Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

March 13, 2005

DISCUSSION ON THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS

Hebrews 4:15

“For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. But one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”

One of the purposes of the high priest in the Old Testament was to relate to the people of God. In like manner one of the chief purposes of our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, is to identify with His people. One of the major areas with which He identifies with us is in our temptations as indicated in Hebrews 4:15. This verse tells us that He has been tempted in all things as we are. Does this statement mean that He was able to yield to sinful temptation but didn’t? NOT AT ALL! He is God and God cannot sin.

In II Corinthians 5:21 we read that He knew no sin.

In I Peter 2:22 He committed no sin

In I John 3:5 there is no sin in Him

So, was the temptation of Jesus a valid temptation, if He could not sin? By all means. Human temptation is predicated upon the fact that man has a sin nature that responds to that which is contrary to the will of God (James 1:13-15). So the question - “Did sinful tendencies have to be present within our Lord for His temptation to be valid? Was the Lord Jesus Christ,

Able not to sin? (Peccable) or

Not able to sin? (impeccable)

As I’ve indicated, Jesus Christ was impeccable – i.e. He was not able to sin! This is a very complex subject. While Christ was both human and divine. He, never-the-less, was one person – and He always acted as one person. Wherever He went He was both God and Man. God cannot sin. Since He always acted as one person, to claim that He could have sinned would be to suggest the possibility that God could be reduced to less than who He is.

Illustration – A thin wire, by itself, can be easily bent. However, a thin wire welded to a six-inch thick steel bar cannot be bent. The wire and the bar are welded together – though distinct.

Christ’s humanity and deity are inseparably linked – yet they are distinct. The intensity of His testing (Hebrews 4:15) was heightened to the ultimate 100% because of His absolute holiness. This does not mean that He wanted to sin but didn’t (as some have suggested). It means that because He is also man, He experienced the ultimate pressure around Him of that which was completely contrary to His holy nature. As man He could feel the reality of temptation as much as an immovable boulder can bear the brunt of a raging sea. At no time was there ever the possibility of the pressure of sin that He came into contact with, invading and breaking down the essence of His perfections. This would be literally impossible! His temptations (Matt. 4:1-11; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:1-11) were not allowed by God to see if He could keep from sinning – but to PROVE that HE COULD NOT SIN!

Some proof texts: He is unchangeable - Hebrews 13:8; all-powerful - Matthew 29:18; all-knowing - John 2:25 (see also John 14:30; Hebrews 13:8; 4:15; 7:26; II Cor. 5:21; I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5.

Dr. William MacDonald observes the following: “If you put gold to the test, the test is not less valid because the gold is pure. If there were impurity, the test would show it up. Similarly it is wrong to argue that if Jesus could not sin, He was not perfectly human. Sin is not an essential element in humanity; rather it is a foreign intruder (Adam, the first man, was perfect and sinless but sin intruded into his life – and thus the entire race). Our humanity has been marred by sin; His (Jesus Christ) is perfect humanity.”

Be assured that we have a Great Priest who is completely qualified to sustain us in every situation in which we find ourselves.

Suggestions for prayer: Pray for the Lord Jesus to lead you in victory in the things in which you are tempted to dishonor the Lord. Pray the same for your fellow believers.

For further study: Genesis 3:1-6; Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-11; James 1:13-15. How does Adam & Eve’s temptation compare to the temptation of Jesus in the above scriptures? Try to form a sequence in the method in which we are tempted as seen in James 1:13-15.

Until next week – God bless!