Evil Self-Originated
T. Manton. James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man:… 1. The cause of evil is in a man's self, in his own lusts, the Eve in our own bosom. God gave a pure soul, only it met with viciously disposed matter. 2. Above all things, a man should look to his desires. 3. The way that lust takes to ensnare the soul is by force and flattery. (1) By violence. (a) When your desires will not endure the consideration of reason, but you are carried on by a brutish rage (Jeremiah 5:8). (b) When they grow more outrageous by opposition, and that little check that you give to them is like the sprinkling of water upon the coals, the fire burns more fiercely. (c) When they urge and vex the soul till fulfilled, which is often expressed in Scripture by a languor and sickness. (2) By flattery. This is one of the impediments of conversion — lust promises delight and pleasures (Job 20:12). (a) Learn to suspect things that are too delightful. That which you should look after in the creatures is their usefulness, not their pleasantness — that is the bait of lust. (b) Learn what need there is of great care. Noonday devils are most dangerous, and such things do us most mischief as betray us with smiles and kisses. (T. Manton.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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: WEB: Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one.