What To Do When Tempted

Being tempted is when the devil tries to get us to do something wrong or to sin. Jesus was tempted by the devil in Matthew chapter 4, but he never ever sinned. But since Jesus knows what it is like to be tempted, he can help us when we are tempted.  

Matthew 4:1: Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 

2: And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3: And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4: But 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.

So the devil was tempting Jesus when he was very hungry, to put physical food ahead of spiritual food, which is the word of God, but Jesus quoted scripture to the devil and told him it was written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.  He was teaching us that we should always put the word of God first in our life.

Later on in the chapter is where the devil is tempting Jesus with all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, like great wealth, huge rich buildings, material riches, and fame and power on the earth, but Jesus said we must only worship God and him alone.

Matthew 4: 8: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them: 

9: And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 

10: Then 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.

This shows us that we must always put God first and live only for him, even though we are tempted to want the things of the world.  It is much better to be poor on earth and rich in heaven, where we will be forever.  Jesus even says in John 14:2: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare f place for you.  There are also steeets of gold in Heaven.  Revelation 21:21: And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.  So if you see people with earthly riches and great houses, and you are tempted to wish you had that, just remember what a great mansion you are going to live in forever in Heaven someday and it will be far more greater and wonderful than anything on earth.  Also, in Mark 8:26, the bible says: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Jesus has compassion on us when we are tempted.  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.  In other words, Jesus can sympathize with us when he are tempted because he was tempted also, but yet without sin.

Hebrews 2:18: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.  Succour means to help us and aid us, and carry us through.

I 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.

So there is a way to overcome temptation, and that is to pray and ask God to deliver us from temptation, even as it says in the Lord's prayer in 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

Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.  (Remember the spirit is our new nature, the one that wants to do right, but the flesh is our old nature that is sinful.)

Also, when we pray and get delivered from temptation, the bible says we will receive a reward in heaven called the crown of life .

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.

II Peter 2:0: The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations.....

So, remember, whenever you are tempted, just call upon the name of the Lord to deliver you.

Hebrews 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.