James 1:14

Every man is tempted. If God is not the source of temptation the inevitable natural question arises, “Who, or what, is the source?” The apostle emphasizes that the source of sin is not outside a man, but within him.

When he is drawn away. Or, “when he is being lured.” A man’s own “lust” draws him away, or entices him.

“Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,

As to be hated needs but to be seen;

Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,

We first endure, then pity, then embrace.”

— Alexander Pope, Essay on Man, Epistle II, line 217

Lust. Gr. epithumia, “desire,” “craving,” “longing” (see on Mark 4:19). The source of all temptation is man’s own “craving” for that which is evil. Each person has his own particular cravings, which arise from his own temperament and experiences. However, the fact that there is this evil lust within does not deny the existence and activity of an external tempter who seeks to take advantage of our weak tendencies (cf. John 14:30; see on Matt. 4:1-3). Satan and his evil hosts are the real agents of temptation (see Eph. 6:12; 1 Thess. 3:5). While they may tempt man to sin, their temptations would have no force were there not in man a desire to respond to the inducement. “No man can be forced to transgress. His own consent must be first gained; the soul must purpose the sinful act, before passion can dominate over reason, or iniquity triumph over conscience” (MYP 67). The nature of temptation, thus defined, removes any thought that God decrees man’s temptations or that Satan is actually responsible for man’s moral lapses. Man falls before temptation because of a desire to satisfy a particular craving that is contrary to the will of God.

Enticed. Gr. deleazo, “to entice by bait,” “to lure.” As a fish is enticed to its doom by the bait that is on the hook, so men are enticed to fall into sin by the bait of the deceitfulness and flattery of sin. The force and power of sin could not prevail were it not for sin’s cunning and guile. This fact is evident as one reviews the sad history of sinning men and women, beginning with Eve and Adam and extending to our own time (see on Gen. 3:1-6).