“Therefore He [Jesus] had to be made like His brothers in every respect, so that He might become a merciful and faithful High Priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.“
(Hebrews 2:17-18)
I have a problem with the way Matthew tells the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Or to be more accurate, the problem isn’t with Matthew, it’s with me. And this is what bugs me: almost all the time I hear this story, it sounds like Jesus got off so easy. I mean, the devil says, “Do this evil thing,” and Jesus comes right back at him with an answer out of the Bible—and that’s the end of it. Right?
Maybe not. Because in our reading for today, the Holy Spirit tells us that “because [Jesus] Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” Wait a minute. Jesus suffered when He was tempted? Well, I guess He did. I mean, He was out there for 40 days. This was not a quick and easy victory over the devil.
And this wasn’t the only time. I think it’s fair to see His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane as a time of temptation. I can’t imagine what it cost Him to know the cross was only hours away, and to ask the Father, “Let this cup pass from Me,” and then add the words, “Nevertheless, not My will but Yours be done.” (See Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42 ESV)
And then there was the cross itself! What did it cost Him to listen to His enemies saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. … let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him” (Matthew 27:42 ESV). Of course He wanted them to believe in Him—and there they were, saying they would do so—if only He would abandon His mission to save us.
But why does it matter, that Jesus suffered when He was tempted? Well, because I suffer when I’m tempted. At least, I suffer when I try to obey God and withstand the temptation—because it hurts, and it’s hard, and I can’t do it on my own. And all too often, I fall.
That’s why I need someone who understands what it’s like. I need Jesus, who suffered when He was tempted, and so He is able to help us when we go through the same experience. He isn’t going to look at me and say, “Oh, that should have been easy for you, why are you so weak?” No; instead, He says, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 ESV) and “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out” (John 6:37 ESV). Jesus’ heart goes out to us when we are in trouble, and He can give us real help, because He has died and risen for us. Every single time, no matter how often we fall, He forgives us, strengthens us, and gives us everlasting life.
We pray: Lord, You know my temptations. Help me! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Kari Vo.
Originally published in The Lutheran Hour on January 29, 2025
Used by permission from International Lutheran Laymen’s League, all rights
Reflection Questions:
1. How do you cope with temptation?
2. Do you ever worry that God will not forgive you when you fall?
3. How does Jesus make it clear that He will always take you back?