Tag: temptation

A Reflection on Psalm 5

David experienced great hostility and persecution on his way to the throne in ancient Israel. At least one Bible commentator believes that this Psalm was written around the time when Doeg the Edomite betrayed David to King Saul in 1 Samuel 21. The would-be king called out to the Lord to acknowledge his struggles and punish his adversaries.

But what if our struggles aren’t against a specific person? What if we are aligned with David’s aspiration to lead a righteous, God-honoring life and we identify with his struggles, but we don’t have a human “foe” to pray against? Is this Psalm irrelevant to the modern reader?

It’s at least possible that the biggest danger for a modern-day pilgrim comes from a place instead of a person. It might be the lure of a consumeristic lifestyle that calls to us at every restaurant, mall, and car lot we drive past. Or it might be an invitation to join the boasting, hatred, and falsehood that it magnified through social media (v. 4-6). Social media may seem like it’s a personal form of communication, but it’s really not. It could also come from the entertainment industry that provides an endless supply of options, some which would clearly draw a believer off the path of righteousness. The biggest danger for someone today may a spiritual, if it’s not physical.

In either case, the admonitions in last two verses of Psalm 5 still applies. The weary traveler should find his or her joy in God and the resources that He provides, over and against their circumstances. In addition, the weary traveler should trust in God has his or her shield against life’s dangers. Clinging to these truths should provide protection no matter what kind of dangers one might face.

Could Jesus Have Sinned?

Matthew 4:1-11 records the temptation of Jesus Christ. After fasting for forty days in the wilderness, the Devil came to Jesus to tempt Him. Every time the Devil offered Jesus a shortcut to the Heavenly Father’s plan, Jesus quoted Scripture and refused the offer.

The writer of Hebrews tells us that Jesus was “tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15, NASB). In this context the term “tempted” means “to be tried, tested, and put to the test.” Like us, Jesus was tempted to sin, but how genuine was that temptation?

Generations of Bible teachers, seminary students, and theologians have debated the question, “Could Jesus have sinned?” We know He didn’t sin, but was sin even a possibility? Those who argue for the “peccability” Christ usually point out His humanity, His temptability (which implies sin), and His free will. Those who advocate the “impeccability” of Christ emphasize His deity, His divine attributes, and the Heavenly Father’s unchangeable plan for salvation.

A key part of this debate is identifying the nature of Christ’s humanity. Is Jesus human is like Adam was human before the fall, after the fall, or glorified in eternity. If Christ’s nature is human like Adam was before the fall then it was possible for Him to sin. If Jesus is like humanity glorified in the heavenly state, then He could not sin.

There is no clear cut answer to this perplexing question based on evidence that we have in God’s Word. If forced to choose, I would lean towards Christ’s deity and say, “No, He could not have sinned, even if He wanted to.” While this answer may be unsatisfactory to those who lean the other way, it underscores the bottom line – that Christ didn’t sin so that He could be our Savior.

At some point, this question should drive us to confront sin in our own lives. We have already given in to temptation, so what’s next? The next verse in Hebrews 4 urges us “…draw near to with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need” (Hebrews 4;16, NSAB). Jesus overcame sin and temptation so that He could help those who could not overcome on their own.