Day 2 – Desire

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” James 1:14 (KJV)

Before diving into this interesting study, let’s examine through verse-mapping the original meaning of the words mentioned in this verse: “tempted”, “desire”, “lust”, and “enticed” – the most primal instincts of our humanity.

In Greek, the word for tempted is 𝐏𝐞𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐳𝐨 (𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑃𝑖-𝑟𝑎𝑑-𝑧𝑜) meaning to test, endeavour, scrutinise, or entice. God doesn’t tempt us – temptation comes when our fleshly, worldly desires draw us away and the devil provides the enticement. Pool said to be drawn away, “It is either a metaphor taken from a fish enticed by bait, and drawn after it, or rather from a harlot drawing a young man out of the right way, alluring him with the bait of committing adultery.” The only reason temptation has a hook in us is because of our fallen, sinful nature corrupting God-given desires. We often give the devil too much credit and do not take responsibility for our desires.

𝐀𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐨 (𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝐴ℎ𝑒𝑒-𝑡𝑒ℎ-𝑜) is the Greek word for desire, meaning to ask, beg, call, or crave. However, according to the Strongs Concordance and the KJV translation, the word desire in this verse is changed to lust.

The Greek word for lust is 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐚 (𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝐸𝑝-𝑒𝑒-𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑜-𝑚𝑒𝑒-𝑎ℎ) a longing (especially for what is forbidden) concupiscence, crave after.

Enticed is 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐳𝐨 (𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑙-𝑒ℎ-𝑎𝑑-𝑧𝑜) figuratively meaning entrap, allure.

Sin is in this world. We cannot get around that fact even though we try to justify it or ignore it. But… so is Jesus. And it does not matter how strong the desire is leading to temptation (and then sin), He is bigger than it all.

“𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑙𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑— ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑦 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦!” 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑏𝑠 19:2 𝑁𝐼𝑉

Prayer: Father, all the meanings of the words in this verse points to the gateway to sin from our own fleshly desires. Please teach us through this devotional to understand the desires and to withstand the temptation through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Love, Pastor Iriza