Hebrews 2:18 (ESV) … “For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
This verse insists on the real humanity of Jesus. It also contains an important application of that real humanity. Because Jesus was a true human being and because he suffered, he can help us in our temptation.
This verse introduces several important questions. How could the sinless Jesus receive temptation? Was he tempted in the same way as human beings? There are three important thoughts confront us here.
First, Jesus suffered. He suffered as our Savior physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Second, this suffering became a source of temptation. The sufferings were so intense that Jesus could have decided that enduring them was not worth the pain which they inflicted. He never considered that, for he said, “Not as I will, but as you will” (Matt. 26:39).
Third, enduring suffering allowed him to help us. His victory over temptation and sin allowed him to guide us through the dangerous rocks of temptation.
Jesus has great ability to help us. His ability is not based on his experience with sin. His ability is based on his experience of the temptation to sin. Only someone who is sinless can know this experience fully. [1]
Jesus faced the full load of temptation, longer than any of us ever have. He knew the pain of temptation more fully than any of us ever did. Jesus resisted to the end of temptation. He never sinned. His experience allows him to encourage us and lead us to victory as we face temptation. When we are tempted, we must go to Jesus. Jesus alone knows what we feel and how to defeat our temptations.
[1] Lea, T. D. (1999). Hebrews, James (Vol. 10, pp. 30–31). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
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