Heb 2:17-18 Jesus is Able to Help Us

Hebrews 2:14–18 ESV

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Imagine that one of your friends comes to you and tells you that he is planning a big vacation to go see the Grand Canyon. He tells you that this was his dream since he was a little kid after watching westerns and cowboys. You get excited for him and in the conversation, you will probably ask if he is going to fly or drive. His answer to your astonishment is “I am going to walk”.

After you recover from speechlessness, you won’t know what to say to your friend besides are you out of your mind? Have you lost your marbles? He continues to say that he can do it on his own, it will take 600 hours of walking, about 100 days if he walks 6 hours a day. But what about your supplies and luggage? Won’t it cost more?

At some point you will say to him, you do know that a car or an airplane is able to take you there, right? He will say no, I can do it on my own if I get tired I can take a bike, it will take only 200 hours. In exasperation, you might repeat to him you do know a car or airplane is able to take you there.

Trying to live this life on our own is like trying to walk to the Grand Canyon. It is ludicrous, expensive and just plain absurd. Yet we do it all too often.

God is reminding us in this passage that Jesus is able to help us. This is God’s message to us this morning. Jesus wants to help us, we will be crazy to try to live life otherwise.

Chapter 2 of Hebrews ends with verses 17-18, where the author presents a conclusion of the argument that started in v10.

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Why did Jesus have to be made like us in every respect? This seems almost as crazy as walking to the Grand Canyon. But, when we look at the previous verses, we can see that the author already presented several answers to the same question.

V9 says that Jesus became a man so that Jesus tasted death in our place

V10 says that Jesus became a man so he would bring many sons to glory

V11-13 says that Jesus became a man so he would be our sanctifier, and he is not ashamed to call us brothers and sisters

V14 says that Jesus became a man so that he might destroy the devil

V15 says that Jesus became a man so that He might deliver us from the fear of death

V16 says that Jesus became a man so that He would help us

Now in V17, the author summarizes all this by saying that Jesus became a man so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Here in v 17 is the first time in the book of Hebrews that the word high priest is mentioned in this letter. This theme, Jesus our high priest, is a prevalent theme in the letter to the Hebrews, there was already an allusion to it in Heb 1:3. In chapters 4 through 8 the author of Hebrews explains in detail the priesthood of Jesus. Therefore, we will be looking at this much deeper in the months ahead.

For now we should understand why the author of Hebrews talks about Jesus as the high priest here. He is answering the question: why did Jesus have to be made like his brothers in every respect? Why did Jesus have to become a man? His answer is found with this reference Jesus made “propitiation for the sins of the people” and to become a faithful and merciful high priest.

V17 doesn’t just say that Jesus is a high priest, it says that Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest. We can understand why it mentions merciful, because he partook of our flesh and blood, so He can fully sympathize with our weakness and struggles. He is a merciful high priest, even though He is God, He took the punishment for our sin, He knows what is like to be a human being and He is merciful to us.

Here in Hebrews after talking about Jesus the faithful and merciful high priest the author goes on to talk about God’s house. Just like the prophecy in 1 Sam about the coming of the great faithful priest.

1 Sam 2:35 “And I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house, and he shall go in and out before my anointed forever.”

This prophecy was given to Eli the priest. God was rejecting Him as a priest because He honored his two sons more than God and allow them to profane God’s temple. God was cutting down his house and establishing another priest in his place, this was partially fulfilled by Samuel the priest, the one that anointed David king later. However, the prophesy talks about this priest going in and out forever. Samuel died and his sons were not as righteous as Samuel. Therefore, this prophecy in 1 Sam 2 was talking about a priest that was going to come and live forever.

Thus, when the author of Hebrews talks about Jesus the faithful priest, he is pointing out that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy. That Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ.

Jesus is not only faithful, but He is also a merciful high priest who made propitiation for sins.

When it says to make propitiation for sins, it is a deeply important concept. Here the Greek word used can either mean to make ‘expiation’ or ‘propitiation’.

The difference between “expiation” and “propitiation” is subtle but important. “Expiation” signifies the cancellation of sin while “propitiation” gives the idea of turning away the wrath of God. There is an extensive discussion among Greek experts on which is the best translation. I won’t bore you with all the linguistic discussion and just point to the fact that the preferred translation is propitiation and not expiation because that was the concept that this word represented in other writing most often in first-century Greek.

The word propitiation is a word that is associated with the wrath of God. Scripture consistently teaches that the wrath of God is over sin. We could say that the consequence of sin is the wrath of God. For the consequence of sin is death.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Christ takes the wrath of God away from us when we repent and put our trust in His sacrifice.

Rom 3:26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God is both the just and the justifier. Jesus is both the high priest and the sacrifice. Back to our initial analogy of walking instead of flying to the Grand Canyon. The author is saying that Jesus is not just the airplane, but also that He is the fuel and the power that allows the airplane to fly. I know this is not a perfect analogy, but Jesus is both the gift and the giver, the intermediary and the means for intermediation. Meaning if you don’t have Jesus, you have nothing, literally nothing.

The author of Hebrews after talking about these amazing truths about Jesus was compelled to give us a practical application. He says:

Hebrews 2:18 ESV

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

I want you to notice a slight change in the phrase. In v 16 the author says that Jesus helps us. Here in v18, it is slightly different it says Jesus is able to help us. The author could have said only that Jesus helps us, but he is emphatic on the aspect that Jesus not only does help but Jesus is able to help us. Meaning we should run to Him because He is more than able to help us.

God is asking us to consider Jesus’ ability to help us, not only that He does help us, but to ponder the amazing fact that Jesus, who is the Son of God who has the stars in His hands, sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on High, to whom everything is subjected now and forever. This Jesus, who is being worshiped and exalted with honor and glory by the angels. He is able to help us. He is not too busy. We are not below getting His help. In fact, the author just spent time telling us we are worthy of His help. He considers us His brothers and sisters, we are sons of God, not by our own merit, but by Christ’s work. We are co-heirs with Christ, we could not have given greater honor to be called sons of God.

Why is he able to help us? Because He partook of our flesh and blood, lived the boring, “common” unexpected “regular” life on earth, as we saw last week. Then for the years of His public ministry, He had to deal with those that opposed Him, those that followed Him and never seem to understand Him. Then after He was betrayed, Jesus was abandoned by all his followers, and then finally alone He took the wrath of God for our sin on the cross.

Because of all of this he is able to help us. Therefore, we should run to Him to ask for His help, to hold our hand, to take hold of us, and to lead us in His presence.

But as we look at this verse again I want you to notice that this verse also says because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. It seems that temptation is a big theme here in this verse. It says that Jesus suffered when tempted. Here is a question we can consider, was Jesus truly tempted? Why do I ask this question? Some incorrectly will say that Jesus was not truly tempted because He as the Son of God was not able to sin. What some are saying is that Jesus’ temptations were not real because He was not able to sin.

First, we need to consider this idea that Jesus was not able to sin. Scripture affirms repeatedly that Jesus never sinned. He was sinless and perfect in every way. But also, Jesus was fully man and fully God. Jesus’ human nature never existed apart from the union with His divine nature. Meaning there was never a time when Jesus was not God. If Jesus had sinned in His human nature. He would not be separated from His divine nature. Therefore, because Jesus was fully man and fully God. It was impossible for Jesus to sin. He could not have sinned or He would not be God.

If it was impossible for Jesus to sin, how then could Jesus’ temptations be real? When we look at the temptations Jesus faced, we see that He never relied on His divine nature to resist the temptations. We can see this when He was tempted to turn the stones into bread. In his divine nature, he was able to turn stones into bread, however, Jesus refused to rely on his divine power, but he faced the temptations in the strength of his human nature instead relying solely on the Holy Spirit. We could say that His divine nature was the “backstop” that would not have permitted Him to sin.

For example, someone could cross the ocean swimming, but in this endeavor, they had a boat that followed several yards behind the swimmer to prevent them from drowning should they not make it. Upon completing this trip, if someone were to challenge the fact that this individual truly swam the whole way. The swimmer would only need to point to the witness in the boat that followed but wasn’t needed. It served its purpose of preventing the individual from drowning while validating the event. Christ resisted every temptation to its fullness in His human nature, even though His divine nature was “following behind” and would not have allowed Him to have sinned.

Furthermore, Jesus is the only one who knows the full force of temptation. Jesus is the only one that never yielded to any temptation, He always said no, because He resisted to its fullness He is the one that knows the full force of temptation.

C.S Lewis said the following regarding this question: “A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is. . . . A man who gives in to temptation after five minutes simply does not know what it would have been like an hour later… Christ, because He was the only man who never yielded to temptation, is also the only man who knows to the full what temptation means.

Here is an illustration that Grudem gives: “Just as a champion weightlifter who successfully lifts and holds overhead the heaviest weight in the contest feels the force of it more fully than one who attempts to lift it and drops it, so any Christian who has successfully faced a temptation to the end knows that that is far more difficult than giving in to it at once. So it was with Jesus: every temptation he faced, he faced to the end and triumphed over it. The temptations were real, even though he did not give in to them. In fact, they were most real because he did not give in to them.”

Was Jesus truly tempted? Yes, furthermore, Jesus is the only one who knows the full force of temptation because He never yielded to any temptation. Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

When we look at v18 of chapter 2 it brings to mind another question, it says he suffered when tempted. But, how did Christ suffer when tempted?

The first thing that comes to mind as I ponder this question is. During his whole life as a man, He suffered the disapproval of men. It seems like Jesus never pleased people, He was always doing what the Father ask him to do. Many were following Him because Jesus gave them something to eat or because He cured them, or because they want to restore the kingdom of Israel by force. Furthermore, Jesus knew what they were thinking, I am sure that caused a lot of suffering. I’m sure that it was easy for Jesus to see everyone giving in to temptation while He is steadfastly resisting. Can you imagine His suffering? knowing what people thought and hearing their flawed understanding of God and of Him? He knew that they were following Him for the wrong reasons. All of this must have made him sad, displeased, and discouraged by their hardness of heart. It is no wonder that at one time he was crying for the city of Jerusalem, Matt 23: 37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”

What suffering for Jesus to know what Judas thought of Him, knowing that He was going to betray Him. I’m sure that Jesus was tempted to treat Judas the way he deserved, but He kept him close and minister to Him until it was time for Judas to betray Him.

Jesus was abandoned by everyone, there was no one left when He was arrested. They all ran away for their lives, John Mark the one who wrote the gospel of Mark, during that night ran away naked because at that point he didn’t want anything to do with Jesus.

Jesus suffered loneliness because He was doing what the Father ask Him to do. Just before the worst time in His life, Jesus’ closest friends would not even stay up to pray for Him. He was crying out and sweating blood in agony and His closest disciples were nearby and Jesus asked them three times to pray for Him... yet they slept!

We didn’t even talk about the time when He was tempted in the desert by the devil and how He suffered as He was tempted. Then after Jesus was arrested, I am sure He was tempted to lie, when He was asked if He was the Messiah. Yet He told the truth and because of that, He was put to death. Then at the cross, as He faced such agonizing pain and suffering, He was tempted to stop the suffering at any moment, but it got worse and worse as He took our sin and received the wrath of God that we deserve.

It is safe to say that no one suffered as much as Jesus did when He was tempted. He suffered for never yielding to temptation. He suffered for his 33 years on earth for resisting temptation like no one else ever did. Because he suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Jesus is able to help us when we are tempted. Jesus is more than qualified and experienced in this life to help us. There is no one else who can help us like Jesus can. This is why the author of Hebrews here says that Jesus is able to help us, instead of just saying that Jesus helps us.

In saying that Jesus is able to help us, God is telling us: to run to Jesus and ask for His help. Last week when we studied the previous verses, we were reminded that Jesus is holding us, here God is reminding us of our responsibility to run to Him, and hold His hand. Only Jesus can help us.

Do we run to Him for everything? Do we let Him take our hand and help us?

Trying to live this life without His help is like trying to walk our way to the Grand Canyon, or walk around the earth on our own strength. It is impossible and we are going to be so beaten up while ignoring the One who is right next to us, who has the ability to help us like no one else in the universe can.

We know this, I’m not telling you anything new. But do we really do it?

It is so easy for us to think that what we are facing is too small, we can handle it on our own. That we are big enough to cross the road, it is a small road not much traffic. Don’t be fooled, we will never be big enough to do it on our own, we need Jesus’ help from the smallest thing to the biggest thing in life.

Other times in our life we will face things that are so big and overwhelming, that in the moment, in our panic mode we might forget to ask for His help. We will feel so overwhelmed, that the only thing we can think about is how can we fix this, or what can we do or who can we call? We will only be overwhelmed if our eyes are not seeing Him, that’s when we need to lift our heads and say: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”

When we are overwhelmed, we need to be reminded of who God is, and how powerful He is. Remembering He spoke a word, and creation came into existence. And this all-powerful, all-knowing, always present God is working all things for the good of those who love Him. Moreover, we don’t have to fight on our own strength. We have God the Son to help us, to hold us, to lead us through every storm. He knows what is like to live this life, He knows what is like to be tempted… and not fall! He knows how frail we are. Because He knows how much we need His help, He tells us over and over that He is here to help us, that our problems no matter how small or big are to be shared with Him who not only helps but is ABLE to help!

He cares and He considers us worthy to help because He has already shown us His love for us in dying for us while we were still sinners.

Praise be to God. The altar is open for anyone who wishes to call on him now as well.