Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18)

Our Aid In The Face Of Temptation

The wiles of the devil are endless, persistent, and without mercy. There is no backing away from the attempts of Satan to gain a foothold on the heart of God’s people. The devil will try any means necessary to bring about sin. He knows if he is successful enough, the sins of the person will draw him away from God and ultimately damn his soul. That is what he wants and desires the most. He knows he is condemned to Hell, and there is nothing that will change that. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, but the adversary wanted to take as people of God’s people with him. He is relentlessly seeking after the hearts of the holy. His single weapon is temptation.

There are only three elements to temptation. The apostle John illustrated temptation as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Satan’s three-pronged attack is the only way he tempts the human heart. Jesus overcame the wiles of the devil, living nearly thirty-three years without any sin. The Son of God was tempted by the lust of the flesh. He was tempted with the lust of the eyes. Satan attacked Jesus with the pride of life, trying to get Jesus to abdicate the will of the Father. In all points, Jesus refused to succumb to temptation and died a sinless man. One of the blessings of the sinless life of Jesus is to leave a pattern of assistance for all men fighting against temptation.

Jesus was made like His brethren so that He could understand and help all those who bore flesh and blood to learn how to overcome sin. The reality is that no one can live a sinless life. This does not excuse the need to sin less and learn how to overcome sin. The word of God guides the heart on how to have victory over sin. Jesus is the aid of all those seeking holiness in their lives because He lived it, experienced it, and faced it all while in the flesh. Jesus is an aid through the translation of Himself to the mortal flesh of man.

If there is one thing everyone needs, it’s help against the wiles of the devil. God offered His Son as a sacrifice to die for the sins of mankind and to become an aid or helper to those who are tempted. Everyone is tempted, and Jesus is the one who helps overcome temptation. There is no temptation that Jesus cannot help with. He stands ready to assist the hearts of those who face the daunting trials of the darts of the evil one. Every attempt to bring the heart into subjection to the evil one is met with the aiding hand of Jesus Christ.

Jesus suffered to become the aid against temptation. He was able to live sinlessly, but every man struggles with sin. The answer to overcoming the temptation of the devil is to abide in Christ Jesus, and the devil will flee. What helps man know the power of Jesus is remembering that Jesus felt all the temptations of the flesh and mind. He was impacted by all the wiles of the devil and remained sinless. When a man goes to Jesus seeking aid to overcome sin, the Lord can say, “I understand,” because He does.

There is nothing men face that Jesus did not face. He was tempted in all points. Satan attacked Jesus of Nazareth for more than thirty years and failed every time. What greater helper can a man desire than the Son of God, who understands the nature of temptation and how to overcome it? Victory is found in Jesus Christ. When you are tempted, let Jesus aid you. He is the Great Helper.