Christ Was Tempted Like Us

Grace Bible Church

Besides the end of Hebrews 2, there are at least two more times in the book where Christ's temptations and suffering in His humanity for our sins, are urged as proof that He is a faithful High Priest for us, and that He can comfort and sustain us in our temptations and trials.--In Hebrews 4, we have a great High Priest that has passed into the Heavens, and we ought to hold fast our profession of faith in Him---He understands our infirmities and temptations, and was tempted like we are, yet without sin.--Do not waiver in trusting in Jesus, because He understands our plight. He needs no sacrifice for sin, but He knows how much we do.--He overcame every temptation to sin, but we do not, and so He faithfully presents His sacrifice to take away our sin.--He is not impervious to the feeling of our infirmities, but rather was tempted in all points like we are- He is -touched with the feelings of our infirmities,- the writer relates.--That phrase is a translation of the Greek word from which we derive the word -sympathize.- --The Gospels provide a detailed recitation of just how the devil tempted Jesus, and the categories of that temptation are significant.--Unlike us, Jesus was entitled to all the things the devil tempted Him to take - provision of His physical needs, acceptance by His creatures as the Messiah, and His reign over all the world---But He did not succumb to the devil's temptation that He seize them contrary to God's commandments.--Thus, the temptations of Christ were worse than ours, because of His greatness, and His humiliation in the incarnation. He is God of very God, eternal, and all powerful, and yet He submitted Himself to live as a man, under the law.