Jesus, Able to Succor the Tempted Hebrews 2:18

God the Father saw fit “in all things” for Jesus “to be made like unto his brethren” so that He might be “a merciful and faithful high priest to God”. He desired to “make reconciliation for the sins” of people that He might have a relationship with them. In chapter two and verse eighteen of Hebrews the writer shows us how Jesus is “able to succor them that are tempted” where we read:

For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.

The verse begins, “For in that he himself has suffered being tempted,...” The writer began with the word, “For” which means “as, because, even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then and therefore” “in that he himself” which refers to “Jesus His own self” “has suffered” or “has been affected, felt, sensed, experienced and under went and was vexed” “being tempted” which means “being tried, tested, enticed and solicited”. Jesus Christ became a man that He might be “tested and enticed” just as we are.

The verse continued, “he is able to succor them that are tempted.” The writer added, “he is able” which means “is capable, strong and powerful to have the power whether by virtue of His own ability and resources, state of mind, through favorable circumstances or by permission of law or custom” “to succor” which means “help, aid or bring relief to” “them that are tempted” or “”tried, make trial of and tested for the purpose of ascertaining his quality, what he thinks or how he will behave himself. Because Jesus became a man and was “tempted” like we are, he is able to “help, aid and bring relief” to people who are “tempted” as well.

When we consider these words in Hebrews, we should be humbled to think that Jesus would lower Himself to be like us, and when we think that He did this just to “help” us who are “tested and enticed” like He was, we should bring Him honor, thanks and praise. Jesus Christ desired a relationship with people, and their sins separated them from that relationship. Jesus identified with them as He made Himself subject to the same temptations people encounter, and yet, He was without sin. Oh that we might begin to understand what a mighty God we serve who is able to know what we endure because He was “tempted” also.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see the writer of Hebrews invite us to “consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.