Obtaining Mercy Finding Grace

Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest,that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find graceto help in time of need.

Passed into the heavens - he has not passed through the tabernacle or the temple, that was a temporary job, he has passed into the heavens and stays there. Forever. He sata down on the right hand of the Father. And the Father smiled pleased with the work. It is finished.

(b) Priestly imagery. If God’s throne is in heaven (8:1), the sanctuary was said to be the place where God or God’s name dwelt on earth. God was said to be enthroned upon the cherubim (2 Kgs 19:15; Pss 80:1; 99:1), which were placed on top of the ark of the covenant in the holy of holies of the Tabernacle (Exod 25:17–22; Heb 9:5) and the first Temple (1 Kgs 8:7–8). Some translators use the expression “mercy seat” both for “the throne of grace” in 4:16 and for the top of the ark in 9:5 (Luther; Tyndale; F. F. Bruce). Worshipers could approach the outer limits of the sanctuary (Lev 9:5; cf. Heb 10:1) and ordinary priests could approach the altar (Lev 9:7–8; 21:17, 21; Num 4:19), but only the high priest could approach the mercy seat. Nevertheless, because Christ has gone before them, Hebrews says that listeners can “approach the throne of grace.” (c) Royal imagery. “The throne of grace” could be understood as the royal throne from which mercy was given (cf. Isa 16:5). People approached king’s thrones with petitions concerning justice, disputes, civic affairs, and rewards. One emperor said that some “have approached me” with a question about water rights, and he concluded that “they should be helped” (Paulus, Digest 8.3.35; cf. Dio Cassius, Roman History 59.6.3; Josephus, Ant. 18.107). Since requests commonly had to be made in person, submitting a petition meant approaching the throne, which for some was like approaching God (Millar, Emperor, 465–67). See generally Scholer, Proleptic, 91–149. receive mercy. Mercy is associated with Christ the merciful high priest (2:17), who inaugurated the new covenant under which God is merciful toward transgressors (8:12). and find grace for help at the right time. Grace is associated with liberation from fear of death (2:9, 15) and strength for the heart (13:9). Here “help” apparently means help for Christians during their pilgrimage on earth (5:9). Jesus offers help by interceding with God and helping Christians withstand the challenges posed by other people

Craig R. Koester. Hebrews (Kindle Locations 6979-6994). Kindle Edition.

Most ancient rulers were unapproachable by the common people. Some would not even allow their highest-ranking officials to come before them without permission. Queen Esther risked her life in approaching King Ahasuerus without invitation, even though she was his wife (Esther 5:1-2). Yet any penitent person, no matter how sinful and undeserving, may approach God's throne at any time for forgiveness and salvation—confident that he will be received with mercy and grace.

John MacArthur, MacArthur New Testament Commentary – Hebrews, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1983), WORDsearchCROSS e-book, 115.

MERCY -

the common definition is accurate: mercy is aid rendered to someone who is miserable or needy, especially someone who is either in debt or without claim to favorable treatment.

The most important fact about mercy in the Bible is that it is almost wholly the domain of God. ..,

if we trace the references to God’s mercy, two areas dominate—God’s acts of providenceby which he sustains his vulnerable creatures, and his forgivenessof sins. This is a way of saying that God’s provision for the physical needs of people is a merciful act, as is his provision for their spiritual welfare. …

In Hebrews, Christ is the “merciful and faithful high priest” who became “like his brothers in every way” (Heb 2:17), the mediator of the divine mercy that flows from the “throneof grace” in time of need (Heb 4:16).

Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit, Tremper Longman, ed., “Mercy,” in Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, (Downer's Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Mercy".

In the Bible a variety of Hebrew and Greek words are used which fall within the general semantic range of the English word "mercy." They include such terms as "lovingkindness" (Heb. ḥesed), "to be merciful" (Heb. ḥānan), "to have compassion" (Heb. riḥam), and "grace" (Gr. charis).

Walter A. Elwell, ed., “Mercy,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2001), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Mercy".

We are sure to gain both of these aims because Jesus is our high priest on the throne.

Archibald Thomas Robertson, A.M., D.D., LL.D., Litt. D., Word Pictures in the New Testament, (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1930), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "Hebrews 4:16".