Tempted in Every Way We Are
Hebrews 4:15–16 (NIV): 15 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. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
When Jesus, our High Priest, walked this earth, he experienced everything we experience, including temptation. The only difference is that he did not sin. He remained obedient and faithful to his Father.
Because Jesus experienced everything we did, we can turn to him and he understands what we are going through, he can empathize with us. This is a powerful truth of Christianity that our God can empathize with us because he has walked in our shoes. He experienced joy, grief and sadness, selfish longing and desire, betrayal, pain, anger, everything. We can come to Jesus and know that he gets what we are experiencing and struggling with, he is a God who understands us. And we can know that he will answer our prayers in accordance with his most loving plan for us. Therefore, as children of God, forgiven and made holy through Jesus, we can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence that he will give us the mercy and grace we need in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).