Hebrews 4:14-16: Jesus is the Great High Priest

Introduction

Quote

ESV Expository Commentary

Hebrews–Revelation Section Overview: Our Tested and Sympathetic High Priest

Having instilled in his hearers a fear of rebelling against God’s voice and thus failing to enter God’s rest, our pastor turns to the only theme that can assuage a guilty and terrified conscience: the high priestly ministry of Jesus. The author’s pastoral strategy is to motivate his hearers’ perseverance by issuing terrifying warnings about the dire consequences of unbelief (Heb. 6:4–8; 10:26–31) and then offering encouragements grounded in God’s grace (6:9–12; 10:32–39). With warnings he prods Christians out of complacency. With encouragements he safeguards them from misgivings about God’s gracious disposition toward those who, despite their weakness and sin, nonetheless approach him through Jesus.

Scripture

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Outline

Hebrews 1-2 - Jesus is Greater Than the Angels

Hebrews 1:1-4 - God has Spoken

Hebrews 1:5-14 - The Son is Superior to the Angels

Hebrews 2:1-4 - A Warning

Hebrews 2:5-9 - Lowliness to Crowning Glory

Hebrews 2:10-18 - Jesus has Delivered His Brothers

Hebrews 3:1-4:13 - Jesus is a Greater Rest

Hebrews 3:1-6 - Jesus is Worthy of More Glory Than Moses

Hebrews 3:7-19 - Disobedience After the Exodus

Hebrews 4:1-13 - A Sabbath Rest for God’s People

Hebrews 4:14-7:26 - Jesus is Greater than Melchizedek

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Jesus is the Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14 - Hold Fast Your Confession

Hebrews 4:15 - Our Sympathetic, Sinless High Priest

Hebrews 4:16 - Drawing Near to the Throne with Confidence

Purpose of Book

Christ, who has accomplished salvation through His atoning sacrifice, is greater than all things; therefore, persevere in true faith and encourage others to do likewise

Main Point

Jesus, the Son of God, is our sympathetic, sinless great high priest. Since He is our high priest, we can draw near to the throne in confidence

Hebrews 4:14 - Hold Fast Your Confession

Hebrews 4:14 ESV

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

Since then we have

Since… we have

Indicates a personal/familial relationship with someone

Hebrews 2:11 ESV

11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers,

Then/Therefore

Connection that reaches back to...

Hebrews 2:18–3:1 ESV

18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

We have a great high priest

High priest

The office was established with Aaron

Exodus 28:30 ESV

30 And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

The high priest acted as the representative and mediator between Yahweh and His people. He was to direct the hearts of Yahweh’s people toward Yahweh and call them to be faithful to the covenant

Now Christ serves as the great high priest

Hebrews 2:17–18 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

Christ is the mediator between God and man in his role as the great high priest

Who has passed through the heavens,

Has passed through

The language reveals that this is a continual reality. Access to the Father is a present and continuing reality

Through the heavens

Ephesians 1:15–22 ESV

15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,

Acts 7:54–56 ESV

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

The heavenly realm

2 Corinthians 12:2–4 ESV

2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

Jesus passed through the heavens into the presence of the Father’s presence

Jesus, the Son of God,

Jesus

Hebrews 2:9 ESV

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Hebrews 3:1 ESV

1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

Son of God

Hebrews 1:2 ESV

2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

Hebrews 1:5 ESV

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?

Hebrews 1:8 ESV

8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

Hebrews 3:6 ESV

6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Let us hold fast our confession.

Let us hold fast

Committed firmly to something

Confession

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ὁμολογία

② statement of allegiance, as content of an action, confession, acknowledgment that one makes

Hebrews 4:15 - Our Sympathetic, Sinless High Priest

Hebrews 4:15 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

Sympathize with our weaknesses

Hebrews 2:9–10 ESV

9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.

MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Hebrews

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.

Weaknesses

General human weakness that could result in sin

But one who in every respect has been tempted as we are,

Every respect

Hebrews 2:17 ESV

17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Tempted

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament πειράζω

to be tested — to be put to the test in order to ascertain the nature of someone, including imperfections, faults, or other qualities.

Jesus was tempted in every aspect of this personal life just as we are

The temptation, though includes the 40 days in the wilderness, is meant to show that Jesus was tempted his whole life

Yet without sin.

Sin

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament ἁμαρτία

sin (act) — an act or feeling that transgresses something forbidden or ignores something required by God’s law or character; whether in thought, feeling, speech, or action.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 2:22 ESV

22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.

Jesus also felt the weight of sin, but never gave in to the temptations

Hebrews 4:16 - Drawing Near to the Throne with Confidence

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

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

Let us then with confidence

Then

In confidence - logical conclusion outflow of vss. 14-15

Confidence

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament παρρησία

boldness — the trait of being willing to undertake activities that involve risk or danger; especially that involve being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech.

Draw near to the throne of grace,

Draw near (Let us)

BDAG

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. προσέρχομαι

ⓑ of approach to or entry into a deity’s presence

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament προσέρχομαι

to approach (with request) — to make advances to someone; usually with a proposal, question, or suggestion.

Throne of grace

Grace

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament χάρις

grace — goodwill freely disseminated (by God); especially to the benefit of the recipient regardless of the benefit accrued to the disseminator.

Unlike kings of old, we are able to draw near to the throne of grace. We have a personal relationship with God because of the work of Jesus

Esther 4:10–11 ESV

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 11 “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

That we may receive mercy

May receive

We may receive - God gives -> we receive

and find grace

Find

Succeed in reaching/discover

Grace

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament

Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament χάρις

grace (outworking) — the resulting activity that is a necessary consequence of genuine, beneficent goodwill; especially used of the outworking of God’s goodwill.

to help in time of need.

Help

In time of need

BDAG

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. εὔκαιρος

to time that is considered a favorable occasion for some event or circumstance

Especially for a particular purpose

Unlike the high priest in the Old Covenant - Once a year

Closing Quote

Evangelical Biblical Theological Commentary

Hebrews Bridge

Our great high priest, Jesus, the Son of God, knows and cares what our lives are like. But he is also powerful. He has passed through the heavens. He has come into the presence of God. He is tender and transcendent. He not only cares, but he also reigns at the right hand of God. He passed through the heavens and atoned for our sins with his blood, thus solving our problem with guilt and shame. He has expunged our guilt with his blood. Therefore, we do not shrink back from God’s presence. We approach him gladly and confidently, knowing that he offers mercy and grace, longing for us to know his forgiveness and his power in every circumstance of life.