Does God test/tempt people?

[tonychanyt]

The Evolving Concept of Testing/Tempting

English Standard Version, Malachi 3:

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test [H974, G1980], says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Strong's Hebrew: 974. בָּחַן (bachan) — 29 Occurrences

Brown-Driver-Briggs:

1. examine, scrutinize, try
2. prove, test, try.

There is another Hebrew word for the idea of testing that is a bit more ambiguous. Genesis 22:

1 Some time later God tested [H5254, LXX G3985] Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.

Deuteronomy 13:

3 you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing [H5254] you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.

H5254 appears 36 times.

Brown-Driver-Briggs:

1. test
2. attempt, assay, try to do a thing
3. test, try, prove, tempt [but not in modern sense of the word: see Deuteronomy 6:16; Psalms 453, 483]

This Hebrew word did not carry the full English sense of "temptation". It meant testing or trying.

The Greek word G3985 is different. As Satan went rogue, the negative concept of temptation emerged from G3985. By the time of the NT, James 1:

3 because you know that the testing [G1383] of your faith produces perseverance.

13 Let no one say when he is tempted [G3985 πειραζόμενος], “I am being tempted [H3985 πειράζομαι] by God,” for God cannot be tempted [G551 ἀπείραστός adjective] with evil, and he himself tempts [G3985 πειράζει] no one.

Matthew 6:

13 And lead us not into temptation [G3986], but deliver us from the evil one.’

G3985 is ambiguous. It could mean testing in the OT or tempting in the NT.

BDAG πειράζω:
① to make an effort to do someth., try, attempt at times in a context indicating futility
② to endeavor to discover the nature or character of someth. by testing, try, make trial of, put to the test
ⓑ of God or Christ, who put people to the test, in a favorable sense (Abraham, as Gen 22:1). Also of painful trials sent by God (Ex 20:20; Dt 8:2 v.l.; Judg 2:22; Wsd 3:5; 11:9; Jdth 8:25f) 1 Cor 10:13; Hb 2:18ab; 4:15 ③ to attempt to entrap through a process of inquiry, test.
④ to entice to improper behavior, tempt

God tests people in the ancient Hebrew sense of the word [H5254]. God does not tempt people in the Greek sense of the word [G3985] to entrap. Satan does. In the beginning, Satan was given the job of testing people. He gradually changed from the testing to tempting to downright entrapment.

ESV Deuteronomy 6:

16 You shall not put the LORD your God to the test [H5254], as you tested [H5254] him at Massah.

People can H974-try or H5254-test God, but God cannot be G3985-tempted.

 

[lanceleo]

Because God is holy, He cannot ever tempt us to sin. "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone" (James 1:13).

Probably none of us ever imagines that God is actively soliciting us to do evil, but we may feel that God has put us in a situation where we have no choice.

Saul felt this way in his first major campaign against the Philistines (1 Samuel 13). Before going into battle Saul was to wait seven days for the prophet Samuel to come and offer a burnt offering and ask the favor of the Lord. Saul waited the seven days for Samuel. When he didn't come, Saul became anxious and took it on himself to offer the burnt offering. Saul felt he had no alternative. The people were fearful and had begun to scatter; the Philistines were assembling for battle; Samuel was overdue. Something had to be done! God had put him in a place where he had no choice, it seemed, but to disobey God's explicit instructions. But because Saul disobeyed God's express will, he lost his kingdom (1 Samuel 13:13-14).

 

[Peacemaker1]

You could say God does tempt /test people, by creating light and darkness, HIs Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error that tries to overcome it.

Light excels darkness, every temptation of Jesus Christ is to show us how to overcome this world, the same as Saul was replaced by David, to show the way to Jesus Christ, and the many false prophets speaking ow, try to block the way to Jesus Christ also.



Ecclesiastes 2:13 Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

1 John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

 

[Peacemaker1]

1 John 4:4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

[RileyG]

According to the epistle of James, no.

 

[Peacemaker1]

Jesus Christ the Son of God had to endure temptation, but that is to show us the faith to overcome, even as He also overcame.

The devil came to give those temptations, and the same flattering spirit corrupts many people by flatteries, some of those of understanding fall to try them, to purge them, to make them white, until the time of the end.

Now we can also see why the many false prophets rise now, to deceive those many, AND WHY, Jesus also tells us he that endures until the end ( being tried, the same shall be saved, as told in James 1, the man is blessed that endures temptation, as when that man is tried he shall receive the crown of life, to those who love the Lord, and not Satan and flatteries as told below why they speak great swelling words of vanity. ( these many false teachers)



Daniel 11:32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

Matthew 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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.

2 Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.