Each and every human being struggles with temptation – the desire to do wrong, break the law, disobey God, and to advance our own interests at the expense of others. The Bible says:
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:13-15 NIV)
Jesus Christ is fully God. (Colossians 2:9) Since God cannot be tempted, then how could Jesus be tempted? He could be tempted because He was also fully human.
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:14-17 NIV)
Jesus understands our struggle with temptation because He endured it Himself – for our sake. The Bible gives a clear account of how Christ was tempted, and how He resisted temptation. He countered the Devil’s snares, and even his twisting of scripture, with a clear and correct use of the Word of God.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Deuteronomy 8:3)
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,
and they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” (Psalm 91:11-12)
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ” (Deuteronomy 6:16)
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” (Deuteronomy 6:13)
Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him. (Matthew 4:1-11 NIV)
The Bible tells us we can rely on Jesus when we are tempted. He will help us if we ask Him.
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2:18 NIV)
For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did
not sin. (Hebrews 4:15 NIV) [1]
