"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.
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.
Let us therefore draw near with confidence
to the throne of grace,
that we may receive mercy
and may find grace to help
in our time of need."
(Hebrews 4:14-16)
"Since then...let us...." This section of Hebrews begins with, not an "if/then" but a "since/let's." The cliff note version of these three verses is: since then Christ as our priest has paid the penalty, washed us by His blood, and ever lives to intercede for us at the right hand of God the Father in heaven, let us never deny Him nor be ashamed of Him and let us be serious about fleeing boldly to Him in the midst of our great need for mercy, grace, and help!
The Lord Jesus is not simply a priest, nor only a high priest. No, He is a GREAT high priest! He has done His duty, and - as we will see in Hebrews 5, 7 and 9 - He has done His duty with perfection, with full satisfaction, and with eternal success!! [See 5:7, 5:9-10, 7:17, 7:21-28, 9:11-14]
Truly, Christ is the great high priest "in His ONCE offering up of Himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us" (Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 25). Christ faithfully executed His priestly office while on earth through His perfect life and sacrificial death. He lives eternally to continue that role now that He has "passed through the heavens." He now lives to intercede for us and to stand at the right hand of God the Father as our Advocate. Wow!
So, "How should we demean ourselves toward Him? Let us hold fast our profession of faith in Him. Let us never deny Him and never be ashamed of Him before men. Christians must not only set out well, but they must hold out." (Matthew Henry). The good news is that even our "holding out" is in His great high priestly hands! (Ph 1:6)
"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." Beloved, He Has paid the price for our sins with His own blood. He Himself has become the surety. He has done it - it is finished! Since then, let us hold fast our confession!!
And how do we go about holding fast? Even that is in and through the priestly work of the Lord Jesus on our behalf. Verse 15 beings with "for." We 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."
Our blessed Jesus knows our frame. He knows we are but dust. He knows we are sinners in need of much mercy - that's why He came as our priest. He came to do for us that which we could not do for ourselves. He sympathizes with our weaknesses and not only does He "feel" for us and pat us on the back in the midst of our miserable state, He has actually done something about our miserable state that we might not remain there! Now that's a friend!! Now that's a Great High Priest! Now that's Jesus!
Matthew Henry writes: "Christ is a gracious high priest, merciful, compassionate, sympathizing with His people. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, not only that he might be able to satisfy for us, but to sympathize with us."
Christ was tempted in every way - just as we are. The great and grand difference? He was tempted and never sinned. We have a great priest, a gracious priest, and a sinless priest. It is due to the power, mercy, and perfection of this priest that we are able to come boldly to the throne of grace when we need help.
"Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need." The "therefore" is there for us to look back to what has been declared about our high priest. Because He is great He is able to supply us with real and lasting answers in our time of need. Because He is merciful He is willing to both listen and lend aid. Because He is sinless His propitiatory act on our behalf was sufficient. O Christian, do you recognize the glory of your Great High Priest? Here we have the ticket of entry to the throne of grace held forth - Christ our Priest. Here we have the duty we are to be about at the throne of grace - seeking mercy, grace and help in our time of need.
I turn again to Mr. Henry, his words are a great encouragement.
"God might have set up a tribunal of strict justice, but He has chosen to set up a throne of grace. there grace reigns, and acts with sovereign freedom, power, and bounty. It is our duty to be often found before the throne of grace. It is good for us to be there. Our business at the throne of grace should be that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Mercy and grace are things we want, mercy to pardon all our sins and grace to purify our souls. In all our approaches to this throne of grace for mercy, we should come with a humble freedom and boldness; we should ask in faith, nothing doubting. We are indeed to come with reverence and godly fear; not as if we were dragged before the tribunal of justice, but kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns, and loves to exert and exalt itself towards us. The office of Christ, as being our high priest, and such a great high priest, should be the ground of our confidence in all our approaches to the throne of grace."
Are you needy this day? Come boldly. Draw near with confidence. Flee to Christ, the great high priest, and find grace and help in your time of need!
Holding fast my confession, drawing near with confidence,
Lori
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