The Temptation of Christ

Temptations III

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14-16

Ainsi, puisque nous avons un grand souverain sacrificateur qui a traversé les cieux, Jésus, le Fils de Dieu, demeurons fermes dans la foi que nous professons.

Car nous n'avons pas un souverain sacrificateur qui ne puisse compatir à nos faiblesses; au contraire, il a été tenté comme nous en toutes choses, sans commettre de péché.

Approchons-nous donc avec assurance du trône de la grâce afin d'obtenir miséricorde et de trouver grâce, pour être secourus dans nos besoins.

Heb 4:14-16, Louis Segond

Was Christ tempted? Absolutely. Did Christ sin? Absolutely not. Is temptation sin, then? It can’t be, right?

Not so fast. Let’s go back to the verse. It says that Christ was tempted at all points… yet without sin. If any and all temptations involve sin, than this is a contradiction in terms. But do they?

Tis a Sin to be Tempted

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

James 1:13-18

There is a temptation that involves sin. There is a temptation that exists when we have a sinful desire, and we face a situation where we can give in to it. A situation where we desire to sin… and are faced with mortifying that desire, and fleeing from the situation.

There is a situation where our own lust, our own desire to do evil things, draws us and entices us. That is sin.

And that is not what happened to Christ. At no point did His evil desires rise up and try to get him to do evil things.

Tis a Sin to Tempt

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Mark 4:1

And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Mark 1:13

Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Luke 4:2

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

Luke 10:25

And then there is another temptation that involves sin, but not necessarily our own. There is a temptation where someone else (or, in the case of Satan, something else) confronts us and tries to get us to do evil. There is sin here, but it need not be our sin, and definitely isn’t our sin alone. It is the sin of the tempter.

And, obviously, this is something that happened to Christ. Time and time again one man or another, and Satan Himself, came to him to try to get Him to do things which were not in accordance with God’s will. And time and time again He turned them down.

But this is not something that Christ ever did. Christ never tempted anyone with evil.

There is a Trying

The Trying of your Faith… is also called Temptation. When God calls us to do something difficult, when He puts us in a difficult situation. And He calls on us to not only survive but to thrive through that situation

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

James 1:2-4

The Temptation of Christ

So the question, which of these meanings of ‘temptation’ fit Christ?

So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 5:5-10

The Biblical answer is clear. There was no hint of sinful lusts enticing Christ. There are constant reminders of those around Christ, including Satan, testing him. And there is a clear statement that all that He did on Earth was that through which He was made perfect.

He was tempted… yet without sin.
He went through trials, he was faced with evil men on every side, yet He did not sin. He went through the trials and did the will of His father, learning obedience. (God’s Words, I would never be so bold).

Human Sinners

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 1:18-32

We, on the other hand, sin. Our lives are immersed in sin… including our temptations. From original sin, to failing to meditate and memorize God’s Word, to failing to flee previous temptations, to putting ourselves in situations where we will be tempted… we sin.

And because of those sins we have lots of temptations. Many of them the ‘enticed by our lust’ kind of thing. We ourselves, and our society. Our churches, our homes… they are all immsersed in sin.

Consider what it means when God says ‘gave them up’. It means that the tendency was there, the desire was there.

Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Deuteronomy 5:21

The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.

Deuteronomy 7:25

If someone were to say to you, “I desire to do an evil thing, but that is not my fault,” they are wrong. A desire to do evil… is evil.

We never read of Christ, “He desired to do evil,” even with the caveat, “But He didn’t.” He neither did evil, nor desired it.

For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 2:16-18

Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years.

Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways.

So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

Hebrews 3:7-11

Thank you for reading Von’s Substack. I would love it if you commented! I love hearing from readers, especially critical comments. I would love to start more letter exchanges, so if there’s a subject you’re interested in, get writing and tag me!

Being ‘restacked’ and mentioned in ‘notes’ is very important for lesser-known stacks so… feel free! I’m semi-retired and write as a ministry (and for fun) so you don’t need to feel guilty you aren’t paying for anything, but if you enjoy my writing (even if you dramatically disagree with it), then restack, please! Or mention me in one of your own posts.

If I don’t write you back it is almost certain that I didn’t see it, so please feel free to comment and link to your post. Or if you just think I would be interested in your post!

If you get lost, check out my ‘Table of Contents’ which I try to keep up to date.

Von also writes as ‘Arthur Yeomans’. Under that name he writes children’s, YA, and adult fiction from a Christian perspective. His books are published by Wise Path Books and include:

The Bobtails meet the Preacher’s Kid

The Bobtails and the Cousins

The Bobtails go to France

and

No Ordinary School

Soon to be coming out is GK Chesterton’s wonderful book, “What’s Wrong with the World”, for which ‘Arthur’ wrote most of the annotations.

Arthur also has a substack, and a website.

Thanks again, God Bless, Soli Deo gloria,

Von

Links