Christ's power to succour the tempted.
Heb. ii. 18. In that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
THERE was in various respects a necessity for Christ's humiliation : on our part, that, an atonement being offered for us, we might find favour with God : on God's part, that his justice might be satisfied, and his law be magnified : and on the part of Christ him- self, that he might be qualified for the discharge of his mediatorial office. This, having been expressly asserted in the preceding verse, is further intimated in the words we have just read; which lead us to consider,
I. The temptations of our Lord —
Great and manifold were the trials which our blessed Lord sustained,
L From men —
[Though in his infancy he grew up in favour with men as well as with God, yet from his first entrance on his public ministry, he was an object of universal contempt and abhor- rence^. He endured all manner of contradiction from all ranks and orders of men : they cavilled at his words, misrepresented his actions, reviled him as an impostor, and a confederate with the devil, and, at last, apprehended, condemned, and crucified him.]
2. From devils —
[These assaulted him with fiery temptations in the wilder- ness, urging him to distrust, presumption, and idolatry. They attacked him with fresh vigour in the garden, when the powers of darkness combined all their force against him : and they made their last efforts against him on the cross ; when, though " triumphed over and spoiled by him," they succeeded in " bruising his heel," and in bringing him down to the cham- bers of death.]
3. From God—
[When he stood as the surety of sinners, God exacted of him the utmost farthing of our debt. It was the Father who
^ Isai. xlix. 7.