Lord’s Day, Vol. 8 No. 36

Christ Is Able to Succour the Tempted

Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Wherewithal shall the tempted find his escape that he may not fall? It is in Christ that the believer overcome every temptation. For Christ is able to succour them that are tempted. The word “succour” means “to come to the aid of”. It is a compound word consisting of the word that means “a cry, exclamation” and the verb “to run”, “to run on hearing a cry, to give assistance”. 

I am reminded of Peter’s desperate cry to Jesus and our Lord’s immediate response coming to his aid in Matthew 14:24-31 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night (3am – 6am) Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.And immediately Jesus stretched forth hishand, and caught him…

The writer of Hebrews speaks of our Lord Jesus as a merciful and faithful high priest, seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven, having by Himself purged our sins (Hebrews 1:3b, 2:17), fully able to rescue the tempted of God’s people as they run to Him, crying out to him for help. 

To this effect, the Apostle Paul articulated well the comforting truth concerning this “succouring” as our faithful God making available always a way to escape in every temptation a believer encounters written in 1 Corinthians 10:13 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.

Christ has broken the yoke of sin on our behalf upon the cross – that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is the devil; and to deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14b-15).

The believers in Christ are exhorted to take hold of Christ, look to Him, turn their eyes upon Him, neglect not to call upon Him, in their trials. Jesus is ever able and ready to defend and protect them from the onslaught of the devil. The victory has been won. The escape route mapped out for every maze laid by the ingenuity of the evil one.

Hebrews 2:1 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. 

But when we yield to temptation, we sin against God, we suffer the consequence of sin – Hebrews 2:2-4 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 3 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; 4 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?

We must not forget Christ has won our salvation and will bring us safely through this earthly pilgrimage to reach our heavenly home. We must always appropriate the spiritual resources in Christ available to us through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance through prayer. We must appropriate the fullness of Christ made available to us in our daily trials. 

The disciples of Jesus experienced two terrible storms in the Sea of Galilee. In the first storm recorded in Matthew 8:24-27, Jesus was with them in the boat but in the second storm recorded in Matthew 14:24-33, Jesus was not with them in the boat. Yet both times, He was their present help. CH Spurgeon insightfully quoted Trench in this passage, “Trench beautifully said: “In the first storm (Matthew 8:24) He was present with them in the ship with them; and thus they must have felt all along that, if it came to the worst, they might rouse Him, while the mere sense of His presence must have given them the sense of a comparative security. But He will not have them to be clinging only to the sense of His bodily presence; they must not be as ivy, needing always an outward support, but as hardy forest trees, which can brave a blast; and this time He puts them forth into danger alone (Matthew 14:24-33), even as some loving mother-bird thrusts her fledglings from the nest, that they may find their own wings and learn to use them. And by the issue He will awaken them in a confidence in His ever-ready help; for as His walking on the sea must have been altogether unimagined by them, they may have easily despaired of that help reaching them, and yet it does not fail them. When He has tried them to the uttermost, “in the fourth watch of the night,” He appears beside them, thus teaching them for all their after life, in all coming storms of temptation, that He is near them; that however He may not be seen by their bodily eyes, and however they may seem cut off from His assistance, yet is He indeed a very present help in time of trouble.”

Peter was able to come upon the waters and walk but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and began to sink, he cried, saying, “Lord, save me”. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught Him, and said to Him, O thou of little, faith, wherefore, didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:30-31)

Let us believe Jesus is able and call to Him in our every trial that we may receive needful help to overcome every temptation for His glory. Amen. 

Yours lovingly,

Pastor Lek Aik Wee