The word “temptation” in our English Bibles is somewhat misleading. A better rendering would be “testing.” The Old Testament word temptation is used only once, in Psalms 95:8. It is from the root Hebrew term ‘nacah.’ The literal meaning of this word is somewhat strange at first glance, for it means to ‘prove”, ‘to put to the proof,’ or in common use ‘to examine by smell.’
There are many things that are examined and identified by smelling. There are areas of scientific research where the olfactory nerves assist in determining the ingredients of compounds. We all know what it is to sniff the air, testing to see what we shall have for supper. Sensitive woodsmen know from the odors which are wafted by the wind that certain animals are near, and even the insensitive and inexperienced can sniff the presence of a skunk.
These ideas of examining by smell to prove who or what created the odor also carry over into our English figures of speech. There are times when antagonistic individuals get on the trail of a political enemy, like a pack of bloodhounds sniffing the scent. Their procedure intentionally works at the business of smelling out the secrets in the life of that person whom they consider to be faulty. If, when the ordeal is over, the man under examination weathers the storm successfully, they say that “he came out smelling like a rose!” In other words, no real stench was uncovered in his life. Instead, his honor was exposed.
So, the process of temptation is involved with “testing” or “putting to the proof.” This corresponds with what we know about the testing of Jesus in the wilderness or the dealings that are necessary by God to make a mature son. We test wood, steel, and stone in order to find out what they are capable of supporting. We test our ability to read, to run, and to think clearly, and no one should call that process wrong in itself. We know that we can find out some things about ourselves in our trying moments. Moments that test us can be especially strengthening when things coming from others are not always complimentary.
Every quality of our inner character is examined for perfection, tested right here in this life in some manner if God is making a son or daughter of us. Within this testing is a good sense of discernment to detect the bad smell of rotten flesh as well as the scent of sweetness. For example, God is said to have tempted, that is, “proved” Abraham in the matter of offering up Isaac. Jesus is said to have tempted, that is, “proved” Philip in the miraculous feeding of the five thousand:
“Jesus therefore lifting up His eyes, and seeing that a great multitude comes unto Him, saith unto Philip, ‘Whence are we to buy bread that these may eat?’ And He said this to prove Philip, for He Himself knew what He would do.” John 6:5-6
To prove Philip, he tested him. Jesus tried him right on the spot, to see what he would answer, what was in his mind and heart — and that action of asking for a response to the King’s question is the word “tempt" in most of the other places in the King James version.
Our heavenly Father is pleased with the correct response to His molding. In His wise care, He is sometimes pleased to subject His closest devotees to unusual proving, "a test" by probing. This was the case with Job when given into the hands of the adversary, and with Paul impaled by his “thorn in the flesh to buffet” him. Very conspicuously, as was the case with our Lord Himself, we are expressly told that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil.
So it is with all of God’s sons and daughters. Our heavenly Father has set the standard of our testing with the view of developing perfection, fortifying our character. With perfect love, He is enabling us to pass every test He brings to us. It is Christ formed within our spirit that steadfastly shines perfection of encouragement to us. He may see fit to bring us into communication that tests our beliefs, subjects us to vain endeavors that test our character sometimes in unusual severity, to open an extraordinary character within us, or do the same right out of the ordinary daily ordeals of our life.
In many an ancient battle, a besieging army was not able to scale the walls of a beleaguered city until they had filled the moat with the dead bodies of their foes. Similarly, we can ascend into the triumphant heights of Zion only on the stepping stones of past tests that have sealed our inner character.
The Greek word used in New Testament scripture for temptation is ‘PEIRASMOS.’ PEIRASMOS is derived from the word ‘PEIRA’ which, in Strong's Concordance, means “scrutinize, entice, discipline, to examine, to assay, go about, prove, tempt, or try.” In order for a soldier to be experienced, he has to fight. There has to be some battle in which he is prepared to engage, so becoming willing, then determined, to experience victory in Christ’s supply enabling one to endure every battle, pass the tests, be the person He has proven can better endure.
Jesus, the firstborn of many brethren, suffered being tempted. He attained a conquest, a proven victory over all the opposing forces of death working in flesh and blood. He broke the curse of death in the face of all evil. He defeated the devil. Now our difficulty lies in finding the conditions of spiritual progress that does similar conquest for us. We who follow on to do the Lord’s will do experience even greater things than He while on earth.
God desires us, if possible, to learn, to pass our character tests in the small matters of daily life, such as being perfectly honest, finding an honest way of drinking deeply the truth Christ quickens within. Spiritual strength comes for these testings, so they are for our good, not our harm:
"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." Luke 16:10-13 NAS
None are experienced until they have been EXPOSED TO THE OPPOSITE FORCES, until they have been tempted of their own lusts. No man can be declared strong until he has been tested for common weaknesses. None can be proven honest until he has been presented with opportunities to cheat or steal. No man can be declared virtuous until successfully facing opportunities that would defile him.
Overcoming sons and daughters are exposed to dreadful foes. Like David, those who are worthy to slay their Goliaths must first have slain their lion and their bear. No man can make himself to be a Melchizedek priest. God makes priests by testing them with various encounters with light that exposes dark serpents. We must be proven to come forth in victorious union with the power of God!
People everywhere, on every level, have their standard measures of what’s right and wrong, what’s good and what’s evil. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is coming to strengthen us to overcome all of our fleshly opposition. The sweet anointing must swallow up the bitter, make smooth the rough places, soften up the hardened areas of our Christ-centered heart, so the Life of God can be swallowing up our death. We are being raised incorruptible even now:
"Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:50-54 NAS
God has been raising certain ones, along with many who are already awake, and we will not outstrip them. Many brethren have been clothed with their heavenly garments, ones that shine with a divine process of successfully putting on immortality. Yes, thank God He is making a great rank of kings and priests that are being made alive. We can stay certain that God is swallowing up our death, guiding our every decision, meeting every opposition so we honorably pass every test in order to be sealed a son. Then, every day, perfection shines within to bring many unnecessary things to naught. Christ is shining within until we are conformed to the correct measure given to the firstborn.
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30 NAS
A school teacher does not give her pupils a test so that she may have the satisfaction of failing them. Tests are for assuring the teacher and the student that the process of learning has been effective. Automobile manufacturers do not put test cars through rugged workouts to wreck them but rather to prove the quality of safety in their product, to find any points of weakness. Even so, in our climb to Zion, we have found that our heavenly Father is allowing much testing and temptation to have worked in the lives of so many leading people in church:
"But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons." Hebrews 12:8 NAU
Discipline is not intended to wreck us, though at times it may appear to be uncomfortable, but our fiery trials are intended for our refinement, our good. Only Christ proves who is strong, who is like the firstborn. Our Father does for us in Christ what the sculptor does for the unique block of marble. He molds us to His standard, doing for us what Job said truly:
"When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
Also, Peter said:
“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” I Peter 4:12-13
James, the Lord's brother, states every man is tried by his own lusts:
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust.” James 1:12-14 NAS
“When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into our lives don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them, learn from them as friends! Realize that they come to produce in us a quality of enduring strength. So let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed, and so, we will find our mature character, men and women of integrity with no weak spots.” James 1:2-4, Phillips
When we speak of growth to spiritual maturity, it is to rise above temptations that most often entice men and women to commit sin. Men are tempted to lie, cheat, and steal, being attracted to wrong ways beneath our spiritual privileges and contrary to God’s will. Men hold to fleshly attitudes that are inconsistent with His character and the scriptures use the term in that sense. God does not solicit people to do wrong. God does not tempt man to do evil, or seduce us to kill, steal, lie, cheat, commit any evil at all. GOD DOES NOT SO TEMPT ANY MAN, but He does PROVE to us if Christ has been formed IN US, ruling and reigning within. This is the reason for all these temptations and testings.
The New Testament does indicate that God, in fact, tests and proves our character, our moral and spiritual quality of character, to experience union as a son of the living God. In this sense, it is perfectly true that OUR HEAVENLY FATHER DOES LEAD US INTO TESTING, even though we pray He would end this process and no longer lead us into temptation (testings) but deliver us from evil:
"Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matthew 6:9-13 NAS