Hebrews 2:18, commentary and pictures

Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help, deliver, comfort and save to the uttermost those who are tempted, understanding their trials, weaknesses, sorrows and afflictions from experience and sympathizing with them.
He did this by clothing his divinity with humanity and taking human nature, laying aside visible glory and heavenly home to stand at the head of the human race, reach humanity, fight its battles and draw it to divinity.
He was tempted in all points on which people can be assailed, yet without sin, and was made perfect through sufferings as the Captain of salvation.
Having been made like his brothers, he now serves as a merciful and faithful High Priest to make reconciliation for sins, pleading with the Father as Advocate and doing for the tempted what they cannot do for themselves.
He overcame on the sinner's behalf, so fallen people who cannot defeat Satan by their own strength may obtain victory over evil and live pure lives through his power and in his name.

Verse Wording and Sense

Because he himself suffered while being tempted, he is able to help, succor, deliver, comfort and save to the uttermost those who are tempted. He understands their trials, weaknesses, sorrows and afflictions from experience and sympathizes with them. His experience as one made like his human brothers in all things enables him to serve as a merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for sins. He was ever touched with human woe and by word and deed sought to relieve human suffering, bowing in Gethsemane in agony of grief as a bruised reed. He is faithful over his household as a servant according to his appointment.

He did not take the nature of angels but the seed of Abraham, becoming bone of bone and flesh of flesh and partaker of the same flesh and blood as the children. He saw the fearful danger of man after Satan led him astray, perverted his principles and corrupted his mind, and determined in love to save the fallen race by the sacrifice of himself. To accomplish this he laid aside his royal robe and kingly crown and gave up his position as Commander in the heavenly courts and clothed his divinity with humanity, that humanity might touch humanity and divinity might lay hold upon the throne of the eternal. He became a partaker of humanity that he might bear the infirmities of humanity. Temptation can be overcome in his name.

The verse means he clothed his divinity with humanity and took human nature, laying aside visible glory, exalted position and heavenly home, to stand at the head of the human race, reach humanity, fight its battles against Satan's lying power, and draw humanity to divinity. He laid aside his visible glory and humbled himself to take human nature, coming to stand at the head of humanity deceived by Satan and to fight their battles in their behalf, while Satan met him to draw him away from allegiance to God and deceptively undermine his principles and loyalty. He stepped down from his high command and came to stand at the head of the human race to live a perfect life in behalf of sinners so that he might know how to help them in their conflict with sin. He veiled the glory of his divinity and assumed the nature of man so man could endure him. He chose a most humble position and lived the life of a toiler from his earliest years, working at the carpenter's trade, sharing the burdens of the lowly and the inconveniences of poverty, and because he knew by experience the hardships of those who toil, he can sympathize with the poor and comfort and encourage all humble workers, with his record of burden-bearing written for admonition and comfort so that no distinction is made between classes.

He set a perfect example and gave the lessons all must learn who are received into the heavenly city, and practicing the economy he enjoined makes a person wiser. From childhood to manhood he suffered being tempted in all points like humans yet without sin, successfully withstanding every temptation and thereby demonstrating that man need not perish in sin and transgression. He brought the treasures of heaven so that every human being might have power to reach the standard set in God's law, and through his sacrifice human beings can reach that high ideal and be complete in him, not with their own righteousness but with the righteousness he worked out for them, their imperfection no longer seen because they are clothed with the robe of his perfection. As Prince of heaven he left his royal throne and clothed himself with the garments of humanity to stand where Adam stood and endure the temptations Adam failed to endure, in behalf of the fallen race he had created, having pledged his word to be man's surety if man was overcome by temptation. After his baptism he went forth to the wilderness and fasted forty days and forty nights until hungered, there meeting in personal conflict Satan, the author of sin, once the covering cherub next in power to himself who lifted himself against God, led angels in rebellion, was cast out after war in heaven, and determined to set up a kingdom on this earth, and in this contest he was at a disadvantage with strength reduced by his long fast, because in the plan of salvation temptation was removed as far as possible from Adam when tested but nothing was done to remove temptation from him.

The verse shows that he fought the battles of temptation for humanity in the likeness of Adam, and that people can become victors through his name and power.

Incarnation and Human Nature

As Commander of heaven, one with God and equal with God, he laid aside honor, kingly authority, crown, royal robe, riches, glory with the Father and high command and stepped down to the head of the fallen race. He clothed divinity with humanity and came in deep humiliation, lowliness and poverty as an infant and child, born in Bethlehem and living thirty years in Nazareth as a common laborer and carpenter in simple clothes and a peasant home. He mingled with the lowly, shared daily toil, passed through the doubts and necessities of lowly life to sanctify every department of it, and refused to use divine power to lessen his burdens. Because he went through trial, self-denial and self-sacrifice in the human path, the tried can bring trials to him and learn how to bear the cross. By order of God he left heaven where he was taller than any angel, majestic and lovely, and took form and nature of fallen man in no more than common human size, so that faith in him as Messiah would rest not on sight and personal attraction but on excellence of character.

He did not take the nature of angels but the seed of Abraham, becoming bone of bone and flesh of flesh and partaker of the same flesh and blood as the children. After Satan led humanity astray, perverted principles and corrupted the mind, he in love determined to save the fallen race by his own sacrifice. With divinity veiled yet touching humanity at every point except sin, he lays hold on man with his human arm and on God's throne with his divine arm. He was made like his brethren in all things to be a merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for sins, ever touched with human woe and by word and deed seeking to relieve human suffering, even bowing in Gethsemane in agony of grief as a bruised reed.

He took fallen human nature with its liabilities, infirmities, degeneracy and possibility of yielding, as it was four thousand years after Adam with decreasing physical strength, mental power and moral worth. The weaknesses, sins, infirmities and degeneracy of the fallen race were upon him, humiliated to the lowest depths of human woe, reaching fallen man where he was in order to elevate him. He humbled himself rather than using circumstances for advantage and fasted for human sake, so he understands trials including fasting and provides a way of escape in every temptation so no one is tempted above what he is able to bear. Unlike Adam tempted in perfect unfallen strength, he met Satan in humanity weakened by generations of decline, enduring appetite, love of the world and display without sin.

He was made like those he came to help by giving himself to a life of lowliness, privation, poverty, sorrow, grief, affliction and temptation, wounded for transgressions and bruised for iniquities, so that he knows by experience how to reach every suffering, afflicted sinner. He took humanity's condition and bore its woes, loving people in sin and ingratitude, reaching the depths of woe to uplift mortals and turning none away empty. With mercy ever returning in stronger tide when beaten back by proud hearts, he wearies not in patience nor lessens love and zeal. He is like a brother to humanity, yet without sin.

He lived a humble human life as a toiler from earliest years, working with his father at the carpenter's trade, sharing burdens of the lowly, poverty, hunger, subjection to parents, weariness, thirst and inconveniences. He felt joy, grief, weariness, perplexity, hardship, need of encouragement, annoyance and bodily torture, with feelings easily hurt by neglect of professed friends on a path ten times more thorny, yet without complaint and without dread of sin's consequences. He learned by personal experience every human trial as child, youth and man, including hunger, thirst, need for food and sleep, toil and fatigue, forty days of fasting to help people overcome appetite and live by God's word, contempt, insults through power of position and wealth, degradation, disgrace and torment to the severest degree when one word could have destroyed his tormentors. He met the enemy's fiercest assaults, sharpest temptations and deepest sorrow, feeling need for angels and his Father's help as no other has felt it, yet keeping faith without failure. He came as an infant to meet Satan at every stage of human life so he knows how to sympathize with the young.

His divine and human natures are united: though fully human in humbling conditions shared by fallen humanity, he joined humanity with divinity and exemplified God's law in human life. He experienced temptation and weakness yet remained without sin, so he can pity and succor the tempted. He veiled his divinity so people could endure him, and from childhood to manhood withstood every temptation. In his humanity he reached humanity while in his divinity he laid hold of God's throne, with his human arm encircling the race and his power reaching the eternal throne.

His taking humanity connects finite humanity with the infinite God by the strongest ties, bringing the message of mercy and so great salvation first spoken by the Lord and confirmed with signs, wonders and gifts of the Holy Ghost. His deep, broad, free love lifts souls deluded by Satan out of Satan's circle within reach of God's throne, giving eternal life to all who receive him. Becoming poor so humanity might be made rich with heaven's riches, he gives a life measuring with God's life and eternal weight of glory, calling for earnest love in return shown by obedience and work to relieve suffering, for the Word was made flesh full of grace and truth of whose fullness all receive grace for grace. By taking humanity he reconciles God and man so that fallen people through his merits and blood may be exalted to partake of the divine nature, become heirs of the kingdom, and escape corruption.

God sent his Son rather than angels to save, because angels who never knew sin could not sympathize with human trials as he can by experience nor understand the work. An angel could not do the work because an angel could not understand the work to be done, and fallen finite nature needed divine power added to it to succeed and have hope of everlasting life. This provision shows God's great love in providing salvation to the uttermost, and in return requires obedience. His victory proves to angels and men that in every emergency the powers of heaven are ready to help the tempted.

His taking fallen nature led Satan to claim he would be vulnerable to being overpowered, which is presented as Satan's expectation rather than the outcome. Satan rejoiced that by causing the human fall he had pulled the Son of God down, telling his angels that when Jesus took fallen man's nature he could overpower him in that nature and hinder salvation.

His suffering belongs to the plan of salvation accepted by the Father, witnessed without interference by angels, descending into the depths of fallen woe in humiliation to make expiation for the perishing world. People live through faith in his redeeming power, and his suffering and death were part of God's plan to save humanity. He came to live and die for the race under sentence of death, to stand against the host of fallen angels as Defender, subject to the temptations wherewith man is beset that he might understand how to deliver the godly out of temptation and enable men and women to stand on vantage ground at the head of the fallen race.

He looked with infinite pity on the helpless fallen pair under the prince of darkness through transgression and proposed the only means acceptable with God to give another trial and place them again on probation. He consented to humble himself to engage the mighty prince of darkness to redeem them, identifying himself through humiliation and poverty with the weaknesses of the fallen race. His taking humanity does not make humanity cheap or common but shows deep love and care and makes it possible to be clothed with his righteousness.

Temptation Suffered Without Sin

He was tempted by Satan on every point where human beings can be assailed, passing in his human nature through every temptation they face so that he might know how to help and strengthen those who shall afterward be tempted. He was made perfect through sufferings as Captain of salvation and author of eternal salvation, to lift men from the degradation into which sin had plunged them, enduring the temptations and trials of humanity including those brought by the fallen foe. His temptations were real and no farce, including fierce temptations on appetite, on presumption, and on love of the world or worship of the god of this world, which are the three great leading allurements by which people are most overcome. Though tempted in all points like men, he was without sin and yielded not in thought, word, or deed, living in sinless perfect obedience and never yielding. His sinless spiritual nature made suffering more keenly felt, not less, shown in his real intense desire to escape suffering in his plea for the cup to pass, while his submission to the Father showed obedience. His conflict with temptation was long and earnest and wrung his divine soul with anguish.

Though free from taint of sin, he truly suffered under temptation, with refined holy sensibilities to which contact with evil was unspeakably painful, and temptation pressed him in proportion to the perfection of his holiness. He experienced every sorrow and temptation human beings face, endured uniquely fierce temptation and the heavy burden of the world's sin and pain, and can feel with every burdened, tempted, and struggling person. Satan finds a foothold in human hearts through some cherished sinful desire, but he had nothing in Christ, so no storm of temptation could swerve him from allegiance to God. After his baptism he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where his test came, and before beginning public ministry he submitted to fierce assaults of the enemy. He knew without conflict there could be no victory and consented to engage in the contest under any circumstances the foe might require, being led to contemplate his mission and brace himself by fasting and prayer, thus proving to angels and men that man may overcome with heaven's help ready in every emergency.

His wilderness temptation after baptism, fasting forty days and forty nights until hungered and fainting under the strain, was severer and more intense than human temptation, meeting Satan's strongest efforts and full strength on appetite while at a disadvantage with reduced strength. His forty-day fast and victory over the temptation to turn stones to bread and to satisfy hunger qualify him to encourage and reach those in deepest distress under appetite, including those weakened by gluttony and drunkenness. He stood in Adam's place in the wilderness to bear the test Adam failed, facing the ground where Adam failed; his test was of the same character as Adam's but far more severe, and he endured it without sin. As Prince of heaven he left his royal throne to stand where Adam stood and pass over the ground where Adam fell, enduring the very test Adam failed involving appetite, love of the world and display, and by victory redeemed Adam's failure and placed humanity on vantage ground, having pledged to be man's surety. His temptations were in kind just what his people must meet, and unlike Adam tempted in perfect unfallen strength, he met Satan in humanity weakened by generations of decline.

Unlike the first Adam who stood in perfect manhood with full vigor amid Eden in daily communion with heavenly beings yet believed Satan's lie without reaching for divine power, he as the second Adam took degenerate humanity after four thousand years of decreasing physical, mental and moral strength and refused to yield a hair's breadth or become Satan's bondslave, which would have given Satan control of the world, to rescue people from the lowest degradation and show that through firm humble obedience they may make up for Adam's failure and regain Eden. Satan met him in person as head of the kingdom he came to overthrow, once the covering cherub next in power to him who rebelled, was cast out after war in heaven, hid his identity as a fallen angel coming as an angel of light, and determined to set up a kingdom on earth. In the plan of salvation temptation was removed as far as possible from Adam but nothing was done to remove it from him. Satan knew the weak points of the human heart and put forth utmost power to take advantage of the assumed humanity, trying to compel his mind to yield, to use his own power to make bread from stones and deliver himself from peril, disguising evil as sympathy and goodness to preserve his life.

He consented to engage Satan under whatever conditions the foe required knowing without conflict there could be no victory, fighting the duel alone with apparently no friend. He refused the enemy, living by every word of God and standing on Scripture instead of arguing, affirming God's arrangements are wise and loving, with angels coming only afterward to minister food. In the wilderness he suffered hunger and tasted death for every person, did not revile Satan but spoke only the Lord's words, so tempted people by holding back natural words when provoked gain a victory recorded in heaven. He overcame every temptation and thought of evil without sin, retaliation or mistake so his divinity was not tarnished, from the desert to Calvary never turning from his Father. His victory will destroy Satan's power, demonstrate that people need not perish in sin, and expose the enemy's methods and the weapons for overcoming.

He endured temptation from the manger to the cross and from childhood through every stage of life to manhood, with Satan following him and contesting every inch of ground. The fiercer the conflict the more familiar he became with human temptation and the better prepared to help. As substitute and surety he felt every pang of anguish humans can feel, felt need of angels and his Father's help as no other, placed himself in his Father's hands without failing faith as a warrior winning victory for the world he created. His earthly life was continual sorrow from the evil he witnessed. Rather than using divine power to escape pain and humiliation, he summoned all his faculties to resist using his own power for self-deliverance from peril, though Satan knew weak points of the heart and exerted utmost power against the humanity he had taken.

While suffering contempt and persecution he was tempted to reveal heavenly power to force his persecutors to acknowledge him as Lord, but his task was to remain on the human level and refuse to deliver himself from peril. In Gethsemane he bowed in agony of grief as a bruised reed, ever touched with human woe and by word and deed seeking to relieve human suffering. His agony there was real human suffering under the weight of sin and God's wrath, faced without using divine power to escape, choosing to suffer to save the guilty, and the weaker and more helpless people recognize themselves to be the stronger they can become through his strength. Temptation itself is not sin or proof of God's displeasure, but yielding brings bondage and condemnation, and resisting reveals strength of Christian principle. Sin lies in yielding, and because he conquered on humanity's behalf Satan is not invincible, so trusting souls gain victory and greater strength and confessing sinners are pardoned.

Because he suffered temptation and repulsed Satan in every conflict on humanity's behalf, he gives strength to seekers, and no one can be overcome without his own consent, for the tempter has no power to control the will or force the soul to sin but can only distress without contaminating, giving followers courage to fight. No one will be called to pass through temptations as severe as those he endured, including what no human being would be called to endure and temptations greater than people face. He suffered more than people will be called to suffer to seek erring people and lead them to heaven, and though he hates sin he loves sinners and gave up riches and glory to make them pure and free from sin. His suffering included humiliation, reproach, death and the sins of the whole world laid upon him with mental agony, after which he died, rose and ascended to intercede, and followers are not called to suffer as he did but may follow his example and inherit all things. He never let Satan plunge him into unbelief, despondency and despair.

In resisting he used no power that is not granted to people, but asked and received power to overcome, showing followers may have the same power and angelic ministry, resist and pray and agonize as he did, and reach the perfection of Matthew 5:48. He faced temptation as a man without using divine power in a way unavailable to humanity, overcoming through strength imparted from above, conscientiously cooperating with its source, meeting temptation with Scripture as It is written. His conflict was fought at the risk of failure and eternal loss, which made the path of life sure. He was made perfect through suffering and temptation though he needed no human teaching and had no human weakness or imperfection, and his earthly humility and suffering, including death under the weight of the world's sin, were necessary to equip him to succor the tempted and open the way into the promised land. His suffering made him perfect as Saviour, not morally imperfect but perfected for his saving work through suffering and obedience.

He did not please himself but lived only to restore and save, denying even his longing for a desert retreat to commune with nature and God in order to work God's works, spending many nights in prayer with strong crying and tears seeking strength from his Father. His death on the cross exhibited God's unselfishness and infinite benevolence pouring out heaven's treasures in one gift to rescue people from Satan, revealing God's love and demonstrating Satan's real character and what power would have ruled had God not interposed. As pure and knowing no sin with no communion with sin, he took the guilt of sinful people on his sinless soul, bore discouragement, opposition, danger, penalty and the stroke of death as a spotless sacrifice and offering for sin to redeem all who accept him, with all power given him and heaven put into activity for redemption. He took human weakness and was put to the closest test requiring all faculties to resist inclination to use his power for self-deliverance, triumphing over darkness on human account. His help is promised especially to those entrusted with capabilities tempted to use talents for selfish glorification, and the praying, watching, believing soul coming to him is helped in every way.

Sympathetic Present High Priest

Made like his human brothers in all things, he serves as a merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for sins. He pities people, has compassion on the ignorant and erring, pleads with the Father as advocate, and brings reconciliation through his suffering under temptation. Made like those he came to help and made perfect through suffering, he is the merciful, tender and faithful High Priest, the Captain of salvation, Mediator, Advocate at God's right hand, Elder Brother taken into heaven, and Defender against the host of fallen angels, who sympathizes, intercedes, pleads his merits, regards their cases as his own, and does for the tempted what they cannot do for themselves. He was faithful over his household as a servant according to his appointment, having laid aside royal robe and kingly crown and his place as Commander to clothe divinity with humanity, taking not the nature of angels but the seed of Abraham, becoming bone of bone and flesh of flesh and partaker of the same flesh and blood as the children in order to bear human infirmities. Temptation can be overcome in his name because he suffered being tempted in that human nature out of love to save the fallen race.

He is now pleading before the throne of God as a compassionate, sympathetic, faithful High Priest. Because he was made in all things like his brethren and himself suffered under temptation, he knows by experience what human beings suffer and what a wounded, bleeding heart means, having learned obedience by suffering and been made perfect through suffering, so he is touched with the feeling of human infirmity and knows how to sympathize with and help a suffering church. His present intercession rests on his human experience and the sacrifice of his wounded body and spotless life, with wounded hands, pierced side, marred feet and broken body pleading for fallen people whose redemption was purchased at infinite cost. He is seated with the Father on his throne, not yet on the throne of his glory, and while his work as mediator lasts, if any man sin there is an Advocate with the Father. He is now in heaven at God's right hand, thinking of each tempted person individually, knowing every necessity, caring, loving, interceding, treating their cases as his own, and ministering mercy and grace at the throne of grace to all who hold fast their profession and come boldly in time of need.

Because he himself suffered while being tempted, he is nigh to all who call upon him in heartfelt need, knows how to succor the tempted, and gives a powerful motive to supplication for strength to walk as he walked, deny self, take up the cross and follow him as disciples to enter the kingdom of God, learning obedience and trusting God to overcome. His experience makes him a compassionate sympathizer who understands human weakness, sorrow, grief, wounded spirits and troubled minds and gives mercy, comfort and help in time of need, so the suffering, afflicted and tempted can trust him, commit the soul to him, and bring trials and sorrows to him who is too wise to err and too good to do harm. Because he suffered he knows temptation, trials, weakness, sorrow, grief, affliction and perplexity by experience, has a tender sympathetic heart, compassion, pity and tenderness for the ignorant, erring, bruised, afflicted and suffering, does not abandon those deceived into sin, watches over, comforts, strengthens and shelters all who believe and trust, and those who suffer most receive his deep sympathy. He is a never-failing Friend and Counselor who knows human weakness and infirmity, having been tempted without sin, who knows the long conflict with the subtle foe and is the refuge of all who call upon him when beset. He sympathizes with those who weep, is near in every emergency, does not leave the burdened alone but invites them to bring troubles in prayer, come to him, take his yoke and find rest.

Having suffered with humanity in affliction he ministers consolation to sufferers, and those who share in his sufferings may comfort others through the comfort they have received from God.

He bore the penalty of disobedience and the sins of the world as humanity's substitute and surety, was afflicted in their afflictions, and now intercedes before the Father. His help is tender toward the tried and suffering, able and willing when in need, and his sacrifice is all-sufficient as refuge and source of strength.

He understands Satan's power, plans and deceptive work at every stage of life, and works to expose them and to deliver the godly from temptation so they can discern deceptions and escape ruin. He can work for people by exposing the tempter's plans and teaching them to recognize and escape deception, having taken human nature and come as an infant to meet Satan at every stage, lived, suffered and died to win those Satan had deceived, and conquered temptation to intercede, plead his merits and enable resistance. To be the Defender against the host of fallen angels whom men and women must have, he had to be subject to the temptations wherewith man is beset that he might understand how to deliver the godly out of temptation, taking his stand at the head of the fallen race that they might stand on vantage ground.

He knows all Satan's skill, malice and strength to harass and cause pain, is afflicted in all human affliction, and wants sufferers to know he is ready with compassion and grace to endure as he endured, even when prayer for recovery seems unanswered. The love he showed on earth he still shows through his representative the Holy Spirit as Comforter, and because he took humanity, endured sorrow and grief, and was tempted as human beings are, the suffering person can turn to him for comfort and help.

He is touched by human weakness and is able to save completely those coming to God through him, though fully divine and holy, sharing human weakness, tempted in every way yet without sin. He stands beside those striving to enter the narrow gate, supports their efforts, fights their battles, and would send every angel rather than let a striving soul perish, his sympathy and help resting in divine power with the Godhead dwelling bodily in him.

He does not abandon those who make grave mistakes or are surprised and deceived into sin but continues to work, sympathize, pray and plead for them before the Father, offering to take their sin and credit his righteousness, with his atoning sacrifice the ground of pardon, justification and sanctification and the only hope of salvation. His help is especially for those discouraged by sins and evil thoughts who fear God will not hear prayers; such thoughts are Satan's suggestions and human imperfection makes atonement necessary, so they should not stop praying but seek forgiveness, simply tell God their needs, and find a purer and holier atmosphere. He knows how to help those hurt by others' actions, giving comfort and remaining a trustworthy Friend in distress, touched by weakness and interceding in troubles and disappointments while watching over those who have gone wrong but repent, love him and desire to serve him.

His experience enables him to draw near to those who suffer for the truth, including the tortured, imprisoned and chained, as their friend, and he will punish those who lead them away or distress them in conscientious obedience.

His strength to endure is made perfect in the weakness of those who suffer for his sake, for he stands by to sustain, arm with his mind, guide with counsel and impart his will, so none need complain at self-denial for him. He took human nature with a warm, loving, sensitive nature ever touched with human woe, and suffered being tempted, degraded, disgraced and tormented to the severest degree when one word could have destroyed his tormentors, yet without losing dignity because his humiliation was not for himself but to save others as the sacrificial Sin-bearer, and his infinite pity, strength, sympathy and love may be measured by his humiliation, suffering and death on the cross.

As humanity's Elder Brother he cares for youth and watches over them, his strength enabling endurance and victory, with his sacrifice at Calvary as pledge of that victory, having met Satan in human nature, resisted temptation and conquered him. As humanity's Elder Brother and appointed Ruler and Judge, he knows people's needs and where temptation is strongest, having experienced human weakness and temptation himself yet remaining without sin.

As Captain of salvation with experience in all human woes through ridicule, hatred, poverty and reproach, he calls the tempted to follow him by girding the mind, not fainting or murmuring, and withstanding the devil's fiery darts as he did. He has sympathy for the weak, stands beside burdened strugglers against sin and gives heavenly help so Satan cannot prevail over those who cry to him feeling sin's wound, though whether he calls people brethren depends on living righteously rather than in sin.

Taken from among men as bone of flesh, he approaches God in both human and divine nature, offered prayers with strong crying and tears, learned obedience, was made perfect as author of eternal salvation, so repentant sinners accepted in the Beloved are clothed in righteousness, redeemed by infinite offering, sanctified by grace and enabled to obey perfectly as sons and daughters of the royal family unto eternal life.

Victory and Saving Power

As Surety he overcame on sinners' behalf and lived a sinless life for them, so that through his power they may obtain victory over evil and live pure, sinless lives. Fallen people cannot defeat Satan by their own human strength, so he joined divine power with humanity, gained for them strength they cannot gain for themselves, overcame on the sinner's behalf, and enables them to overcome in his name. He conquered in behalf of tempted people as their representative, captain and substitute, relying wholly on God's power in full dependence without transgressing the law, leaving a perfect example of overcoming and enabling believers to endure test and trial as he did, with final victory only through entire dependence on God. He alone can master temptation, and those tempted put whole trust in him and in his strength successfully resist every assault.

He gained victories not for himself but to redeem humanity; his temptations were like those his followers face, and his victories show the kind they must gain. His wilderness conflict was real and intensely severe; he resisted Satan by relying on Scripture while heavenly angels guarded and ministered to him, and the help he received is available to people in their conflicts so they can resist and overcome through him. He took human nature and faced temptation where Adam fell, enduring temptations greater than those brought against humanity before or since, resisting as a man by relying on God's word, showing that people may overcome temptation as he did through divine power and keep God's law.

He overcame on the sinner's behalf and obtained for fallen people strength they cannot gain for themselves, so that in his name they may overcome Satan's temptations, including the power of appetite, keep God's law through divine power, and receive divine power to overcome corruption and share in the divine nature. Because he suffered when tempted he is able to help those who face temptation, his own experience giving understanding of the conflict with evil and enabling sympathy with human weakness, resisting without sin and providing a way to endure and escape, so those who trust him can seek pardon and receive righteousness.

As the divine-human Sin-bearer, Substitute and Surety he bore the burden and debt of the fallen world's sin and transgression, died under the sentence of death as propitiation for the whole world, takes away sins, imputes his righteousness, washes and cleanses, and his suffering was meant to lead to repentance and obedience, not license to break the law. His sacrifice as propitiation for sin makes redemption possible and brings sinners back to allegiance to God's commandments; seeing what sin cost him leads them to hate sin and remain contrite. He lived a sinless life in humanity as humanity's Substitute and Surety, bearing the burden of the fallen world's sin, clothed divinity with humanity and stood as head of humanity bearing its affections and temptations to connect with fallen humanity, die for humanity, take guilt and become propitiation.

As substitute and surety he provides the way for sinners to return to loyalty to God; his victorious life is an example of the overcoming life people may live through his grace though they cannot save themselves, and those who accept him as personal Saviour can be uplifted and saved, for he is the only one who can save to the uttermost with no other name under heaven given among men whereby men must be saved. He alone removes sin's curse and frees believers from its action and effects, so God can justly pardon those accepting his merits, and he alone can save from the enemy's power. The power to overcome comes from him, not from themselves, and people may refuse salvation by holding to sins, though his death is propitiation for the whole world and receiving him gives power to become children of God.

Through death he destroyed him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and delivered those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage, living out perfection of character in action as a pattern believers must copy. Through his sinless endurance he purchased human freedom from Satan's claims, defeated the prince of darkness, opened the way for everyone receiving him to also overcome, become partakers of the divine nature, escape corruption through lust, and reach the standard of God's law clothed in his perfection and righteousness rather than their own. He brought heaven's treasures so every person might have power to reach God's law, and as people cooperate, live in harmony with his law and rely on his merits, he cleanses nature from sin and imparts righteousness.

His help means believers are not forsaken, need not remain enslaved by Satan since the ransom is paid, and need not be discouraged but have reason to trust him; he will not turn away a repentant seeker who comes to God through him, as part of the full offering for fallen humanity. He gives assurance that believers are not left alone to bear sins, makes it possible through humiliation and death for fallen people to become heirs with him, and enables the weak to become strong through his strength. His taking human nature made it possible for him to reach humanity, and his work as merciful and faithful High Priest includes making reconciliation for sin.

His sinless life from childhood to manhood is a pattern and example showing that through grace, divine power added to finite nature, the Holy Spirit, and partaking of the divine nature, humanity can overcome temptation, resist sin, obey God and his law, escape corruption through lust, regain God's moral image, meet every demand of the law and overcome every objection to human obedience. His sinless endurance of temptation answers that man can keep God's law, and those who accept him as personal Saviour receive divine aid to resist sin since they cannot obey by their own strength. His victory shows that through grace humanity can overcome, giving abundant evidence that he will be with those who stand in him and draw near to God.

By joining divinity with humanity he worked out salvation, stood at the head of the fallen race, and places believers on vantage-ground with God, giving those who receive him power to become children and sons and daughters of God, perfected by beholding his image from glory to glory, complete in him and equal to angels, which is the only true elevation. He offers followers power to become God's children, brings them to completeness in him with his image reproduced in true disciples so others seeing it are changed, and by receiving him they are given power to become sons of God. By enduring temptation as one with humanity he showed men that they may stand on vantage-ground, keeping all the laws of his kingdom and acting out his will in love and kindness and loyalty, doing good and not evil.

The Father in giving his Son subject to temptation provided that humanity need not be captive, for he resisted in divine strength to teach overcoming, so partakers of his divine nature discern Satan's temptations, overcome worldly lust, are refined by his merits and stand as laborers together with God. He brings moral power, yet each person has a work to do for himself and through his merits can overcome sin and the devil. Humanity alone has nothing saving, the human part is immeasurably inferior, yet God does nothing for salvation without the human agent's cooperation, and when the frail instrument is meek and lowly, takes his yoke and is linked with his divinity he can do all things through imparted strength. Through faith in God's word and his power life can be transformed to do his works, his sacrifice provides grace to overcome and become meek and lowly in heart, and his humility teaches humility.

Because he suffered temptation without sinning he has the right to lay hold of God with one hand and fallen people with the other to raise them from degradation. Because he submitted to humiliation there is hope of glory and immortality, he gives sympathy and companionship to all in lowly estate and dwells with the meek and contrite, therefore no humiliation bringing his sympathy is too deep, no lowly condition is cause for complaint, pride is to be despised, the humblest occupations can cherish holiest purposes, diligent useful hands are heaven's favorites, and imitating his meek pure life of good works is best. His union of divinity with humanity in humiliation even to the cross brought moral power to people, and the setting of the verse presents his suffering and human experience as part of his work on their behalf to connect with fallen humanity, unfold before the universe the salvation his righteousness brings, and give an inheritance among saints and angels in God's presence.

As humanity's Champion and more than conqueror he met Satan's deceptions with victory after victory sustained by divine power, honoring humanity, bringing tenderest sympathy, opening the way through his merits for people to be more than conquerors and elevating them to a standing that rejoices heaven. His incarnation is essential to sanctification and redemption through belief in the truth, and through his merits God can show mercy to believing sinners while upholding his law as part of salvation. He died a humiliating death bearing the world's sins to give every person trial in a second probation, paying ransom with his blood so believers shall not be tempted above able, becoming partakers of divine nature escaping worldly lust and forming divine characters regenerated by the Holy Spirit so the Father loves them as his Son who suffered the law's penalty.

He left glory to bear temptation and resist evil so people might take hold of his strength, joining healing of infirmities with preaching by the same power; he does the same today, and the soul coming by living faith receives power and healing of disease when believers bring the sick to the Healer. He took humanity to show what those serving him may become and, living a human life in their place through every stage from infancy to adulthood, showed people how to live during probation. He set a perfect example and gave the lessons all received into the heavenly city must learn, and practicing the economy he enjoined makes a person wiser. He lived a perfect human life of obedience in human nature, not divine nature, experiencing weakness, showing what a person depending on God can do; his followers obtain help as he did through vital connection with God, since without him they can do nothing. He made propitiation by passing through every phase of human experience not merely exhibiting grace, at times wisely going where opposition was less, and all his earthly experiences are lessons planting divine love in the heart for those loving and obeying truth.

He overcame in behalf of humanity and understands the way's perils, so those putting thought, effort and talent into preparing souls for the life measuring with God's life will graduate to the school above and hear from his lips. He was tempted and suffered on humanity's behalf to qualify for reaching the very depths of human woe and ministering to suffering humanity, and that qualifying suffering is why he submitted to it and then walked giving the message. He took humanity to show how to fight temptation: hold fast to God through Jesus Christ and rely on his power for victory. He, pure and knowing no sin, hid divinity, laid off costly robe and crown to come as a child with a child's education, was tempted according to his strength yet without sin, works through believers himself, leaves an example to be followed with all powers, calls for more praying and less talk, and requires no sacrifice not first borne by him.

Trust and Overcoming Temptation

Strength of virtue, character, and piety to resist evil in the time of conflict comes through faith in Christ Jesus, for temptation itself is not sin but yielding to it brings bondage and condemnation, and his own conflict with temptation was long and earnest and wrung his divine soul with anguish yet he yielded not in thought, word, or deed.
Help is received by coming to him and believing on him, taking every temptation and trouble to him rather than pouring complaints, doubts, and soul grievances into human ears, casting self on him and seeking him wholeheartedly. With every temptation he has made a way of escape so that no one is tempted above what he is able to bear, and those tempted need not be overcome but can resist Satan and conquer through him, in his strength successfully resisting every assault of the enemy. Because he endured fierce temptations on humanity's behalf, including appetite, presumption, and worship of the god of this world, people can receive the help he received, and as Captain of salvation he is at work for them to do what they cannot do for themselves. By talking with God in prayer and by faith grasping his promises they receive strength for the conflict, and believing his promise to be with them always even to the end with a constant sense of his abiding presence makes them strong to endure, for he is their righteousness.

In the hour of temptation he will not leave his children but stands beside them as Helper, and none who in penitence and faith has claimed his protection will he permit to pass under the enemy's power. He sends his angels to minister to them and answers their prayers for deliverance, so none need fail, and when temptations and trials come the tempted one is to look at once to Jesus and do all things through him who strengthens instead of waiting to adjust all difficulties first. He stays by believers' side as a present help in need, knowing beforehand what temptations each will meet and that accepting truth brings a cross to lift, and he is ready to give needed help to meet each trial, with meeting trial bravely part of the Christian warfare in which heaven is interested. Every struggling cry and every effort against the adversary enters the ears of the God of Sabaoth, and he will send help every time it is needed and help over every temptation when called upon in faith, which calls for individual special trust as a child trusts earthly parents and believes he is working for good in all things.

Suffering temptation is comforted by assurance of being dear to God's heart, that God loves him and will not leave him to perish, and that God's everlasting arms are beneath him. Since he is able to help the tempted and tried, faith must be strong in God and not look on discouraging appearances, and when means seem small and faith is tested believers are to look away from every discouraging presentation and cling to the promises with full faith in the One behind the promise.
Disappointment does not mean separation from God, and trials can prepare people to meet greater temptations, while his understanding of every temptation and disappointment gives comfort and grounds for drawing near to him. Believers are not left to work alone because he is their helper, made like his brethren as merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for sins, so they are to draw harder and still harder exerting every power in God's service. Those facing affliction can trust him for sustaining help and respond with faith and praise, relying on his merits and trusting God's power to keep them through faith. Because he suffered when tempted he knows trials and is able to help, stands as example tempted in every way yet without sin for those facing temptation and unfair treatment, understands trials as one made like his human brothers, and is the one from whom duty and guidance should be sought rather than from fallible human leaders.

Severe temptation does not mean God has abandoned the tempted, for he identifies with sufferers and is able to succor them because he suffered under temptation. Those facing temptation can trust him, look away from self, and find victory in him rather than dwelling on sinfulness and weakness. Even he the Majesty of heaven suffered being tempted, so all trials, troubles, and annoying things are permitted and none should expect to pass without them, but keeping the heart in trusting faith gives peace and God will encourage and strengthen those who endure as they ripen for eternal life.
Believers may trust him as personal Saviour and remain close with gratitude and hope, for he gave his life to save completely and make them complete, receiving them with defects and weaknesses to purify, refine, and prepare them for a place among the saints. Those leading tried and tempted lives must keep him enthroned in the heart and put whole trust in him rather than harnessing in a hot spirit to wrestle with covetousness, uncharitableness, and other temptations on their own ground, which leaves them discouraged, bruised, wounded, bound, and enfeebled. They must first talk with God in prayer and by faith grasp his promises to receive strength for the conflict and be left free to do what he tells them, learn his meekness and lowliness, and overcome evil with good, relying on him rather than trying to master temptation by their own strength. When temptation or darkness comes they can bring troubles to him and rest in his love and protecting care, for because he took humanity he understands weakness and suffering and reaches out with pity, tenderness, and deep sympathy especially to those who suffer most. In trial, disappointment, sickness, sorrow, and bereavement there is no need to become restless, impatient, rebellious, morose, or to speak rash faithless words or murmur, as he never permitted Satan to plunge him into unbelief, despondency, and despair, but believers are to remember him, keep eyes on him, resist the first insinuations of evil, draw near to God talking of his goodness and mercy, and he will draw near to help them endure until annoyances that seemed unbearable vanish.

His help gives hope of complete victory over sin and corrupt desires because he suffered when tempted and knows how to help. Those who accept him as personal Saviour receive peace and assurance and are not left orphaned to bear sins alone, for he is their Advocate in heaven. Christians need not be discouraged because he has gone through the way before them, and those who suffer sorrow and trial for his sake do not bear the cross alone. Help and grace from him may be obtained at every step in forming character, for having passed through childhood and youth he knows how to sympathize with the young, never forsakes a trusting soul, listens to the contrite as a present help in need, pities weakness, reads the heart's desire, and marks every sincere effort to do right, so efforts for symmetrical character, daily victory over selfishness, pride, and folly, and cultivation of love, mercy, and beneficence should not be given up over disappointment, lack of appreciation, or censure. Though now at God's right hand as Advocate he cares for each person, knows every need, and intercedes for the tried and tempted, giving comfort and hope.
When tempted a person should affirm his care, intercession, love, and death, give self unreservedly to him, commit the soul to God as faithful Creator instead of mourning over self as own saviour, open the heart to the Sun of Righteousness without doubt or unbelief, grasp rich blessings by faith, and talk and live courage, strength, and faith in divine strength. His experience in human nature removes any excuse for claiming he does not know human temptations, and through his sacrifice he provides help to overcome provocation and become meek and lowly in heart. Clothed with divinity in humanity he walked as a suffering tempted man beset by Satan's devices, tempted in all points as human beings are, and now at God's right hand thinks of each tempted person individually, knowing every necessity, caring, loving, and having died for them.

Strong temptation does not excuse sin, because a person must consent before passion overcomes reason and conscience, yet the helpless can by faith and prayer turn to Jesus and claim his promise, knowing he understands the heart's inclinations and helps in every temptation, and those who have sinned should promptly seek mercy and pardon. In trial believers can look beyond the dark shadow of suffering to the living Saviour who advocates for them and brings hope, courage, and consolation. God sees the tempted and tenderly sympathizes, hears supplication and distress with not a groan, tear, or sigh escaping notice, and since Christ came to work out redemption and show how to overcome, God will not withhold anything that will perfect character. Because he knows every weakness and can help, believers have hope that they can overcome.
Believers who suffer in his name share in small degree his trials, sacrifice, self-denial, and suffering, and should not murmur when denying appetite or withdrawing from pleasure but rejoice that his suffering makes eternal salvation possible. Having laid aside royal crown, robe, riches, and high command to be born with divinity clothed with humanity, he met and encircled all human temptations in perfection with no blot or stain, and with divinity united to humanity every soul may lay hold on that divinity and have overcoming power against every temptation and darkness. Because divinity was united with humanity in him from Bethlehem onward as a poor man guarded by angels and growing to know his mission to represent divinity in humanity, tempted humanity working with hands and compassed by struggles over problems and dispositions can by faith lay hold on his divinity and become sufficient.

His life of prayer, self-denial, and daily battle with temptation equips him to strengthen the assailed, and his own daily prayer for strength shows divine support is available to them. His humility as substitute and surety and his victory over darkness on humanity's behalf give power through his name and merits to those holding to him by faith to become victors, and contemplation of it softens and strengthens heart and mind with reverence. He alone had strength to fight the great adversary, and his struggle and victory make him able to help and to give strength to those facing temptation.
He personally understands Satan's temptations and gives himself to encourage and help instead of pleasing himself, even denying longing for desert retreat to commune with nature and God in order to work God's works, which applies especially to ministers of word and doctrine who are only men with difficulties needing gentle words to be steady and not querulous. Laying hold with firm faith he fashions imperfect manhood after his likeness and softens hearts so that even without eloquence ministry wins children. By taking human nature he was exposed to sharp temptation and keenest sorrow at seeing many yield to Satan, was made like men to sympathize and to deliver the godly from temptation, and is thus the sufficiency for teachers, parents, and educators giving every encouragement to draw near to God through him. As Restorer he enables souls weak on many points, with brotherly assistance and loving arms lifting hanging hands, to be inspired with faith, courage, hope, and upward desire until more than conquerors, with no discouraging word spoken but straight paths made lest the lame be turned out, giving mercy and grace at the throne of grace to all holding fast profession and coming boldly in time of need. As tender faithful High Priest he feels troubles and weaknesses, treats cases of the tempted as his own, and ministers to them, setting the example for caretakers to nourish the weak tenderly with what he provides rather than teaching reliance on human leaders.

One sorely pressed by Satan and wrenched by God from the enemy's power is raised up to walk out by faith as a succorer to the needy and to strengthen and uphold those called into service, with God steadying him on the right hand and on the left so that he does not go to extremes.

Compassion and Missionary Service

Because he himself suffered when tempted he can help the tempted, and having been made like his brothers he serves as merciful, tender and faithful high priest who knows the power of Satan's wiles, takes the cause of suffering people to heart, pities them, pleads with the Father for the sinful and erring, and aids the afflicted without excusing sin. His experience is the pattern for dealing with erring people, calling all who follow him and all in responsible positions to show his pity, forgiveness, tender sympathy, comfort, patience, tenderness, forbearance and forgiving love to the ignorant and out of the way, to help and heal the spiritually diseased rather than condemn, drive away, or correct with harsh hasty criticism and severity. Correction is to be given with tenderness and an acknowledged fault met with comfort, since all are erring and need God's pity and forgiveness, and the weak are to be nourished rather than taught dependence on human leaders. His followers must deal with one another's errors and weaknesses with exactly the pity and forgiveness they need from the Lord, beseeching sinners step by step to reconciliation rather than driving them, and caring compassionately for those entrusted to them.

His love for those who are tempted is unchanging, and all are alike subject to temptation from within and without as Satan and his angels urge and coax the one trying to serve God to transgress, so that he may fall a prey to their temptings. When a servant falls, harsh cutting words from brethren drive him further from the Saviour, a sad sight to him and to angels, and since all are struggling and toiling, failing in speech and action to represent him, falling and rising again, despairing and hoping, those who fall must not be dealt with unkindly because they too are objects of his unchanging love. Since people without his grace would do worse than the sinner they condemn if they faced the same temptation, the erring should be met with pity, mercy and tenderness rather than harsh judgment.

Seeing his compassion, goodness, mercy and forgiveness gives confidence and faith, helps believers dispel doubts, and enables those who trust him to seek his pardon and receive his righteousness. He is full of compassion, amiable, courteous, merciful and forgiving as merciful and faithful high priest making reconciliation for sin, and beholding him as he is changes beholders into the same image, causing confidence, faith, hope and love to spring up in their hearts and reflecting his character. His own experience gives him understanding of the conflict with evil and enables him to sympathize with human weakness, and having resisted temptation without sin he provides a way to endure it and escape.

Because he shared human temptation he worked for unbelievers, and his followers must individually take up their appointed work wherever they are, watch for souls as those who must give account, become acquainted with the spiritual needs of unbelieving friends and neighbors, and minister to those needs in meekness and lowliness of heart to bring a strong counterinfluence against Satan's effort to take possession of the world. He clothed divinity with humanity to become acquainted with human frailty and endure the temptations that beset man, and though rich he became poor that through his poverty men might be made rich, loving men in sin and ingratitude, reaching to the very depths of woe to uplift erring mortals, turning none away empty, with no wearying of patience and no lessening of love and zeal, the waves of mercy beaten back by proud impenitent hearts ever returning in a fresh stronger tide of love. Those who yield themselves to God's will, looking only for appreciation and reward in the future life, follow in his footsteps in thankless labor, and how feeble are human efforts to imitate him and how small any human sacrifice for others in comparison with his infinite sacrifice. His self-denial and self-sacrifice in taking humanity and entering human misery to raise the fallen and save the lost give his followers an example to follow as they seek to bring others from darkness into God's love, thwart the enemy's plans, work with God to build his kingdom, seek the lost in humility, and not stand apart from those in need.

His self-sacrificing coming to share human life and help those who needed him most, taking his position at the head of a fallen race with humanity and divinity united so everything essential could be done for complete recovery, is the example and model for all missionary endeavor. He humbled himself, leaving his royal place and glory to become one with humanity, and this calls those entrusted with his work to go to people who need the truth even when inconvenient, with unreserved surrender and consecration of time and talents in active labor to advance the work he came to do. He left his home in glory and came as a man and chose poverty instead of coming with splendor and power, because unless he had come thus he could not have reached suffering ones held in affliction under Satan, and humanity touched with the sufferings of humanity learns tenderness, kindness and pity, develops character, and is fitted to be missionaries carrying blessing to the afflicted and suffering everywhere. Pure and unsullied, having no communion with sin and knowing nothing of it, he took the guilt of sinful man upon his sinless soul that sinners might stand justified, grappled with temptation and overcame on their behalf, bore the penalty of transgression and received the stroke of death that brought deliverance, and finds joy in helping those in need, seeking the lost, rescuing the perishing, lifting the bowed, healing the sick, and speaking sympathy and consolation to the sorrowing, leaving an example of earnest untiring self-denying work that those imbued with his Spirit follow, loving the work more and delighting in it more as they do more for others.

In the plan to redeem the fallen race he came to earth and was subject to the same temptations that beset man, suffering temptations more severe than any other person will ever be called to pass through, and because he himself suffered being tempted, as great high priest he knows how to help and sympathize with those who are tempted when in great need they call for help. Severe trials lie before everyone, yet no one need fail, for in the hour of temptation he will not leave his children but will send angels to minister and answer prayers for deliverance, and this is reason for carefulness in conduct toward a world lying in darkness waiting for the Light of life, a world for whom he gave his life. He did not overcome on his own account but for his people, his temptations were in kind just what his people must meet and overcome, he stood where Adam's failure plunged the race into ruin and endured the very test under which Adam failed, taking hold of redemption where ruin began, and he leads the way in suffering, mental agony, victory and triumph, bidding followers follow him in self-denial to everlasting glory. He suffered under temptation and came to live among people in a sinful world so he could reach the lost and give them power to overcome the enemy's temptations, the temptation being as strong as his holiness was perfect, and the evil he witnessed making his earthly life a continual sorrow. He clothed divinity with humanity to reach humanity, chose a most humble position and lived as a toiler from earliest years working with his father at the carpenter's trade, sharing burdens of the lowly and inconveniences of poverty, and because he knew by experience the hardships of those who toil he can sympathize with the poor and comfort and encourage all humble workers, his record of burden-bearing being written for admonition and comfort so no distinction is made between classes. Having left the glory he had with the Father, clothed divinity with humanity and humbled himself to meet man's necessities, he was in the world yet not of the world as a worker for good, becoming personally acquainted with temptations and frailties so he knows how to succor the tempted, and his example teaches Christians not to exclude themselves from active duties and sever connection with the world but to remain in the world to do good.

The verse is set before young men preparing for ministry to read and study, showing he was made in all things like his brethren and himself suffered being tempted that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation for sins and be able to succor the tempted. They are first to give themselves to the Lord for sanctification, trim the lamp of the soul and replenish it with the oil of the Spirit, seek from him grace and clearness of comprehension needed for successful work, and learn from him what it means to labor for those for whom he gave his life, with him formed within as hope and strength of life. Together with the preceding verse on being made like his brethren, it is study for young men and women qualifying for service along with the third chapter of Colossians and the first chapter of Second Peter and Hebrews 4:12-16 about the discerning word of God and the great high priest Jesus the Son of God tempted in every way yet without sin, to whom all may come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in every time of need.

It is cited in connection with a mother's sacred work and her need for his grace to shape her children's characters after the divine pattern. He partook of flesh and blood and came as a child, taking the seed of Abraham and not the nature of angels, made in all things like his brethren, enduring temptation through suffering so he is able to help the tempted, serving as merciful and faithful high priest to make reconciliation, destroying through death him that had the power of death, that is the devil, and delivering those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage, living out perfection of character in action as a pattern believers must copy, which calls parents to doubled responsibility when children are sent to school, to watch their progress, pray with them, and work in harmony with every elevating, refining and reproving effort to perfect their character. It urges the church to take up neglected duties in families, for home religion is needed, and stirs backsliders and sinners, especially young men and women, to confess pride, backsliding and partaking of the world's spirit and determine to live a different life.