“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.”
Have you ever thought about if it was easy for Jesus to avoid sin?
Jesus lived a sinless life and died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for our sins. If you think that Jesus lived an easy life then you are mistaken. Jesus was homeless, rejected, abused, and tempted.
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus “has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus experienced various temptations during His earthly ministry. Think about it, Satan tempted Jesus for 40 straight days in the wilderness. There is evil that tempts us to walk away from God, but I highly doubt that many of us have been through temptation from Satan for 40 days. Jesus, being fully man and fully God, would have felt the weight of those temptations. But the allure of sin did not cause Jesus to give in. Jesus was tempted but He never sinned against God.
We follow a God who has experienced temptation and the emotional complexities it takes to stand firm in a situation. That is why the writer of Hebrews says “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses” (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus was tempted but stood firm. He has experienced trails, suffering, rejection, and temptation. He knows what you are going through, not only because of His infinite knowledge, but Jesus has firsthand experience with pain, temptation, and suffering. He knows how we feel and ministers to us in precisely the ways that we need.
Each day brings new mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23) and new temptations. You will be faced with temptations today – temptations to stand on your own, to disobey God’s Word, to put down someone else, or to follow your own plan instead of God’s. Through Jesus, you are able to stand firm in moments of temptation. No one, other than Jesus, is perfect. We all succumb to temptation at some point. However know that temptation isn’t a sin until you give in.
Live It:
- How does Hebrews 4:15 change the way that you approach Jesus when you are being tempted to give in to sin?
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Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
