Hebrews 4:14–5:6

Explore the Bible 
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

SECURED WITH CONFIDENCE

Hebrews 4:14–5:6

Confidence (4:14–16)

This passage introduces the theme of Jesus’ high priesthood. The writer makes three statements about Christ as our High Priest in verse 14. First Jesus is a great High Priest. Jesus was superior to the priests of Aaron. Second Jesus has passed through the heavens. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. The priests of Aaron served in an earthly sanctuary. Third Jesus is called the Son of God. This declaration identifies the historical Jesus as our High Priest. It also presents Jesus as the one who perfectly combined humanity and divinity in His ministry for lost sinners.

Because Jesus is our High Priest we can hold fast our confession. We are to hold fast to the faith. This continues the theme of perseverance in Hebrews (2:1; 3:6, 12–14; 4:11). The greatness of Jesus as our High Priest encourages believers to draw near to Him and to seek His help in times of testing.

In verse 15 the writer stated three truths about Jesus that would help readers know that He was no stranger in helping struggling human beings. First Jesus is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. The word “weaknesses” includes any form of human stumbling or failure. Christ has sympathy for the needy. Second Jesus has been tempted in every respect, just as we are. He faced the full range of temptations we face. Satan tempted Jesus, like he had tempted Adam and Eve in Eden, with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Because Jesus never yielded to sin, we know that He faced more intense temptation. We say “yes” to sin before Satan has to utilize all of his weapons of temptation against us. Jesus said “no” as Satan hurled every arrow in his quiver. Third Jesus was without sin. Tempted in every area of personal life, He remained sinless. Jesus is truly the holy High Priest. Christians can be comforted with the truth that nothing that entices them is foreign to their Lord. He too has felt the tug of sin, and yet He never gave in to such temptations.

How are we to respond to our sinless Savior? The writer teaches four things in verse 16. First we must draw near. Our weaknesses and sins should not drive us away from God. Rather we ought to go to God. Second we come to the throne of grace. This is the place where God blesses repentant sinners with His favor. God the Father, with Jesus at His side, graciously dispenses help from heaven to those who need forgiveness and strength in temptation. Third we come in an attitude of confidence. We can enter the presence of God with boldness knowing that God has all the grace we need. Fourth we come for the purpose of obtaining mercy and grace.

Found in Christ (5:1–6)

High priests are human and understand human weakness. They also present sacrifices for sins for others and for themselves. High priests were to be appointed by God to act on behalf of men in relation to God. The high priest was to serve as a mediator between God and sinful human beings. Jesus fulfilled these three high priestly criteria, although He is the perfect High Priest since He is without sin and therefore does not need to present a sacrifice for Himself.

Jews who read these words would know that for centuries the office of high priest had been filled by the whim of human rulers. The will of God and descent from Aaron were no longer concerns to the kings who made those appointments. The writer of Hebrews did not mention this issue, but he focused on the ideal role of the high priest. Many Jews would have agreed that the succession of greedy, immoral high priests had led the nation to spiritual ruin. They longed for the kind of high priest the writer of Hebrews described. And in all of human history only Jesus is qualified to serve as our High Priest.