”Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2:18New International Version (NIV)
Hebrews 2:18 Devotional
He is able to help those who are being tempted
Hebrews 2:18 declares that “Jesus is able to help those who are being tempted“. And He is able to do this because He himself was tempted and suffered when He was being tempted.
Tempted
Therefore, what is the meaning of the word tempted? For we don’t want to misunderstand the author’s message to us.
The word tempted means to be tested and tried. Or simply, to be assessed.
Consequently, Jesus wasn’t tempted by evil. That is, He didn’t suffer as a sinner because of the lure of the world. He suffered because He was a sinless man in a world consumed and overpowered by transgressions.
But we on the contrary suffer because we are lured by our own desires. This is what James revealed in verses 13 to 14 of the first chapter of his letter. And that is: “God does not tempt anyone, but each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.”
Moreover, Paul revealed that “sin reigns in our bodies when we obey the passions of the same” (Romans 6:12). And “in the flesh dwells nothing good” (Romans 8:18-20).
The power of sin
Nevertheless, Jesus came out of heaven and took on humanity in order to redeem mankind from the power of sin. Sin had held us captive since the time of the Fall in the Garden of Eden. That is when Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s instructions (Genesis 3).
Jesus’ suffering
Therefore, Jesus’ suffering was the source of temptation. And because He was tested to the limit and remained faithful, He is perfectly qualified to help those who are tempted.
Furthermore, Jesus was actually tested and tried by each experience and interaction with people where His faithfulness and steadfastness were proved. He underwent the full temptation, but He overcame it and became successful.
Consequently, Jesus knows (understands) everything that we go through because He entered our situation – He was tempted like us. So He is able to help us to resist and triumph over temptation.
We can be no slaves to sin
There is therefore no justification for why you should live a defeated Christian life like you are still a slave to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin anymore. We are indwelled by the presence of Jesus Christ. He lives in us through His Spirit (the Holy Spirit in us), and he is able to effectively help those who are tempted in every single situation.
Therefore, there is no temptation that you cannot overcome in Christ. Jesus empathized with us so that we can overcome sin and its power. He is continually interceding for you and me.
Prayer/Blessing
Father in Heaven, I thank You for Jesus’ experience with temptation as recorded in Hebrews 2:18. I thank You more because it was for my benefit.
Now I know that there is no temptation that I cannot overcome. Through Jesus, I am victorious over sin. And so I praise You in Jesus’ Name.
Therefore, Jesus Christ, I pray that You help me live in victory over temptation. And I pray this in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
Exodus 11-13 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
