Page 11 - book_james

Jas 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

But every (ekastos: each) man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust (eipthumia: cravings)
and (by being) enticed (deleazomenos: drawn by bait).
The blame of sin does not begin with the devil but with us. The nature of the flesh is the culprit, and it
abides in our body (Romans 6:6, 12, 7:5, 18‐19, 23‐24, James 1:4) and is passed on to us from the original
sin of Adam (Romans 5:12). The flesh produces “works” or manifestations that need to be overcome by a
walk in the Spirit and submission to the Word of God (Romans 8:2‐9, Galatians 5:16‐25). Temptations
come to each of us because we personally have a nature of the flesh (Mark 7:21‐23). The temptations of
one may not be temptations to another. When we are drawn away by our own lusts, we are enticed or
baited away from what is righteous. Like bait, there is always a hook in the enticement. We are drawn
away to enjoy the pleasures of sin, which quickly fade away and demand more indulgence daily. The
righteous life demands work and diligence but brings a lasting joy that cannot be removed. Although Satan
also tempts the believer, he will be dealt with later when we are told “Submit yourselves to God, resist
the devil and he will flee from you” (4:7). You cannot resist your flesh and expect it to flee from you. It will
always be present and have to be dealt with until death or the rapture. In many cases, Satan is easier to
deal with than the flesh.

Jas 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full‐grown, brings
forth death.

Then when lust hath conceived (sullabousa: reached conception), it bringeth forth sin
(hamartia): and sin, when it is finished (apotelesteeisa: full‐grown), bringeth forth death.

This statement proves that temptation to sin cannot come from God because he never came to bring
death; He came to bring life.

The series of events described in this verse parallels the prostitute in Proverbs chapter 5. She entices the
young boy to her apartment where he yields to her own lusts and commits fornication. A hook is placed
in his life that draws him back to this lifestyle many times until he is filled with disease and eventually dies.
Just as there is conception in the womb of the woman when sexual relationships have taken place, there
is conception when lust is acted upon and sin is committed. The result of impregnated lust is the bearing
of sin. Lust is the mother of sin.

The death referred to in this verse is not spiritual death but a temporal death for the believer, separation
from fellowship with God (Luke 15:24). This is the first of many terms used in James for the carnal believer
(whom he compares to the unbeliever) (5:20). A carnal believer looks and acts like an unbeliever. There
are many forms of death found in the Word and each one of them is traceable to a root of sin.

Every Good and Perfect Gift

Jas 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.
Do not err (stop being deceived), my beloved brethren . . .

The seriousness of the command comes through with a love toward his people. James warns his
congregation to stop being deceived. As he is warning them, his pastor’s heart comes through with the
first of three admonitions to his people when he calls them “my beloved brethren” (1:19, 2:5).