Do you sometimes get a strong urge to do something you shouldn’t—like maybe eating an extra slice of cake or snoozing your alarm for just ten more minutes in the morning? That’s temptation right there. It’s a universal thing that we all face every day; in fact, Jesus Himself faced it during His time on earth.
Even though it’s normal to be tempted, the Bible calls us to resist temptations at all costs just like Jesus did when the devil tempted Him in the desert. It reminds us that whenever we fall into temptation we drift away from God.
In addition to giving us hot tips on how to avoid temptation, the Bible also reminds us of God’s promise of a grand reward if we can withstand temptation (James 1:12). Here are 43 more Bible verses about temptation that teach us how to stand strong in the face of temptation in following Christ’s footsteps.
List of Bible verses about temptation
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Matthew 26:41
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Galatians 5:16
“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
Luke 22:40
“On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.'”
1 Timothy 6:9
“Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.”
Hebrews 2:18
“Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
1 Corinthians 7:5
“Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Proverbs 1:10
“My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.”
Psalm 19:13
“Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.”
Mark 14:38
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
1 Peter 5:8-11
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
Galatians 5:19-21
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Luke 11:4
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”
1 Peter 5:9
“Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1 John 2:16
“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
1 Peter 4:1-2
“Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.”
2 Peter 2:9
“If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.”
Mark 7:20–23
“He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.'”
James 1:12
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Ephesians 6:13
“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
James 1:14-15
“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
Ephesians 6:11
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”
2 Peter 2:20
“If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.”
Mark 9:43
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out.”
2 Timothy 2:22
“Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”
1 Corinthians 6:18
“Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.”
James 1:13
“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
Luke 4:1-2
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.”
Matthew 4:1
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
James 4:17
“If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”
1 Corinthians 15:33
“Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Galatians 6:1
“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.”
1 Peter 4:12
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
Matthew 6:12-13
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
1 Corinthians 7:2
“But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.”
1 John 1:8-9
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
James 4:8
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Romans 13:13–14
“Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.”
1 John 5:4
“For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”