A Priest Who Knows: Drawing Near in Hebrews 4

The letter to the Hebrews was written to people tempted to drift back, to loosen their grip on Jesus and return to what felt safer and older. Its answer is not mainly try harder. Its answer is a person: Jesus is greater. Greater than the angels, than Moses, than the whole system of priests and sacrifices. Hebrews 3:1-3 English - ESV And in chapter four that greatness turns startlingly tender.

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. Hebrews 4:14 English - ESV A high priest was the one person allowed to go into God's presence on behalf of everyone else. Hebrews says ours has gone further than any priest ever did, all the way through the heavens.

But height is not what Hebrews lingers on. It is nearness. We do not have a high priest wh Hebrews 4:15-16 English - ESV o is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. The word for sympathize means to suffer alongside. Jesus does not deal with us from a safe distance. He has stood exactly where we stand.

This is why the greatness of Jesus is good news and not only doctrine. A priest who had never been tempted might be holy, but he could not understand. Ours is both at once: fully able to help because he is the Son of God, fully able to sympathize because he became one of us and was tested to the very limit.

So the writer draws the only sane conclusion. 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. The greatness of Jesus does not push us back. It is the very reason we can come close, and the reason to hold on.

Hebrews 4:14-16 English - ESV

Hebrews 4 Berean Standard Bible - Bob Souer

Figure Dressed in Priestly Garments — the office Hebrews says Jesus carried further than any priest before him