Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, that He might know how to succor those who should be tempted. His life is our example. He shows by His willing obedience that man may keep the law of God and that transgression of the law, not obedience to it, brings him into bondage. The Saviour was full of compassion and love; He never spurned the truly penitent, however great their guilt; but He severely denounced hypocrisy of every sort. He is acquainted with the sins of men, He knows all their acts and reads their secret motives; yet He does not turn away from them in their iniquity. He pleads and reasons with the sinner, and in one sense—that of having Himself borne the weakness of humanity—He puts Himself on a level with him. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” {4T 294.1}

(294) Jesus blev fristet på alle punkter som vi, så han kan vide hvordan de hjælpes, som bliver fristet. Hans liv er vort eksempel. Han viser ved sin villige lydighed, at mennesker kan holde Guds lov og at overtrædelse af loven, ikke lydighed mod den, bringer det i trældom. Frelseren var fuld af medfølelse og kærlighed. Han har aldrig foragtende afvist den oprigtigt angrende, uanset hvor stor skylden er; men han anklagede hykleri af enhver art ganske strengt. Han er bekendt med menneskenes synder, han kender alle deres handlinger og læser deres skjulte motiver; alligevel vender han sig ikke bort fra dem med deres synd. Han beder og argumenter med synderen og i en forstand sætter han sig selv på niveau med ham, da han selv har båret menneskenes svaghed. »Kom, lad os gå i rette med hinanden, siger Herren. Er eders synder som skarlagen, de skal blive hvide som sne; er de end røde som purpur, de skal dog blive som uld."