For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15
Recommended Reading: Matthew 4:1-11
The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus was “in all points, tempted as we are, yet without sin.” “In all points” means Jesus was tempted with every temptation we are. He was tempted in the wilderness of Judea by the devil, but He resisted each of the three temptations by quoting Scripture, “It is written…. It is written again…. For it is written” (Matthew 4:1-11). And He suffered when He was tempted, just as we suffer (Hebrews 2:18). Because He is able to identify with our sufferings, He is able to help all who are tempted. And His temptations had the same purpose as do ours: “Yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).
God wants us to learn obedience and to gain maturity. And although we know from James 1:13 that He doesn’t tempt us to sin, He does use temptations to help us learn and grow. Not so we will sin but so we will depend on Him and His provision for resisting temptation.
Temptation always promises more than it produces.
John Blanchard
