The subject worked out for this month is-
The Temptations of Scripture, distinguishing those that were yielded to, and those that were resisted.
In arranging the papers sent in, we are at the outset met by a difficulty which was perhaps scarcely sufficiently weighed when the subject was suggested-what character of temptations we should include in the result.
From James 1:14, -15, we see that every sin is the result of a temptation yielded to, hence the first part of the subject fully worked out would be a catalog of all the sins recorded in the Bible, and this, however profitable for our study individually, would perhaps scarcely be the result intended to be brought out by the researches of the class.
We have therefore made a selection, including all cases where there would seem to have been a direct temptation towards a certain line of conduct, but excluding those in which a sin is only recorded in general terms 1St-Temptation yielded to.
Gen. 3:1-6. Eve was tempted by Satan to give up dependence upon God.
4. Cain, by jealousy to kill Abel.
12:10-20, Abraham, by fear of Pharaoh to act deceitfully, also ch. 20 25: 29-34, Esau, by hunger to sell his birthright, Heb. 12:16.
27. Rebekah and Jacob, by a desire that the latter should obtain a blessing, to deceive Isaac.
37:8, Joseph's brethren, by jealousy, to get rid of him, and 37: 29-34, to deceive their father.
Ex. 2:11, Moses, by a desire to deliver his brethren, to slay an oppressing Egyptian.
32. Aaron, by a desire to please the Israelites, to make an idol.
Num. 11 The Israelites, by the remembrance of the good things of Egypt to murmur against God.
13. The ten spies, by fear, to bring an evil report of God's chosen inheritance.
20:1-12. Moses and Aaron, by impatience to disobey, instead of sanctifying God in the eyes of the people.
22. Balaam, by covetousness, to listen to Balak's request that he would curse those whom God had blessed.
Josh. 7 Achan, by covetousness to keep for himself part of the treasure found in Jericho.
Judg. 16:15-20. Samson yielded to the importunity of Delilah, and betrayed the secret of his strength.
1 Sam. 15 Saul, by covetousness, to spare the best of the spoil of the Amalekites.
2 Sam. 11 David, by lust, to procure the death of Uriah, whose wife he coveted.
15. Absalom, by pride, to rebel against David.
24:1. David, by Satan (1 Chron. 21:1.) to number Israel.
1 Kings 1. Adonijah, by pride, to be made king during David's life.
3. Solomon, by his wives, to worship idols.
26-33. Jeroboam by fear lest the Israelites should return to the house of David, to raise altars and idols in Dan and Bethel.
1 Kings 15:17-23. Asa, by fear, to bribe Benhadad with the treasures of the temple.
1 Kings 21 Ahab, by covetousness, to procure Naboth's death.
2 Kings 5:20-27. Gehazi, by covetousness, to take from Naaman what Elisha had refused.
20:12-19. Hezekiah, by pride, to show all his treasures to the king of Babylon.
2 Chron. 26:16. Uzziah by pride, to transgress by burning incense on the golden altar.
Dan. 4:28. Nebuchadnezzar, by pride, to boast in his power.
Matt. 28:11-15. The soldiers who watched the sepulcher were tempted by a bribe to bear false witness.
Luke 22:3. Judas by Satan (through covetousness) to betray the Lord.
22: 64-62. Peter, by fear, to deny the Lord.
John 19:12-13. Pilate, by fear to deliver up Christ.
Acts 5.3. Ananias and Sapphira, by Satan, to lie to God.
Gal. 2:11-14. Peter, through fear of the brethren, who came from James, to withdraw from association with the Gentile believers.
Let no man say when lie is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man; but every man is tempted, when lie is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then, when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
James 1:13-15.
Temptations resisted.
Gen. 14:21. Abraham resisted the temptation of being made rich by the King of Sodom.
39:7-19. Joseph resisted the allurements of Potiphar's wife.
Num. 13:20. Caleb and Joshua refused to agree with the ten spies in the evil report they brought of the land.
Judg. 8:22-23. Gideon refused to rule over the Israelites.
1 Sam. 26:11. David resisted the temptation to slay Saul.
1 Kings 21:3. Naboth refused to accept a bribe to induce him to part with his vineyard.
Ezra 4:1-4. Zerubbabel refused to allow the adversaries of Judah to help in building the temple.
Job. Job, when tempted by Satan and by his wife, sinned not at first in murmuring against God, yet afterward he yielded through his friends.
Jer. 35 The Rechabites refused to drink the wine that Jeremiah set before them.
Dan. 1:8-16. Daniel and his companions resisted the temptation to conform to the customs of the Babylonians.
3: 18. Shadrach, Meshech and Abednego, refused to worship the golden image, though the penalty of their refusal was to be cast into the fiery furnace.
5:17. Daniel refused the gifts offered by Belshazzar.
6:10. Daniel refused to abstain from prayer, though the penalty of his refusal was to be cast into the lion's den.
Amos 7:10-17. Amos resisted the temptation to listen to Amaziah, and continued prophesying as God had sent him.
Matt. 4:1-10. The Lord Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, whom he resisted and overcame by the word of God.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to mart; but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Cor. 10:13.