1 Corinthians 10:13

There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

'temptation' -'No temptation has come your way' (Phi) 'A temptation is any inducement to sin' (Lenski p. 403)

'taken you' -'has seized, and holds one in its grasp' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 862) 'the verb is in the perfect tense denoting that the temptation is one which lingers.' (Willis p. 331)

'such as man can bear' -'but such as in common to man' (NASV); 'that is not common to all mankind' (TCNT)

Point to Note:

1. No generation can complain, 'but living the Christian life is much harder for us, than it was for our parents.'

2. Every generation faces the same type of temptations. The Corinthians were facing the same temptations that the Israelites had years before.

3. Some temptations "linger", and must be continually resisted.. bad or tough environment is never an excuse to sin. (Genesis 39:1)

'but God is faithful' -He can be counted on to help! Paul now will cite to ways in which God "comes through" during all temptations that we will face in life.

'who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able' -notice what Paul doesn't say. 'God will not suffer you to be tempted.' All Christians WILL face temptation, God has never promised that He will remove trials. Rather, He monitors them, and you can be assured, that whatever trial or temptation you find yourself faced with, IT IS WITHIN YOUR ABILITY TO RESIST.

'but will with the temptation make also the way of escape' -in every temptation,. way to resist it EXISTS!

Points to Note:

1. God never places us in. no-win situation, in which the only way out is to commit sin. There are no "greater sin-lesser sin" moral dilemmas. There is ALWAYS. NON-SINFUL WAY TO ENDURE THE TRIAL.

2. You will never be faced with. temptation that requires "superhuman" effort to endure.

3. Every time we sin, we have demonstrated. lack of faith in God, for we refused to look for or take the way of escape. Sin is always our fault.

4. Since. way of escape always exists in every temptation, we can never BLAME anything or anyone else for our own moral failures.

5. Unfortunately, many want the 'way of escape' to be easy. When it comes to temptation, many are waiting for some "feeling" to overwhelm them, which will magically remove all desire to give in. Rather, the way of escape is always through our ability to endure.

6.. way of escape, when it comes to idolatry is given in the next verse. "Flee"!

7. God is not the source of temptations, but rather He monitors all temptations.

8. 'Shut into. cul de sac,. man despairs; but let him see. door open for his exit, and he will struggle on with his load..How different all this from the Stoic consolation of suicide. "The door stands open"!' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 862)