M11
We are to resist, & not yield to, temptation to sin.
Category: Morality & Compassion
Type: Negative
Form: Explicit
Source dataset: Old Testament
Uniqueness: Not unique
Classical commandment: Yes
New Covenant Literal Application
Applies to Person Categories: Not specified
Literal Application: Not specified
More explanation about New Covenant Literal Application
The New Covenant Literal Application Code (NCLA) is an interpretive guide used by the authors to indicate which person categories a mitzvah applies to, and at what level of literal compliance.
It combines person categories such as Jewish, K'rov Yisrael, and Gentile, together with male/female distinctions and an application level such as mandated, recommended, optional, or prohibited.
This code reflects the authors' interpretive opinion and is provided for prayerful consideration. On this page, the technical code is summarized into plain language to help new readers understand it more easily.
Bible references
Key NT Scriptures
- 1 Corinthians 7:5
- 1 Corinthians 10:13
- Galatians 5:16-17
- Hebrews 2:17-18
- James 1:12-15
- James 4:7
- 1 John 2:1-2
- Luke 22:40
- Matthew 6:13
- Philippians 4:13
- Romans 12:21
- 1 Timothy 6:9
Key OT Scriptures
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Genesis 2:8-9
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Genesis 2:15-17
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Genesis 3:1-7
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Genesis 39:7-12
Supportive NT Scriptures
- Hebrews 4:15
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Matthew 4:1-11
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Commentary
Rabbi Michael Rudolph
God's first commandment ever was His instruction to Adam and Eve to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat of the tree and she did, and she tempted Adam, and he ate as well. That is what is often referred to as the "original sin", and one of its consequences is that mankind has been plagued by temptation to sin ever since. We have lost our innocence of not knowing evil and there is no longer the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to tempt us, but other temptations to sin abound. That's the bad news. The good news is that God has given us Yeshua, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the New Covenant which, together, are more than adequate to keep us from falling into temptation and committing sin. The two Scriptures that are most relevant are 1 Corinthians 10:13 and James 4:7 . The first assures us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to cope, and that He will, in addition, always provide a means of escape. The second Scripture assures us that Satan cannot lodge within us, or continue to harass us, if we summon the power given us by God and resist. Notice that neither Scripture calls us to passivity. The first requires that we search for and employ the means of escape provided for us, and the second requires that we actively resist the sin of which we are tempted, by emphatically saying "no!" to it. If we do those things we are promised victory, and even should we fail at times, 1 John 1:9 promises us: If we acknowledge our sins, then, since he is trustworthy and just, he will forgive them and purify us from all wrongdoing.
Classical commentators
This Mitzvah is not addressed by any of the classical commentators.
Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2
Source and License
Based on The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective by Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster.
License: CC BY-ND 4.0 (Attribution required, NoDerivatives). CC BY-ND 4.0
Disclaimer: the original content is authored by Rabbi Michael Rudolph and Rabbi Daniel Juster; additional notes or implementation details on this website are not part of their original work and do not represent their views.
Record source: The Law of Messiah - Torah from a New Covenant Perspective - Volume 1 & 2
Copyright note: Copyright © Michael Rudolph and Daniel C. Juster, The Law of Messiah, Torah from a New Covenant Perspective, Volume 1 & 2