The Succourer of the Tempted
J. Irons. Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted. I. THE HOLY SUFFERER HIMSELF. Who is He? It is the co-equal, co-eternal Son of the Father, assuming the nature of His brethren upon earth; a human nature in the covenant line, on purpose to bear our sins, and bring in everlasting salvation for our rejoicing. Our text holds forth His being "tempted," as a peculiar feature of His sufferings: "He suffered, being tempted"; and it may not be unprofitable if I advert to the temptations that He endured. Temptation, you know, was addressed to Him in a threefold form; and in all these we are called to tread in His steps. The first was care, the second was covetousness, and the third was presumption. Now, before I go to other parts of the subject, I think the prominent point of Christ's sufferings in consequence of temptation was its contrast to the holiness of His nature. The nearer a Christian lives to God, the more his soul thus aspires after spiritual and holy things, the more hateful and distressing is every temptation. And this, I think, is the only fair way of answering all objection upon the point: that the suffering in consequence of temptation arose from the contrast of temptation with holiness — the hatefulness of sin to the mind that is bent on the holiness of God. "He suffered, being tempted," because temptation was the very antipodes to the holiness of His nature. But we pass on to remark yet further upon His unparalleled sufferings; and whether we glance at the sufferings of His body or the sufferings of His soul, or unite them in one contemplation, we may utter the exclamation of the prophet, personating Christ, "Behold and see, all ye that pass by, if there be any sorrow like unto My sorrow, which is done unto Me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted Me in the day of His fierce anger." Unparalleled sorrows were sustained by Christ. And oh! how did He suffer? We do not hear one word of complaint while He is suffering only from creatures; the malice of Pharisees He braves silently; the temptations of the devil He vanquishes with "Get thee hence"; but when He at length feels the curse of a broken law entering His very soul, then He opens His mouth: "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me." "He suffered, being tempted." And all this as covenant Head, as the Representative of His Church; all this in His Suretyship character. II. His EXERCISED FOLLOWERS. And really I am quite ashamed that you and I should make any complaints about it at all. It is true His people have to endure the malice of the same enemies now; but then they have an indemnity; they have a holy security that they cannot perish, that they shall none of them "be tempted above that they are able," and that "with the temptation also He will make a way of escape." Why, I wonder what they are to do without temptations, without trials. They are expressly designed for the purpose of calling out the graces of the Holy Spirit, and giving occasion for the triumphs of Christian experience, to the consummation of time. But look we, further, to the position of the real child of God when the tempter aims at the very same point that he did all along with Christ. "If Thou be the Son of God": if thy Christianity be real. I like, if he brings me an if, to meet him with one of God s shalls" and" wills" and they are always more powerful and impressive than "ifs." There are no "its" in Scripture respecting the children of God, except they be "ifs" of demonstration; they are all "shalls" and " wills" there. "I will be their God, and they shall be My people." If Jehovah has put a cry in your heart for mercy and pardon and peace wholly in Christ, under a consciousness of your need, be assured of this, that He will never abandon the work of His own hands. He will go on to be gracious. Now shall I tell you how our Lord "is able to succour" you? It is just simply by revealing Himself. "I am thy salvation"; "It is I; be not afraid." It comforts, it cheers, it upholds. Just observe what encouragement here is for faith to the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Having Himself "suffered, being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted." He has the fulness of grace; "all power is given to Him in heaven and in earth"; it is in His own hands, and he is "full of grace and truth." "He is able to succour them that are tempted." "Well," say you," is He willing?" Suppose I reverse the question: Are you willing that He should? or are you looking somewhere else for succour? Are you willing that He should do it in His own way? (J. Irons.) Parallel Verses KJV: For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. WEB: For in that he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.