How to Handle Temptation (2025)

No one is immune to temptation, not even Christians.

Temptation can come to any person, at any point, wherever you may be. In fact, many times, the greatest temptations come after our highest spiritual experiences. This was the case for Jesus, who was tempted by Satan after His baptism in Luke 4:1-2.

In order to learn how to handle temptation, we look to the story of when Jesus had a head-on collision with the devil, so that we may also have victory over temptation.

First, we must understand the three types of temptation we may be bombarded with:

The lust of the flesh deals with our passions.
The lust of the eyes deals with our possessions.
The pride of life deals with our person, with who we are.
They can take a myriad of forms, but our temptations are not new. The Bible says, “Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are.” (Hebrews 4:15) This means Satan tempted Him with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life —doing, having, being—passions, possessions, pride.

Yet He was without sin.

How did Jesus overcome the temptation to sin?

He remembered He was a child of God. He submitted to God’s authority. He overcame Satan as man filled with the Holy Spirit, which is promised to us when we become Christians.

Jesus also used Scripture to combat the devil’s lies. And lastly, Jesus remembered that He was completely satisfied in His relationship with God.

As Adrian Rogers says, “Sonship, submission, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, knowing who you are in Christ... Jesus is both the example and the power to do that.”

Apply it to your life
Are you being tempted to sin? Remember Jesus’ example. Remember who you are in Christ, submit to the Father, ask for the help of the Holy Spirit and use Scripture as your weapon. Follow the example of Jesus and win the battle against temptation with His power!