Jesus: Our Tempted Yet Sinless High Priest

This naturally leads to an important theological investigation: What distinguishes temptation from sin? If Jesus was tempted in every way as we are and yet did not sin, doesn’t this logically assume that it is possible to be tempted and not sin? After all, if temptation itself were sin, we would not have a sinless Savior.

The typical understanding of temptation is the enticement to wrongdoing that confronts us every day. We typically think about it in its most graphic forms: the temptation to sin sexually, the temptation to elevate ourselves over others, the temptation to steal and cheat, or the temptation to lash out in anger. Yet when we examine Jesus’s temptations in Matthew 4, we see just how basic temptation can be. That narrative demonstrates that even eating can be a temptation if satisfying physical hunger results in disobedience to God. Thus, Scripture shows us that temptation can take the most graphic of forms and the most basic of forms. Nevertheless, Scripture instructs us to go to Christ when we are tempted because he is the only one who was tempted in every way common to humanity and yet did not sin.

Consider Jesus’s words in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus says that to lust after a woman is to commit adultery in the heart (Matt 5:28). Does this imply that a man commits adultery in his heart every time he sees a woman he considers attractive? The answer cannot be yes because Jesus is not calling men to stop looking at women; he is calling them to fight looking at women with lustful intent. He is calling them to fight the temptation to turn attraction into sin. Every man knows a line is crossed when he moves from an initial attraction to allowing that attraction to captivate his mind with lustful thoughts. When a man crosses that line, he is giving permission to his temptation to manifest itself into full-blown sin. Even without giving himself to that sin in a physical sense, that man is still committing adultery.

Jesus never crossed that line. He was tempted in every respect that we have been tempted, but never once did he permit that temptation to become sin in his heart, in his thoughts, or in his actions. Thus, temptation that resists or rejects sin falls short of sin, while temptation that gives over to sin is sin. In other words, millions upon millions of people who have never committed adultery in the flesh have committed adultery in their hearts. Moreover, every person has in some respect given permission to some temptation to become sin. Thus, the author of Hebrews is exhorting his readers to find rescue from their temptations in Christ, the only high priest who can deliver us from temptation. While temptation may always hinder us this side of heaven, Jesus’s priestly ministry promises that it will never ultimately triumph over those who claim Christ as their high priest.

Amazingly, the author tells his readers that Jesus was tempted in every way that they are tempted, but Jesus never let his temptations cross over into sin. He always resisted. This perfect sinlessness is indispensable to Christ’s ministry as our high priest. If Jesus had sinned, his atonement would not have been sufficient because he could not have propitiated God’s wrath against sin. In Romans 3 Paul explains that God overlooked the sins of the past in his forbearance in order that full atonement would be made in the cross of Jesus Christ. In other words, Israel lived under the threat of the wrath of God day by day. Old Testament priests could only offer sacrifices that would delay God’s judgment against sin. Their sacrifices could only buy time. Jesus’s sacrifice, however, accomplished complete atonement for sin once and for all. This was only possible because he was without sin, totally unlike every other high priest and totally unlike every other human being.

Hebrews 4:16

On account of their great high priest who intercedes on their behalf and sympathizes with their weaknesses, the author of Hebrews exhorts Christians to approach the throne of grace with confidence. This throne is the throne of God. For those who are in Christ, God’s throne is a throne of immeasurable grace. At his throne, Christians are able to find grace to help them in their times of need. Even in our weaknesses, we can approach the throne of God with confidence because we know that God has fully and finally put away all of our sin in Jesus Christ, our great high priest. However, for those who are not in Christ, God’s throne is a throne of terrible judgment. At his throne, those who reject Christ bear the full penalty of their sins. For those who reject Christ, the “throne of grace” is a throne of wrath.

Furthermore, the author says that this throne of grace is a place Christians can confidently “approach” in order to find the grace they need to face every situation in life and to receive the mercy they need to cover the sins they commit. If we could not draw near to God with confidence on account of Christ’s work, then the Christian life would be futile and hopeless. We would not dare enter God’s presence if we did not know Jesus as the One who is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

Christians have a great high priest, one who has passed through the heavens, atones for sin, and intercedes for us before the Father. Jesus, our intercessor, identifies with us because he experienced in every respect the same temptations that we experience. Therefore, we can come before the throne of God every day as well as on the last day with confidence because we know Christ mediates for us before the Father.

If Christ were not our great high priest, we could not stand before God. We would be cast from his presence for all eternity. And yet, no Christian lives under this threat. Righteous judgment has been replaced by radical mercy. Therefore, let us not shrink from God’s presence. Instead, let us draw near to him with all boldness and confidence, knowing that he is willing to equip us with mercy and grace in our times of need.