Does James 1:13-14 contradict Hebrews 4:15?

Perhaps you’ve wondered like I have about these two verses of scripture; if they contradict one another. Let’s look at both of them and see if we can determine what each one means.

James 1:13-14 says this: “Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God can not be tempted by evil, neither does he tempt any man. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.”

The word tempted in the Greek is the word peirázō which means to test or prove. In this text it’s negative, because notice the temptation is from within the person. That’s why (vs. 14) says that a person is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. That’s also why James says that let no one say that when they’re tempted (to sin), they’re tempted of God. God never tempts anyone to sin; for that’s against God’s nature. God through Jesus Christ delivered us from the power of sin, so why would he tempt us to do that which he delivered us from (Romans 6)? He doesn’t. The temptation comes from the wickedness that dwells within our flesh.

So, how does this flow with Hebrews 4:15? Let’s read it.

“For we have not a High Priest which can not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted (Greek word peirázō) like as we are, yet without sin.”

The difference with the temptations of Jesus is that the temptations always came from without. Why? Because Jesus was/is perfect in his humanity and does not have any internal evil inclinations like we do.  He was totally full and influenced by the Holy Spirit which empowered and energized him. (Luke 4:1). His flesh unlike ours is perfect and no sin dwells in it. Jesus was never drawn away of his own lust and enticed because he’s perfect, but he was able to be tempted in his humanness by Satan and the religious leaders. How? By three fiery darts: The lust of the flesh; make these stones bread. The lust of the eyes; the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. The pride of life; devil told Jesus bow down and worship me displaying his insatiable need to elevate and satisfy his wicked ego over the Lord  (Matthew 4:1-10; 22:18; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13) yet he had no capacity to sin-ever!

                                                          Reconciling the two verses

So, in the final analysis these two verses do not contradict one another. In James 1:13-14, the writer is expressing the fact that God does not tempt anyone to sin, neither can he be tempted by evil because he’s divine and evil is antithetical and separate from him. It can not dwell in his presence.  However in Hebrews 4:15, God the Son, Christ Jesus was tempted in his perfect humanness, not in his divinity (for both natures resided in him, a mystery), yet without sin. There wasn’t even a possibility that he could have sinned otherwise he couldn’t be a perfect sacrifice for mankind’s sins.

For He made Him who knew no sin to be made sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (II Corinthians 5:21).

“Who committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (Isaiah 53:9; I Peter 2:22).