It Is Written: Memorizing Scripture to Fight Temptation

In Luke 4:1–13, Jesus fought temptation with Scripture. When temptation comes our way, we too can know and rely on God’s Word for the battle. Here are some verses to remember for ten temptations Christians face today.

Anger / Bitterness

Proverbs 14:29: A patient person shows great understanding, but a quick-tempered one promotes foolishness.

Proverbs 20:22: Don’t say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the Lord, and he will rescue you.

Matthew 5:21-22: You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister will be subject to the court. Whoever says, “You fool!” will be subject to hellfire.

Ephesians 4:31-32: Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

James 1:19-20: My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

Desire for Approval of Others

John 5:44: How can you believe, since you accept glory from one another but don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?

John 12:42-43: Nevertheless, many did believe in him even among the rulers, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than praise from God.

Galatians 1:10: For am I now trying to persuade people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Colossians 3:23-24: Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

1 Thessalonians 2:4: Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts.

Envy

Proverbs 14:30: A tranquil heart is life to the body, but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.

1 Corinthians 13:4: Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant,

Galatians 5:26: Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

James 3:16: For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice.

1 Peter 2:1: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

Lust / Sexual Immorality

Job 31:1: I have made a covenant with my eyes. How then could I look at a young woman?

Matthew 5:27-30: You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of the parts of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

1 Corinthians 6:18: Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-5: For this is God’s will, your sanctification: that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God.

Hebrews 13:4: Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Materialism / Love of Money

Proverbs 11:28: Anyone trusting in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage.

Proverbs 30:8-9: Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor wealth; feed me with the food I need. Otherwise, I might have too much and deny you, saying, “Who is the Lord?” or I might have nothing and steal, profaning the name of my God.

Matthew 6:19-21: Don’t store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Philippians 4:11-13: I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

1 Timothy 6:6-10: But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Overwork

Psalm 127:2: In vain you get up early and stay up late, working hard to have enough food—yes, he gives sleep to the one he loves.

Proverbs 23:4-5: Don’t wear yourself out to get rich; because you know better, stop! As soon as your eyes fly to it, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23: For what does a person get with all his work and all his efforts that he labors at under the sun? For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6: I saw that all labor and all skillful work is due to one person’s jealousy of another. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. The fool folds his arms and consumes his own flesh. Better one handful with rest than two handfuls with effort and a pursuit of the wind.

Matthew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

Pride / Arrogance

Proverbs 11:2: When arrogance comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 16:18: Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23: A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor.

Romans 12:16: Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

James 4:6: But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Sloth / Laziness

Proverbs 10:4-5: Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches. The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

Matthew 5:13-16: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Romans 12:11: Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:58: Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-12: In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies.  Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.

Spiritual Apathy

Psalm 51:12: Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.

Psalm 90:14: Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.

Matthew 7:17-19: 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Galatians 6:7-9: Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.  Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.

Colossians 2:6-7: So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in him, being rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.

Substance Abuse

Proverbs 20:1: Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler; whoever goes astray because of them is not wise.

Proverbs 23:29-35:  Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has conflicts? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has red eyes? Those who linger over wine; those who go looking for mixed wine. Don’t gaze at wine because it is red, because it gleams in the cup and goes down smoothly.  In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say absurd things. You’ll be like someone sleeping out at sea or lying down on the top of a ship’s mast.  “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I didn’t know it! When will I wake up? I’ll look for another drink.”

1 Corinthians 6:12: “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

1 Corinthians 15:33: Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Ephesians 5:18: And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit.