Jesus The Great High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-16
- What did it mean to the original reader or original audience?
Summarize the main story: Describe the events of the scriptural story in your own words.
Review and retell the story.
#People = God, Jesus, Israelites, The readers of the letter, High Priests
#Time =
#Place = Canaan (implied through references to the "Promised Land"), Heaven (implied through discussions of God's rest)
#Obedient faith =
#Sin =
#Key Idea =
Jesus the Great High Priest
14Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16Let 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.
Hebrews 4:14-16 is a
significant passage in the New Testament book of Hebrews that emphasizes the
importance of faith in Jesus Christ. Let's break down this passage and
summarize its key points.
Main themes
- Jesus
as the Great High Priest
- Encouragement
to hold firmly to faith
- Jesus'
ability to sympathize with human weaknesses
- Approaching
God's throne with confidence
Verse 14
Jesus as the Great High Priest (v. 14)
Encouragement to hold firmly to faith (v. 14)
This verse introduces
the concept of Jesus Christ as our High Priest. It emphasizes that He is
greater than any earthly high priest because He has entered heaven itself. The
passage encourages believers to cling to their faith in Jesus, recognizing His
divine nature as the Son of God.
This emphasizes Christ's unique role as both
divine and human, serving as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity.
The author urges believers to "hold firmly
to the faith we profess," highlighting the importance of perseverance and
steadfastness in one's spiritual journey.
Verse 15
Jesus' ability to sympathize (v. 15)
The text emphasizes that Jesus can sympathize
with human weaknesses because He was "tempted in every way, just as we
are—yet He did not sin." This underscores Christ's humanity and His
ability to understand and relate to human struggles.
This verse highlights
a crucial aspect of Jesus' role as our High Priest. Unlike human priests who
couldn't truly understand our struggles, Jesus has experienced temptation just
as we have. However, unlike us, He remained sinless throughout His life. This
verse emphasizes Jesus' ability to relate to humanity's weaknesses and
temptations.
Verse 16
Approaching God's throne with confidence (v.
16)
This final verse
concludes the thought by encouraging believers to approach God confidently
through faith in Jesus Christ. It reminds us that because of Jesus' role as
High Priest, we can draw near to God without fear or hesitation. We can seek
His mercy and grace when we face challenges or difficulties in life.
It promises that those who do so will
"receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need,"
emphasizing God's accessibility and willingness to provide support to His followers.
In essence, this passage offers comfort and encouragement to believers by
highlighting Jesus' role as a compassionate high priest and urging them to
approach God boldly in times of need.
In summary, Hebrews
4:14-16 emphasizes the following key points:
- Jesus Christ is our great High
Priest who has entered heaven itself.
- Unlike human priests, Jesus
understands our weaknesses having been tempted yet remaining sinless.
- Because of this relationship,
we can approach God's throne of grace with confidence.
- We can seek mercy and grace in
times of need through faith in Jesus.
This passage
encourages believers to trust in Jesus' role as our mediator before God,
emphasizing the importance of faith and confidence in our relationship with
Him.
- God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
- We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
- I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
- What transformative move needs to be made?
- You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Take Away Challenges
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to your life this week?
Whom do you know who needs to hear this?
What is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts, or actions need to be addressed or changed?
Other Resources:
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Articles
- Devotions
There's a man trying to cross the street. As he steps off the curb, a car comes screaming around the corner and heads straight for him. The man walks faster, trying to hurry across the street, but the car changes lanes and is still coming at him.
So the guy turns around to go back, but the car changes lanes again and is still coming at him.
By now, the car is so close and the man so scared that he just freezes and stops in the middle of the road.
The car gets real close, then swerves at the last possible moment and screeches to a halt right next him.
The driver rolls down the window. The driver is a squirrel. The squirrel says to the man says, "See, it's not as easy as it looks, is it?"
There have been times when I've discovered that experiencing something is more difficult than it looks. For example, when I was younger, I was full of ideas on how parents ought to be raising their children. However, after having three of my own, I've discovered that "it's not as easy as it looks."
Maybe there was a time when you thought someone ought to be handling a divorce or a death in the family better than they do. But after experiencing it for yourself, you found out that "it's not as easy as it looks."
Sometimes there's no way to know what it feels like to go through something without actually experiencing it yourself. That's why the incarnation is so important. There's no way we can say to God, "Living here on this earth -- it's not as easy as it looks!" God knows. He's taken on flesh and blood and walked this earth. He's experienced temptation, frustration, persecution, disappointment and a host of human emotions. He knows how tough it is. He understands. And that's why He is in a position to be of help to us.
"For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:15-16)
It's true. Living life on this earth is "not as easy as it looks." But may you find comfort today in knowing that God understands that more that you can begin to imagine.
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