Jesus Christ Our High Priest

Passage:

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Introduction

Authorship, Date and Target Audience

unknown, Pauline style but likely close associate

Timothy released from prison in Ch. 13, after Paul’s execution

“To the Hebrews...” - mentions Levitical practices and priesthood, not pagan or Gentile traditions

Likely 3 groups of Hebrews

believers

unbelievers who were intellectually convinced of the gospel

unbelievers who were attracted to the gospel and the person of Christ but who had reached no final conviction about Him

the message in this passage is sufficient to address and satisfy all groups, in abundance

Message

His Perfect Priesthood

Hebrews 4:14 NASB95

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

the Hebrews were well-acquainted with the priesthood

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary His Perfect Priesthood

The priests of ancient Israel were appointed by God to be mediators between Himself and His people. Only the high priest could offer the highest sacrifice under the Old Covenant, and that he did only once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). All the sins of the people were brought symbolically to the Holy of Holies, where blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat as a sacrifice to atone for them. As no other human instrument could, he represented God before the people and the people before God

though chosen and anointed, OT priests were still sinful men

comparisons between priests and Jesus

“royal priesthood” today for us

now under new covenant, Jesus is our perfect high priest

priests of the OC passed through the tabernacle and temple, but Jesus Christ passed through the heavens

OT priests were ritualistic/repetitive and Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient

sentence structure: “since we have a great high priest…let us hold fast our confession”

“let us hold fast” - krateo (to take hold of, to master)

“confession” - what we profess, how we live by

Romans 10 - confess with mouth AND believe in heart

our High Priest, prophetically

His Perfect Person

Hebrews 4:15 NASB95

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

verse alludes to Christ’s full personhood/deity - hypostatic union

“For we do not...” - further explains Jesus as High Priest

“who cannot sympathize...” - not comparing to Hebrew priests but to God

“but One who has been tempted...” - Jesus experienced everything we experienced

Psalm 19:12 “Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults.”

We all have our vices, shaped by upbringing, culture, etc

Hebrews: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Jesus’ Humanity

Jesus not only had all the feelings of love, concern, disappointment, grief, and frustration that we have, but He had much greater love, infinitely more sensitive concerns, infinitely higher standards of righteousness, and perfect awareness of the evil and dangers of sin. Contrary, therefore, to what we are inclined to think, His divinity made His temptations and trials immeasurably harder for Him to endure than ours are for us

considering all this: “yet without sin”

through this we have our last point...

His Perfect Provision

Hebrews 4:16 NASB95

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

“let us draw near...” - 2nd command in passage

to the throne of grace...”with confidence”

why “with confidence?”

John 16:33 ““These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””

Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus is our High priest