A Tempting Study: Part 1

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: A Tempting Study: Part 1 ------------------- Date: 7/1/2001
Keywords: "temptation" "High Priest"
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passage: Hebrews 2:18; 4:15*

2:18. For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

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.

Questions

1. Does it surprise you to read that Jesus (the "He" in the verse above) was tempted to sin?

 

2. What comfort do you receive, knowing that Jesus successfully negotiated temptation?

 

3. What comes to your mind when you read that Jesus was tempted "in all things, we are"?

 

Practical help

Nobody appreciates the complaints of an armchair quarterback. The guy who lies on the sofa, yelling at Troy Aikman to throw harder, Tiger Woods to shoot straighter, Pete Sampras to hustle more, David Robinson to be more aggressive, doesn’t help the situation. He even annoys others in the room who know full well that he couldn’t run a 100 yard dash if his life depended on it.

Jesus Christ is no armchair quarterback! He fought the fight you are fighting when it comes to temptation. Sure, living in the first century, He was never tempted by Internet porn. But (the devil not being terribly creative) temptation is temptation. He was tempted to sin in essentially the same ways that you and I are. That means that He understands sexual temptation!

The Lord who saved you from the PENALTY of sin is also able to save you from the POWER of sin. He especially comes to the aid of those who are tempted when they cry out to Him in the moment of trial. Cry out to Him. He doesn’t promise that He will keep you from ever being tempted. But, once tempted, there’s no better Person to turn to than the Lord Jesus Christ.

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*"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission."