Letter to the Hebrews Volume 37

 Jesus Christ our Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14-16 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. 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. KJV

After the writer of Hebrews finishes detailing, delineating, and declaring to us the mighty Power that is inherent in the Word of God and the God of the Word our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, he wants to now urge us into a state of mind or a way of thinking that keeps this truth foremost in our thoughts with these words here in verse 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." (Hebrews 4:14) (KJV). The writer here was then making the point with these words to the then converted Jews that they and we now have a far more excellent High Priest than any or all of the former Jewish high priest who were all held is very high regard by the Jewish people in every generation. Jesus Christ is now the ultimate High Priest who supercedes any and all earthly priest then and now and for all time to come in the future. The little English phrase 'seeing then' (that begins this verse 14), is translated by the Greek word oun meaning (as used here adverbially) certainly. In other words, what we know about the Word of God and the God of the Word, that is, Jesus Christ our Great High Priest and the mighty power that is Jesus and His Word, then this truth and reality should cause the Jewish converts then and we converts now and all converts to Christ of every era and generation to hold fast to our profession of faith in Him always no matter our earthly circumstances. The little English phrase 'let us hold fast' is translated by the Greek word krateō meaning to use strength, that is, seize or retain (literally or figuratively): - keep, lay hold on. The little English phrase 'our profession' is translated by the Greek word homologia meaning simply acknowledgment.

In other words, we need to use strength that we receive from our Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:10) and constantly lay hold on, seize and retain our recognition of the Blood of Jesus being the covering for all our sin and that He is the One True and Only God who is our God alone and our Great High Priest. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse, "A great High Priest, much greater than Aaron, or any of the priests of his order. The high priests under the law were accounted great and venerable person; but they were but faint types and shadows of Christ. The greatness of our High Priest is set forth, 1. By His having passed into the heavens. The high priest under the law, once a year, went out of the people's sight within the veil, into the holiest of all, where were the sacred signals of the presence of God; but Christ once for all has passed into the heavens, to take the government of all upon Him, to send the Spirit to prepare a place for His people, and to make intercession for them. Christ executed one part of His priesthood on earth, in dying for us; the other He executes in heaven, by pleading the cause, and presenting the offerings, of His people. 2. The greatness of Christ is set forth by His name, Jesus - a physician and a Saviour, and one of a divine nature, the Son of God by eternal generation; and therefore having divine perfection, able to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him. He is not only a great, but a gracious High Priest, merciful, compassionate, and sympathizing with His people."

Next the writer of Hebrews expounds on the compassion of our Great High Priest to those of us who have humbled ourselves before His Cross in repentance and faith with these words, "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." (Hebrews 4:15) (KJV). The thought of the reality of our Lord Jesus Christ (who is God) so humbling Himself for our sake putting Himself into a human body just like ours should move us with such love and gratitude to do His will here on the earth. Knowing that He experienced the weakness of our human flesh, i.e. its getting tired, its hunger, its bodily functions of disposing of human waste, and all its other frailties is always mind boggling or blowing to me and shows His agape love for humanity that rebelled against Him in the Garden of Eden and continues to do so today and in every time in human history. The rather long English phrase 'be touched with the feeling of' is translated by one Greek word sumpatheō meaning to feel 'sympathy' with, that is, (by implication) to commiserate: - have compassion, be touched with a feeling of. The English word 'infirmities' is translated by the Greek word astheneia meaning feebleness (of body or mind); by implication malady; moral frailty: - disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness. The English word 'tempted' is translated by the Greek word peirazō meaning to test (objectively), that is, endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline: - assay, examine, go about, prove, try. The little English phrase 'yet without' is translated by the Greek word chōris meaning at a space, that is, separately or apart from (often as preposition): - beside, by itself, without.

In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ can understand the weakness of our physical human bodies and sympathize with our physical frailties because He Himself lived inside one of these bodies that He also Himself created. He has compassion for us as we sojourn down here for the time period He has alloted for us to do His will on the earth of getting the Gospel of His Grace to all Nations upon the earth (Matthew 28:19). He was also tested by Satan in every one of the areas of temptation to sin as we are, that being, (1) Pleasure; it is written, "And the devil said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God." (Luke 4:3-4) (KJV). (2) Power; it is written, "And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." (Luke 4:5-8) (KJV). (3) Popularity; it is written, "And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season." (Luke 4:9-13) (KJV).

Yet despite all of Satan's temptation to our Lord Jesus, He was always and at all times without sin, that is, He never sinned in word, thought, or deed, for He is separate from sin or apart from it. Here again is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse 15, "Though He is so great, and so far above us, yet He is very kind, and tenderly concerned for us. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmities in such a manner as none else can be; for He was Himself tried with all the afflictions and troubles that are incident to our nature in its fallen state: and this not only that He might be able to satisfy for us, but to sympathize with us. He is a sinless High Priest: He was in all things tempted as we are, yet without sin. He was tempted by Satan, but He came off without sin. We seldom meet with temptations but they give us some shock. We are apt to give back, though we do not yield; but our great High Priest came off clear in His encounter with the devil, who could neither find any sin in Him nor fix any stain upon Him. He was tried severely by the Father. It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; and yet He sinned not, either in thought, word, or deed. He had done no violence, neither was there any deceit in His mouth. He was holy, harmless, and undefiled."

Therefore, the writer of Hebrews wants to conclude this discourse with us comprehending all that we have in our Great High Priest Jesus Christ in order to motivate us to run to Him at all times and for all things and not withdraw from Him, even when we fail, but just the opposite run into His compassionate arms of grace, as it is written here, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) (KJV). When the writer here exhorts to come boldly, he means for us to come to Christ' Throne of Grace with confidence in His love and care for us and that we should come to Him honestly with what we have done wrong (for He already knows it) and we should come to Him in a direct manner not being afraid to detail to Him our displeasure of certain circumstances or our not understanding of things that have happened to us because of our stance for Him and the truth of the Gospel. We should never be afraid to tell our Lord Jesus Christ all that is in our inner man or inner woman that concerns or troubles us. For His mercy and grace is available to us at all times and in all places whenever we boldly go before His Throne of Grace seeking His help.

Here again is what Matthew Henry had to say of this verse 16, "There is a Throne of Grace set up, a way of worship instituted, in which God may with honour meet poor sinners, and treat with them, and they may with hope draw nigh to Him, repenting and believing. God might have set up a tribunal of strict and inexorable justice, dispensing death, the wages of sin, to all who were convened before it; but He has chosen to set up a Throne of Grace. A Throne speaks authority, and bespeaks awe and reverence. A Throne of grace speaks great encouragement even to the chief of sinners. There grace reigns, and acts with sovereign freedom, power, and bounty. It is our duty and interest to be often found before this Throne of Grace, waiting on the Lord in all the duties of His worship, private and public. It is good for us to be there. Our business and errand 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 the things we want, mercy to pardon all our sins and grace to purify our souls. Besides the daily dependence we have upon God for present supplies, there are some seasons in which we shall most sensibly need the mercy and grace of God, and we should lay up prayers against such seasons - times of temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially a dying time: we should every day put up a petition for mercy in our last day. The Lord grant unto us that we may find mercy of the Lord at that day, 2 Timothy 1:18. In all our approaches to this Throne of Grace for mercy, we should come with a humble freedom and boldness, with a liberty of spirit and a liberty of speech; we should ask in faith, nothing doubting; we should come with a Spirit of adoption, as children to a reconciled God and Father. We are indeed to come with reverence and godly fear, but not with terror and amazement; 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 High Priest, should be the ground of our confidence in all our approaches to the Throne of Grace. Had we not a Mediator, we could have no boldness in coming to God; for we are guilty and polluted creatures. All we do is polluted; we cannot go into the presence of God alone; we must either go in the hand of a Mediator or our hearts and our hopes will fail us. We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus. He is our Advocate, and, while He pleads for His people, He pleads with the price in His hand, by which He purchased all that our souls want or can desire."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…