Is It Necessary For Temptations To Come?

Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! (Matthew 18:7)

It is necessary for temptations to come. What was Jesus thinking? Did Matthew misunderstood Jesus? This is one of those statements Jesus made that just make you scratch your head. What Jesus mean by this?

Before we being to think that God brings temptation, remember that "God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire" (James 1:13-14). So God is not the one bringing the temptation. Paul wrote, "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). Temptation comes to what is common to man and God is the one who will provide a means for us to escape temptation.

This was a tough verse to figure out. One thing about the Bible you have to remember is context. Jesus in the verse prior to this verse talked about humbling ourselves like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven. The verses following, talk about cutting off (using metaphorical terms) what causes you to sin. Yet Jesus is saying, Woe to those who suffers from temptation which is all of us. He also said it is necessary that temptations do come. Why? What was he trying to say?

I searched through every commentary I can think of trying to see if a man, smarter than me figured it out. There was none. I looked through four study Bible. None. So I had to think about why temptations are necessary. I know it does not mean God endorses the sin that is tempting us nor He is the one doing the tempting. So here are practical reasons why temptations are necessary:

First, when temptations come, our response should be from the word of God. Just like Jesus did when he was tempted forty days and nights, He used the word of God to combat temptation.

Second, when temptations come, we can look to Jesus. The book of Hebrews reminds us twice that Jesus was tempted as we are yet did not sin. Hebrews also tells us, "let us...lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1-2. We have hope in temptation because Jesus was tempted and can help us when being tempted and we can look to Him who endured temptation.

Third, when temptations come, it tests our conformity. Are you conforming to the world or to the likeness of Christ. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." The world will tell us to embrace temptation because it feels right and good. The Spirit will tell us not to because of the work He has done in us and it is not the will of God. When temptations come, we test it to see if it is from God or not. This is where scripture memorization comes into play because the Spirit will remind us of what Jesus has taught us through the pages of the Bible which leads us to conforming to the likeness of Christ.

Finally, when temptations come, it exposes our idols. John Calvin said, "The human heart is an idol factory." Our hearts have so many idols that we are not even aware of what they are. When temptations come, they are exposed. Like when you are in buffet, your idol could be food because you are tempted to get that third plate of eggrolls even though you have had two already. That leads to gluttony where your idol is food. Ever been tempted to lash out at other drivers during rush hour. Your idol is anger. Our temptations come from the idols of our hearts. Sometimes we are aware of what sins we struggle with and other times we are not. This is where we need to pray like the psalmist, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).

If you fall into temptation, remember Jesus can cleanse you from your sin: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 1:9-2:2).