Temptation

Temptation is an attraction, either from outside oneself or from within, to act contrary to right reason and the commandments of God (CCC 538). It is not a sin in itself — the presence of a temptation does not indicate wrongdoing, only the choice to consent to it does.

Jesus and Temptation

Jesus himself was tempted during his forty days in the desert, put to the test to manifest both the opposition between himself and the devil and the triumph of his saving work over Satan (CCC 538). His temptation is not a sign of weakness but a revelation: he entered fully into the human condition, including its struggle against evil, in order to redeem it from within.

The Source of Temptation

Temptations can arise from three sources the tradition calls the world, the flesh, and the devil. The Catechism acknowledges the reality of the Evil One as a personal agent who seeks to draw souls away from God (CCC 395, 2851). Concupiscence — the disordered desire that remains after Original Sin — is the interior source from which many temptations draw their force.

Resisting Temptation

The primary means of resisting temptation are prayer, vigilance, and the sacraments. In the Lord's Prayer, Jesus himself teaches his followers to ask the Father: "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" — a petition the Catechism calls an appeal for the grace of vigilance and perseverance to the end (CCC 2846–2849).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is being tempted sinful? No. Temptation is not sin. Even Jesus was tempted (Hebrews 4:15). Sin enters only with free consent of the will to the temptation (CCC 1853).