So it is said emphatically of him, Heb. ii. 18, “In that he himself hath
suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” It
is true, there is something in all our temptations more than was in the
temptation of Christ. There is something in ourselves to take part with
every temptation; and there is enough in ourselves to James i. 14, 15.tempt us,
though nothing else should appear against us. With Christ it was not so,
John xiv. 30. But this is so far
from taking off his compassion towards us, that, on all accounts whatever,
it doth increase it; for if he will give us succour because we are tempted,
the sorer our temptations are, the more ready will he be to succour us.
Take some instances of Christ’s giving εὔκαιρον βοήθειαν, — seasonable help in and under
temptations unto sin. Now this he doth several ways:—