temptation

Everyday

1. Temptation is the feeling of wanting to do something, especially something you know is wrong or not good for you. tree →
2. A temptation is a thing that makes you want to do it: «Cake is a big temptation». tree →
3. (Bible, church) The Temptation is the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the desert. tree →

In the lessons

In ethics lessons and stories, characters face temptation, like Edmund in Narnia with Turkish delight. In religious education, the Lord's Prayer says «lead us not into temptation», and Lent remembers Jesus' forty days in the wilderness. Phrases: «resist temptation», «give in to temptation», «a strong temptation», «lead us not into temptation».

Examples

• I resisted the temptation to open my present early. tree →
• The sweets on the table were a big temptation. tree →
• He gave in to temptation and ate the last biscuit. tree →
• In the Bible, Jesus resisted temptation in the desert. tree →
• The Lord's Prayer says, «Lead us not into temptation». tree →
• Leaving your homework until the last minute is a common temptation. tree →
• The shop puts sweets at the till as a temptation for children. tree →
• Do not stop to argue with temptation. tree →

Note

Uncountable for the feeling, countable for a thing that tempts. Verb: tempt; adjective: tempting. Temptation itself is not wrong; giving in to it may be.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Sefer Yetzirah's twenty-fifth path is the Intelligence of Probation, where the Creator tests the righteous. Tradition says God tests people, as with Abraham, to bring out their goodness. In the primary lessons: In ethics lessons and stories, characters face temptation, like Edmund in Narnia with Turkish delight. In religious education, the Lord's Prayer says «lead us not into temptation», and Lent remembers Jesus' forty days in the wilderness. Phrases: «resist temptation», «give in to temptation», «a strong temptation», «lead us not into temptation».

Examples

• The Twenty-fifth Path is the Intelligence of Proba- tion, or is Tentative, and is so called because it is the primary temptation, by which the Creator trieth all righteous persons. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →
• The Twenty-fifth Path is the Intelligence of Probation, or is Tentative, and is so called because it is the primary temptation, by which the Creator (blessed be He) trieth all righteous persons. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) tree →

Note

Uncountable for the feeling, countable for a thing that tempts. Verb: tempt; adjective: tempting. Temptation itself is not wrong; giving in to it may be.