Yet without sin

Jesus experienced the same temptations we do, yet he never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15 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.) I’ve heard people say He couldn’t have been tempted like I am. He never had a car so He could never have been tempted to speed, etc.

1 John 2:16 (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.) would indicate sin can be boiled down to three categories. 

The temptation of Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:15 – 17 and Genesis 3:1 – 7 bears this out. Three basic temptations (1 John 2:16) seduced Adam and Eve in the garden: 1. The lust of the flesh – the fruit was “good for food”, 2. The lust of the eyes – “it was pleasant to the eyes” and 3. The pride of life – “A tree desired to make one wise “. 

But what about Jesus? After His baptism by John the Baptist in Jordan, he went into the wilderness. (Matthew 4:1 – 11) After 40 days Jesus’ body began to starve and the devil arrived. The enemy of His soul taunted him with the lust of the flesh: command these stones to become bread. Jesus’ response was to quote the Word of God, “man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3b). His second temptation was the pride of life. The tempter took him to a pinnacle of the temple and urged him to throw himself down because didn’t the Father promise through David in Psalm 91:11 - 12 “11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Jesus’ response was also an Old Testament scripture: Deuteronomy 6:16 “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”. Finally the adversary showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time saying “All these will I give you if you will fall down and worship me.” To which Jesus replied from Deuteronomy 6:13 (NIV) Fear the LORD your God, serve him only . . .”

All three temptations of the world are summed up in the three from 1 John 2:16: Adam and Eve in the garden, Jesus in the wilderness temptation and us. 

 You may wonder about specific sins: murder or lying or adultery? They are sinful evidence of the lust seed rooted in the heart. Jesus referenced these Matthew 5. Murder originates in the lustful hatred in the heart having its seed in any one of the three categories. Only God can know the heart. Adultery originates in the heart’s lust as well, etc. James 1:14 – 16 bears this out stating a person is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed, then upon conception brings forth sin and ultimately death finishes.

Let us be encouraged by 1 Corinthians 10:13 knowing that no temptation snares us but what all people face. God is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able but will with each temptation provide a way of escape that we may be able to bear it. (Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ, (the Word made flesh John 1:14) in me. (Colossians 1:27)

(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)