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

But he that shall endure unto the end,
the same shall be saved.

Matthew 24:13

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