Hebrews 4:15

πεπειρασμένον. This perf. part. of πειράζεσθαι is supported by אABDE, and gives a better sense (“having been tempted”) and one more in accordance with the usage of the writer (Hebrews 2:18; Hebrews 11:17; Hebrews 11:37) than πεπειραμένον from πειράω (“having made trial”).

15. γάρ. He gives the reason for holding fast our confession; [we may do so with confidence], for Christ can sympathise with us in our weaknesses, since He has suffered with us (συμπάσχειν). Romans 8:17; 1 Corinthians 12:26.

συμπαθῆσαι ταῖς�. Even the heathen could feel the force and beauty of this appeal, for they intensely admired the famous line of Terence,

“Homo sum; humani nihil a me alienum puto”;

at the utterance of which, when the play was first acted, it is said that the whole of the audience rose to their feet; and the exquisite words which Virgil puts into the mouth of Dido,

“Haud ignara mali, miseris succurrere disco.”

πεπειρασμένον. This is the best-supported reading, not πεπειραμένον, “having made trial of,” “experienced in.” It refers alike to the trials of life, which are in themselves indirect temptations—sometimes to sin, always to murmuring and discontent; and to the direct temptations to sin which are life’s severest trials. From both of these our Lord suffered (John 11:33-35; “ye are they who have continued with me in my temptations,” Luke 22:28; Luke 4:2, &c.).

καθʼ ὁμοιότητα, “after the likeness”; a stronger way of expressing the resemblance of Christ’s “temptations” to ours than if an adverb had been used.

χωρὶς ἁμαρτίας, “apart from sin.” Philo had already spoken of the Logos as sinless (De Profug. 20; Opp. I. 562). His words are “the High Priest is not Man but the Divine Word, free from all share, not only in willing but even in involuntary wrongdoing.” Christ’s sinlessness is one of the irrefragable proofs of His divinity. It was both asserted by Himself (John 14:30) and by the Apostles (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5, &c.). Being tempted, Christ could sympathize with us; being sinless, He could plead for us.