Mercy and Truth From
Our High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-16
We Have a Great High Priest - 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest
- EconteV megan arcierea - cf. 2:17; 3:1,5; 7:22-28;
9:11-14, 24-26
Dignity of His person, Perfection of His character -
Meditorial office in the holy of holies before the Father. Adequate,
available and sympathetic.
He Has Ascended into Heaven Itself - That is passed
into the heavens - dielhluqota / Pf Ptc / Lit. To
pass through or be prevalent. He is there now. He has passed through the holy of
holies, and is set to carry us through, because of His unfailing work as High
Priest. 1:3; 6:20; 8:1; 9:24; 10:12
It Is Specifically One Person, and No One Else -
Jesus the Son of God - Specifically the One and the same who came to earth,
died, and rose again. No one else! He is the true High Priest.
We Are to Walk a Path of Diligence - Let us hold
fast - kratwmen / Pres Act / grip, be consistent in
our profession, active, strong, continuing, mighty, prevailing, to lay our hands
on.
Our Profession Is a Reflection of His Greatness -
Our profession - omologiaV / to agree or speak the
same thing. Heb. 10:23
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art
also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. I Tim.
6:12
As High Priest Christ Understands Our Needs - 4:15
for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities - He knows our need of strength. He knows our weaknesses and is
fully capable to dealing with each of them. 2:17; 7:26
He is The One and Only Perfect High Priest - But
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin Christ was tested in
all the same areas of life. We failed periodically, but He never succumbed to
sin or desired to sin in any way.
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us,
leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin,
neither was guile found in his mouth: I Pet. 2:21-22
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
I John 3:5
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him. 2 Cor. 5:21
We Ought To Enter His Presence For Mercy - 4:16 Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace - It is our personal
responsibility to God to pray, freedom of utterance, without any reservation,
plainly and openly to God. 10:19; 13:6
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph. 2:18
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Eph.
3:12
Let us therefore come boldly, or, with confidence,
etc. He draws this conclusion, that access to God is open to all who come to him
relying on Christ the Mediator; he exhorts the faithful to venture without any
hesitation to present themselves before God. And the chief benefit of divine
teaching is a sure confidence in calling on God, as, on the other hand, the
whole of religion falls to the ground, and is lost when this certainty is taken
away from consciences.
We have a high priest Who is willing to help us; therefore we may come bold and
without any hesitation to the throne of grace. Are we fully persuaded that
Christ is of his own accord stretching forth his hand to us, who of us would not
come in perfect confidence? The import of the whole is, that we are to call upon
God Without fear, since we know that he is giving, and that this may be done is
all because of Christ.
That we may obtain mercy - Aor Act - Lit to receive
mercy. All who, relying on Christ, are certain to obtain mercy.
**Notice that mercy is obtained, not found, and then grace is attained. Don’t
accept defeat as the norm for your life, when you can go directly to the source
of grace!
And find grace to help in time of need - Seasonal
times of life. The Greek idiom meaning to “shout and run”/ He is always
available for us during the greatest and most difficult of times! He is there
for a “seasonable” help; all that we will ever need, by way of help is available
to the us. God’s grace is sufficient for every area of life and every trial.
2 Cor. 12:9 “...My grace is sufficient for thee”
1 Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:
but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are
able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be
able to bear it.”
Rom. 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus:” Cf. Eph. 2:8-9