Sermon Tone Analysis

This Begins a New Section in Hebrews

The Hebrews Author Began By Telling His Audience…

That Both the Old and New Covenants Were Revealed By God

Then the Author Spoke About How Jesus is Superior to the Angels Who Helped Mediate the Old Covenant

And Then How Jesus is Superior to the Apostle and High Priest of the Old Covenant, Moses

Now the Author Begins His Section On the High Priesthood of Jesus

This Section Spans the Majority of the Book

Jesus as Our High Priest is One of, if Not the, Primary Points in Hebrews

What is a High Priest and What are His Duties?

To the Jews, the High Priest was the Highest Religious Authority

It was His Responsibility to See that the Covenant was Enforced…

That the People Completed the Duties of the Temple…

And that the People Kept/Obeyed the Law

It was His Responsibility to Direct the Hearts of the People to God

He Dealt with the Handling of Sacrifices and Offerings

He Blessed the People

And One of His Most Famous and Primary Duties was…

What He Did On the Day of Atonement

He and Only He Would Enter the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle/Temple

The Most Holy Place is Where the Ark of the Covenant was

The Mercy Seat Sat On Top of the Ark

And God’s Presence was Above the Mercy Seat

The High Priest Would First Purify Himself and Then Take 2 Goats

He Would Cast Lots for the Goats

One Would Be a Sacrifice to God for the People of Israel

One Would Be for Azazel (Scapegoat)

Leviticus 16:21–22 (NASB95)

“Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins; and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness.

The goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.”

There are So Many More Details that Go into the Day of Atonement

But the Main Point is that the High Priest and His Ministry of Representing the People of God…

Provide the Way for All the People to Have Their Sins Atoned for…

And for Their Relationship with God to Be Reconciled

This is Going to Be the Focus of Jesus as Our Representative/High Priest

Humans are Sinful

Without a Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate, and High Priest…

We Cannot Draw Near to/Be Reconciled to God

Without a Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate, and High Priest…

We are Doomed

The Past Couple Weeks, We’ve Been in Hebrews 4:1-11

Hebrews 4:1–11 (NASB95)

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.

For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, “As I swore in My wrath, They shall not enter My rest,” although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.”

Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”

For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.

For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Last Week, We Ended with Hebrews 4:12-13

Hebrews 4:12–13 (NASB95)

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

These Verses are Scary!

God Knows Everything About Us

He Knows Every Sinful Thought and Intention

And He is the Judge of Our Eternal Fate

We are Doomed Without a Mediator, Intercessor, Advocate, and High Priest

Recognizing that is What Gives this Next Major Section of the Book of Hebrews so Much Power

Hebrews 4:14–16 (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.

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.

These Verses are a Beautiful Summary of the Book of Hebrews

In a Nutshell, this is the Message the Author Wants to Flesh Out with the Rest of His Sermon

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.

Keeping in Mind that God’s Word Cuts Us Open and Reveals Everything About Us…

And That We are Accountable to that His Word…

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.

Confession = An Expression and/or Statement of Allegiance

We are to Keep On Holding On to Our Expression/Statement of Allegiance

Our Allegiance to Who/What?

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.

We are to Keep Holding On to Our Expression/Statement of Allegiance to Jesus, Our High Priest

The High Priest Under the Old Covenant…

Would Pass Through the Curtain of the Tabernacle/Temple…

And Enter into God’s Presence

But Our High Priest Passed Through the Very Heavens Themselves…

And Entered into God’s Presence in Heaven

Because He’s Done that, We Ought to Hold On to Our Allegiance to Him

In This One Verse, Jesus is Called Several Interesting Things

He’s Called Our “Great High Priest”

In the Greek Old Testament, the High Priest was Often Called the “Great Priest”

“Great High Priest” is Redundant

It’s Like Saying the “Great Great Priest”

But that is On Purpose

Jesus Isn’t Just a High Priest Like Aaron and His Descendants

Jesus is a Great High Priest

He is Superior to the Angels

He is Superior to Moses

And He is Superior to the High Priests

Along with “Great High Priest”, Jesus is Called God’s Son

Chapter 1 Discussed Jesus as the Son of God and the King

Throughout Antiquity, a King was Often Considered “God’s Son”

The 2 Titles Go Hand in Hand

But Never in Israel Had God’s Son/the King Also Been the High Priest

King Saul and King Uzziah Attempted to Do the Duties of a Priest