Yes, that's right, I didn't mean to imply otherwise. Maybe I should have said: "Perhaps part of the reason for GOD ALLOWING the temptation ..." satan did all the tempting, not God.
Which brings me to the another mention of temptation, namely in the Lord's Prayer, "and do not lead us into temptation," and how it doesn't "square" with above references to +James and +Paul.
You're right, they don't appear to square. I agree with you that God does not tempt anyone. But when we take the totality of scripture, including your sources (repeated below), we see that this verse must be interpreted. Jesus cannot contradict His own Holy Book! :) I found Barnes' reconciliation to be reasonably plausible:
"Verse 13 (Matt. 6) [And lead us not into temptation] A petition similar to this is offered by David, Ps 141:4: "Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with the workers of iniquity." God tempts no man. See James 1:13. This phrase, then, must be used in the sense of "permitting." Do not "suffer" us, or "permit" us, to be tempted to sin. In this it is implied that God has such control over the tempter as to save us from his power if we call upon him. The word "temptation," however (see the note at Matt 4:1), means sometimes "trial, affliction," anything that "tests" our virtue. If this be the meaning here, as it may be, then the import of the prayer is, "Do not afflict or try us." It is not wrong to pray that we may be saved from suffering if it be the will of God. See Luke 22:42." (from Barnes' Notes.)
Here is the relevant part of the note to Matt. 4:1, referenced in the quote. I did not consult it when I made my earlier comments, but it looks like I agree with him that there could have been a learning component for us in the story of the temptation:
"[Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit] Led up by the Spirit. Luke says (Luke 4:1) that Jesus was "full of the Holy Spirit;" and it was by his influence, therefore, that he went into the desert to be tempted. It was not done by presumption on the part of Jesus, nor was it for a mere display of his power in resisting temptation; but it was evidently that it might be seen that his holiness was such that he could not be seduced from allegiance to God. When the first Adam was created he was subjected to the temptation of the devil, and he fell and involved the race in ruin: it was not improper that the second Adam-the Redeemer of the race-should be subjected to temptation, in order that it might be seen that there was no power that could alienate him from God; that there was a kind and a degree of holiness which no art or power could estrange from allegiance. (from Barnes' Notes.)
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Otherwise, +Mat 4:1 makes no sense, for neither God tempts man intentionally, nor can God be tempted! And neither would the devil try to tempt God.
It depends on how you define "tempted". I am fine with including temptation that has no chance of success within the definition. I agree with Barnes, and you, that satan had no chance of winning this one. But I disagree that satan didn't try. Why do you think that? I mean, satan is going to show up for the final battle, right? Why would he do that if he believed he was going to lose? satan showed ignorance by doing what he did to get thrown out of Heaven in the first place.
But who created Satan? Is Satan running free of God's control, or is Satan a creature who exists by the will of God alone?
When we struggle to free God of His responsibility in creation, we demote Him to bystander. The world is not God against Satan, thesis vs. antithesis, because that would give Satan power equal to God's power.
So ultimately, as difficult as it is to grasp, God is the first cause of all things.
God planted the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil smack in the middle of Eden and told two naifs not to eat it. That's pretty tempting.
The point isn't that God doesn't tempt men because the truth is men are tempted every day of the week by a thousand distractions that deny and demean the Triune God. That's life, exactly as God created it.
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." -- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Thankfully, Scripture tells us that those who have been "bought with a price" will be able to withstand temptation...
"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." -- 1 Corinthians 10:13
He is an amazing Creator. He thought of everything. 8~)