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It will be noticed that 2: 18 leaves us with the thought of "succour in temptation",
and not "salvation from sin". Babes are "unskillful", i.e., "untested" or "untempted", but
perfect ones have their senses "exercised". The pilgrim journey is one beset with
temptations, but all for the good of the tempted. The Lord will never fail them; perfect
sympathy exists between the great High Priest and the tried saint. He Himself has
suffered being tempted; He can succour those who are tempted. Failure therefore is
simply lack of faith, not lack of provision. This we shall see more clearly when we enter
upon the examination of chapters 3: and 4:
To summarize. The four steps towards perfection are:
First:
Sanctification.
Second: Realization of the oneness existing between the risen Lord and His people.
Third:
Consciousness that the one who had the strength of death can no longer
hold us in bondage.
Fourth: That complete provision, both for sins on the one hand (Lev. 16: deals with
the sins of a people already redeemed and separated), and for
wilderness temptations on the other hand, has been made in Christ.
While some of the figures used may not fit the church of the One Body, the blessed
realities of the figures used are for all saints in all times.
"If we walk in the light . . . . . the blood . . . . . cleanseth us from all sin . . . . . We have
an Advocate . . . . . He is the propitiation" (I John 1: 7 to 2: 1, 2).
No.22.
"In all points tempted like as we are"
(4: 15).
pp. 104 - 109
We have seen already that the outstanding characteristic of those addressed in
Hebrews is that of the pilgrim. He has here no continuing city. He confesses by his
attitude to life that he is a "pilgrim and a stranger". Like Abraham, he is willing to dwell
in a tent, while waiting for the city which hath foundations. In chapter 3:, the teaching
draws its local colour from the wilderness journey of Israel, and we have already
expressed our conviction that the temptations of Heb. 2: 18 are those which beset the
believer as he presses on to maturity with the possibility of the prize before him. In
Heb. 4:, this question of temptation is revived, and we feel it will be helpful to anticipate
that passage and deal somewhat exhaustively with the words of Heb. 4: 15:
"In all points tempted like as we are",
before entering into the third chapter with its "temptation in the wilderness" (Heb. 3: 8).
The subject is of universal interest. No dispensational differences of calling or sphere
exempt the believer from the pressure and allurements of the surrounding world, and this
must be our excuse, if one be needed, for this diversion.