Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary James 1:13

"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:" — James 1:13 (ASV)

The word “temptation” here is the same as “trials” in v.2 (see comment on v.2); here, however, it obviously means temptation (see the words “evil” in v.13; “evil desire” in v.14; “sin” in v.15). Temptation does not come from God because God himself cannot be successfully tempted by evil. His omnipotent, holy will fully resists any invitation to sin. Furthermore, in him there is not the slightest moral depravity to which temptation may appeal. Therefore, it is inconsistent to think that God could be the author of temptation.

Instead, the source of temptation lies within a person. One is tempted “by his own evil desire.” James personifies a person’s sinful desire and identifies it, rather than some external person or object, as the efficient cause of temptation. By one’s own sinful nature a person is “dragged away and enticed.” James pictures a person’s “evil desire,” first, as attracting his attention and persuading him to approach the forbidden thing and, second, as luring him by means of bait to yield to the temptation.