Tempted in all things

"We have [a high priest] who has been tempted in all things like unto us, but without committing sin." Hebrews 4:15 (UKJV)

During his passage on earth, the Lord Jesus was "tempted", a term roughly equivalent to "tested", "put to the test". Let us point out at once that it has only been attempted externally. His holy soul could not in any way be drawn into evil, for it had no covetousness. Jesus was "tempted in all things" :

- at all times : from his baptism to the cross ;

- in all places : in a desert, on a high mountain, in the city (Luke 4) ;

- in different ways: by men (Luke 20: 20-26), by Satan (Luke 4: 1-15).

In the desert, the devil tries successively to make Jesus fall by inciting him to have an attitude :

- independence from God : "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone that it becomes bread" (Luke 4: 3) ;

- of infidelity to God : "I will give you all this authority, as well as the glory of these kingdoms ... If you prostrate before me, it will be all yours" (v.6) ;

- provocation to God : "Throw yourself down here ; For it is written ... "(v.9).

The devil tries Jesus by the need of the flesh (eating), by the spectacle of the glory of the world, by the pride of a brilliant prodigy. These temptations are addressed successively to the body, the soul and the spirit : the test is total.

These three aspects of temptation already appear in the temptation and sin of Eve : the tree was "good to eat" (lust of the flesh), a "pleasure for the eyes" (lust of the eyes) and "desirable for To make intelligent "(the pride of life, see Gen. 3: 6; 1 John 2:16).

The "first man", Adam, was tempted once, and in a garden of delights : he fell. The "second man", Christ (1 Corinthians 15:47), was tempted three times in a desert : he defeated !

But, it will be said, it is normal since he is the Son of God ; We are but weak humans ! Yet when the devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God ..." Jesus replies : "Man will not live by bread alone ..." (v. 4). It is therefore as a man that he has overcome temptation.

Lord, help me to abide in you, to overcome temptations by you and like you !

Source (Please the Lord)