The Great High Priest
Heb. 4:14-16
The theme of the book of Hebrews can be phrased in one word . . . BETTER. The book is one comparison after another of Christ and the things the Jews revered. For instance, in 1:4-7, Jesus is declared to be better than the angels. In 3:1-6, Jesus as a son is better than Moses the servant. And in 4:14-16, the priesthood of Jesus is better than the priesthood of Aaron. In this section, Jesus is presented as a great high priest in contrast to the priests who were descendants of Aaron.
I. Under the Law of Moses, the high priest:
A. Was taken from among men (Ex. 28:1) “Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests . . .”
B. Was appointed to act on behalf of men (Heb. 5:1). “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.”
C. As a human priest, he was to deal with the ignorant gently since he was also weak (Heb. 5:2). “He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.”
D. He was also appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins, his own as well as the people (5:3). “Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people.”
II. This was the high priest of the Jews but OUR high priest is GREAT! Because:
A. He has passed through the heavens.
Jewish concept of heavens . . . atmosphere, stars, and the presence of God.
Eph. 4:10 . . . Christ ascended far above the heavens
II Cor. 12:2 . . . Paul says he went to the third heaven.
B. He is a high priest forever. Heb. 6:19-20. “We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
C. He is at the right hand of God. Heb. 8:1-2. “Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.”
D. He is in the true holy place. Heb. 9:24. “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.”
The earthly high priest passed through the veil to enter the holy place, but our High Priest has entered in the true holy place, the very presence of God himself.
E. He is the Son of God. Heb. 1:1-4
1. Prophet of God.
2. Heir of all things.
3. Maker of all things
4. Radiance of God’s Glory.
5. He is the physical expression of God.
6. He is the sustainer of all things.
7. He is the purifier of sins.
So, we have a great high priest because he has passed through the heavens to the true holy place in presence of God to be our High Priest forever and because he is the son of God with all that implies.
III. But, he is also human (Jesus).
He can sympathize (suffer with) us and make propitiation (intercession) for us, because he was tempted (Heb. 2:17-18) “Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Yet did not sin (II Cor. 5:21). “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
(Heb. 7:26-28) “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
IV. Therefore, let us draw near:
A. With confidence because:
1. We are in Christ. Eph. 3:11-12. “This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
2. We are washed in his blood. Heb. 10:19-22 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
B. To the throne of grace.
For the faithful Christian, the throne of God is not primarily a throne of power, authority, or justice, but grace. It is a throne occupied by an ever loving Father filled with grace.
1. To receive mercy.
We don’t deserve it, but we need it.
2. To find grace to help in time of need.
During temptations, trials, afflictions, death, etc.
V. Let us hold fast our confession
“Hold fast” - - - Keep on holding - - -
“Confession” - - - Oral confession of Jesus as the Son of God. Matt. 16:16 and Rom. 10:9-10. We keep on holding to that confession by living lives that say to everyone that we believe that Jesus is:
A. The prophet of God who speaks to us by his word - - - By doing what he tells us to do in that word.
B. The heir of all things. - - - By recognizing that we are just stewards and we are accountable to him for everything blessing we have.
C. The creator and sustainer of all things. - - - By living our lives acknowledging that as the creator and sustainer he is in control of that which he created and sustains.
D. God. - - - By glorifying him in all that we do.
E. Purifier of sins. - - - By trusting him to wash away our sins as we walk in the light. I John 1:7
Heb. 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
