“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man” (James 1:13).

In our text verse, there are two different Greek words used in reference to the “temptation” of man and the fact that God cannot be “tempted” with evil. The word “tempt” in reference to the temptation of man is a Greek word also translated elsewhere in Scripture as “assay,” “examine,” or “try,” in the following examples: “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying (trying) to do were drowned” (Hebrews 11:29). “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves . . .” (II Corinthians 13:5). “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son” (Hebrews 11:17). It is interesting to note that current usage of the English word “assay” most often denotes weighing or measuring. The tempting of man is actually a measuring of the one being tempted.

Although the Greek word used for the temptation of man has many uses in Scripture, the word James uses, when he says the Lord “cannot be tempted,” is used exclusively in this passage. The direct translation is “not temptable.” Our Lord cannot be measured because one has to be in some respect larger or greater or better than that he is measuring! “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33).

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3). “I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvelous things without number” (Job 5:8,9). CJH