Hebrews 2:18
Part 2Â
The Ministry of our Great High Priest
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. (Hebrews 2:18)
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
  The Lord Jesus being tempted is able to deliver us from temptation; this is all part of the wonderful grace of God. We should realize that there is a common temptation to all men, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) The natural man does not have the Spirit of God in his heart; he is, therefore, in a storm of temptation as a ship without a rudder. The child of God has Christ at the helm, and the Spirit of God as the rudder, and thus, He is able to deliver them from temptation. This should be a reassuring part of our faith in Jesus Christ; that when we are tempted we need to cast ourselves on the grace of God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, who is able to deliver us from temptation. Remember that He was tempted in all parts as we are, yet apart from sin; it is recorded in Matthew 4 when the devil first tempted the Lord Jesus with the temptation of the flesh in making the stone bread. Now in our situation, we need to avail ourselves of the Spirit of God in regard to our temptation. He is in our hearts not only to deliver our spirit, but to deliver our flesh from temptation.
  Let’s look at our flesh (that which is within natural man) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14) The Spirit of God in the Book of James used the word ‘lust,’ this word encompasses many lusts for example, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16) The world that surrounds us, as the children of God, is a compromising world of lust and sin. The child of God should realize that he has been separated from this world by the grace of God. In this verse of 1st John, we have the lust of the flesh, and we also have the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is the lust of pride. This is the world that wants to entice us. The wisdom of the world wants to overthrow our faith in Jesus Christ. They have been working timelessly to deny the Christ of the cross, and His great power of redemption. The Lord Jesus wants us to be fishers of men with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The object is to remove the fish from the ocean, whether you use a hook, or a net the goal remains the same. This is what the gospel does when one is converted. The hook or net snatches us out of the world, or the sea of humanity to place us in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus our Lord. It is from there, in heavenly places, that our great High Priest succors us and delivers us from temptation.
  Referring to the lust of the flesh, the Lord Jesus gave us an example, that if a man looks on a woman and lusts after her with his eyes, he has already committed adultery. The world would deny this statement by Christ when it presents it’s vanity fair, and all it’s lusts to man. They would want us, as the children of God, to follow them and not to follow Christ. Remember the depth of the love of the Lord Jesus; it was for our sin, and because of our sin that He was crucified. The world, however, wants us to believe that we simply added faith to a worldly being, this is not true. We have become new creatures in Jesus Christ, and we have been called out of this world to be with Christ. This is a reality, not a myth of our salvation. The Holy Spirit would not lie for in Colossians 3:1-4 it is recorded that He said through the Apostle Paul.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. (Colossians 3:1)
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.(Colossians 3:2)
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
  The mere professor of Christ wants Christ and the world. The one who possesses Christ knows that the world will pass away, and does not desire what the world can give. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. (1 John 2:17) Scripture establishes that man is tempted when he is drawn away by his lusts, and that there is a lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes. Since these are of the world, they can be used against us to draw us away from our walk with God, and lust covers a lot of ground. In the Old Testament, the word ‘lust’ is not mentioned until Exodus 15:9. The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. In the first mention of lust, we have Pharaoh pursuing the children of Israel. He was determined to satisfy his lust by bathing his sword in their blood; however, God finishes the verse in the Book of James when He said, by His Holy Spirit, that when sin is finished it brings forth death. (James 1:15) The death of Pharaoh is a good example of the finality of lust within a man overcome with lust; for he followed the children of Israel with his hosts into the midst of the Red Sea between two great walls of water, and God bathed His sword that day by pouring the waters over Pharaoh and his hosts so that all drowned — not one was delivered. Lust of power brought forth sin, and when sin was finished, it brought forth death.
  We have an example of lust in Numbers 11:34, And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted. God had given the children of Israel angels food from above. Every morning there was manna on the ground; but the natural man was not satisfied with God’s provision. The Bible tells us that it was not only the children of Israel who murmured, but there was also mixed multitude of humanity scattered throughout the camp of Israel, and they and the Israelites murmured against the Lord.
And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? (Numbers 11:4)
We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: (Numbers 11:5)
But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. (Numbers 11:6)
  They continued murmuring until God sent forth an enormous quantity of quail plunging out of the sky covering the ground. They lusted for the food of Egypt, they wanted flesh from the world of their enslavement, and not the manna; for their rejection of God’s provision, God judged them for their lust and caused a great many to perish while the flesh of the quail was still in their mouths. This was such a judgment that God referred to it by naming the place Kibrothhattaavah which means ‘the graves of lust.’ And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. (Numbers 11:33) These are two examples of lust, there are many more; however, I believe that these two will give the reader an idea of how treacherous the lust of the world can be; and if these lusts are not judged they will bring forth death. Temptation is the trowel that smooths the walls, and sin is the wall that separates you from God — and that brings forth death. So read the Scriptures that the Lord Jesus is able to succor us, or deliver us. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.(Hebrews 2:18) Consider also . . . .
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)Â For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; . (Hebrews 7:26)
Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14)Â For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)Â Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
  These Scriptures were given to us by the Holy Spirit of God not to make us doubt our salvation, but to give us full assurance of our salvation; however, the world loves to interject their own unbelief and doubt into the Church. The Holy Spirit knows their heart and their deceptive ways, that is why He has given verses in His Holy Word giving us full assurance of our salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. He is able to save us to the uttermost. Think of it this way, take up a pencil and start drawing a straight line and never stop, we get a slight image of the word uttermost, or we can take from Scripture a phrase, ‘higher than the heaven.’ In Chapter 2 verse 18 of Hebrews, the word ‘succor’ can also be the word ‘deliver,’ this is here to imply the Lord’s personal deliverance. It is the Lord picking you up and carrying you over the hot coals of sin, and this is for His children who are tempted. In Chapter 4 of Hebrews we have a great High Priest who is passed into the heavens; the ultimate place of authority, and from this place on high He is in direct communication through the Spirit of God and He is touched with the feelings of our infirmities. We are instructed by the Spirit of God to come to that throne of grace, and this is for our help in time of need. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
  In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 4, we see the tempter coming to the Lord Jesus, he is called the Devil, and he is the same Serpent that was in the Garden with Adam and Eve. The tempter came, that old Serpent the Devil. Let us now consider James 1:13, 14 once again, God deals with the subject of temptation in James 1:13; first, God tells us that He is not the tempter, nor does He tempt any man. It is the tempter, the Devil, and one’s own flesh that is before us in verse 14. First, one has to be drawn away — away from whom? — away from Christ. How does the Spirit work with the child of God in this circumstance? He brings that very little used word ‘conviction’ to the heart and soul of the child of God. We are not talking about our eternal salvation, we are talking about walking with our Savior, Jesus Christ, in our daily life. As we are brought to conviction, then we must judge that sin that we are convicted about. This is a matter of fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and John has told us that if we desire fellowship with Christ we must confess our sin. In the Book of Hebrews we have a High Priest who will deliver us from temptation. It is easier to be convicted by temptation than to have the Holy Spirit convict you because of your sin. There is a basic progression of temptation in this section of James: 1 — when we are tempted, then 2 — we are drawn away by our own lusts, and finally 3 — because of 1 and 2 we commit sin, which the temptation brought before us.
  If our spiritual life is upheld, we will not be drawn away, it is when we neglect our Savior, and His word, and the conviction of the Holy Spirit that we are drawn away into the world. One has to set in the heart, as a child of God, that the world is his enemy and not a friend. Yes, we have to have compassion upon the world, but we do not have to eat the same slop, nor mire in the same filth of the world. What is left if we allow ourselves to be drawn away from Christ — the world, the flesh, and the Devil — the root and the place of all temptation. Remember it is temptation and then lust that deceives us. It is only then that the world entices us, can we rest our head upon the Lord Jesus and ask Him to deliver us? Yes, we can, and He will deliver us at the throne of grace. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
  Let’s look at faith — faith was given of God; because of this faith you receive the free gift of grace that was given of God along with your immediate salvation. At that point of God’s grace, and from then on, you are continually under that same grace. It is the grace of God, it is unchangeable for it comes by the blood of Christ, Gods’ dear Son. When Paul, by the Spirit of God, wrote in 2nd Corinthians that His grace is sufficient for me, the Spirit of God meant today, tomorrow, the next day, and so on throughout all eternity. Your salvation and the grace of God is a continuum throughout all eternity, there is no end, or ending. God has acted in His own Person with divine sovereignty to save you, and that sovereignty also keeps you in His divine grace. Divine grace is a gift of God, it is not taken by you. It is He who has bestowed this gift upon you. You can only receive grace as a gift, for as in Scripture it is declared to be the gift of God. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8) Grace is not a request from the sinner to be saved, but a divine decree that the person who believes in Jesus Christ will be saved. Grace is the result of faith, faith is not the result of grace. Faith is the instrument of communication with God, and without faith it is impossible to please God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
  Both faith and grace are divinely given of God. With faith, we have the One who is able to save, the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul writing to the Galatians in 4:9, rightly stated, But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God. The Galatians had declared themselves for God, and that they knew God, then Paul went far deeper into eternity, and wrote rather are known of God, this is the transaction of faith and salvation which is given under God’s grace. It is God who enacts faith by belief in Him, and God knows our frame, and our frame is sin. In the sin of Adam, man set up an impossible mission for man. He built a wall between himself and God that no man could climb over or pass through. All righteousness has been cast off by man, only God in His Omnipotence and Sovereignty can destroy that wall which brought forth death. Christ suffered for the unjust to justify them before God; therefore, imputing God’s righteousness unto us. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18) By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10) All this is accomplished by the determinate counsels of God in Christ Jesus. In denying one act of God, then all is denied, even the sovereignty of God; for no act of God is out of the boundaries of God’s sovereignty. In 1 Peter 3:18, it is Christ bringing us to God, in Hebrews 10:10 it is Christ by the offering of His body bringing to us sanctification, then in Romans 4:22 we have righteousness imputed to Abraham, and in Romans 4:23, 24 we have righteousness imputed unto us.
Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; (Romans 4:23)Â But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; (Romans 4:24)
  Not only did Abraham received the righteousness of God, but we also, in the end of the age, have received the righteousness of God through the finished work of Christ that the righteousness of God would be imputed to us, who are the heirs of salvation. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25) We again have God acting in His sovereignty, Christ was delivered by God the Father for our offenses, He was raised from the dead by God the Father for our justification, so tell me what part did you take in your salvation? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. In all ages those who come to God by faith, believing that He is, has received His righteousness. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) One must believe God and believe that He IS; therefore, if we consider Romans, Chapter 4 we see in these verses that we should believe God, and by believing God we receive His righteousness through the finished work of Christ.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:3)Â
But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)Â Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (Romans 4:6)
Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (Romans 4:9)
And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: (Romans 4:11)
For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. (Romans 4:13)
And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (Romans 4:22)
 We, therefore, conclude that all is on God’s part. The only requirement for us is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If you were to do a study of two words in the Bible (the KJV version) study the word ‘believe’ in all it’s forms; then study the word ‘unbelief.’ I am going to let you do this for yourself so that the only influence you will have will be of the Holy Ghost. When I studied these two words I was amazed at where they were found, and the companion verses around them. So, let’s go on with our current study . . . .
  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14) One must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and here the Spirit of God is speaking to the redeemed and not the world, that we have a Great High Priest passed into the heavens. This is, of course, the man Christ Jesus, or Jesus the Son of God who is one and the same. Your salvation is held in the sovereignty of God. The Son of God is not only the messenger of the covenant with His earthly life, but He is the sustainer of that covenant in heaven. Read Hebrews, Chapter 9. Hebrews Chapter 9 closes with verse 28, So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. We, as the redeemed, are looking for His appearing, as He is the sinless One unto salvation. The angels on His departure from this world told His disciples that this same Jesus would come again in like manner. He walked through the world as the sinless one, He gave Himself on the cross as the sinless one, He ascended into heaven as the sinless one, and He will come again for His saints as the sinless one. This is the Jesus Christ that we are patiently waiting for. It is Christ who is able to succor us and deliver us from all temptation.
  In closing Chapter 2 of Hebrews, we must not forget how it begins.
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. (Hebrews 2:1)
For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; (Hebrews 2:2)
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will? (Hebrews 2:4)
  At the end of this chapter God the Holy Spirit, in verse 18, brings us the comfort of the Savior in that He is able to succor them who are tempted. Glory to God in the highest. Amen.
  Hebrews Chapter 3 is next. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit of God will give us manna from above. You are the reason I am writing and praying. To each individual who reads these articles, I pray my Savior He will open your eyes to His glory and grace. I also desire your prayers that the God of glory will enrich our souls through His divine word. Amen.
© Copyright 2015, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)