Hebrews 4:14-16 Jesus: our great high priest.

 14  . . . we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  15  For we have not 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 sinning.  16  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 Holy Bible : Revised Standard Version Second Catholic edition (2006), with the ecclesiastical approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Thomas Nelson Publishing for Ignatius Press.

 14  . . . we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

15  For we have not 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 sinning. 

16  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.

“ a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,” To better understand this passage and to see how Jesus fulfilled the Father’s wishes that he become the ultimate High Priest let us turn to Psalm 110.  1  The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.” The Hebrew text states the first reference to “Lord,” is the word “Yahweh,” God the Father. The second reference to David’s “lord” is “Adonay,” the Messiah. The psalm goes on to explain that Yahweh made the following statement about Adonay “You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps 110:4). Jesus “passed through the heavens,” became man and was tempted in the same ways which afflict us.

“ a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,”

To better understand this passage and to see how Jesus fulfilled the Father’s wishes that he become the ultimate High Priest let us turn to Psalm 110.

 1  The LORD says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool.”

The Hebrew text states the first reference to “Lord,” is the word “Yahweh,” God

the Father.

The second reference to David’s “lord” is “Adonay,” the Messiah.

The psalm goes on to explain that Yahweh made the following statement about Adonay “You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps 110:4).

Jesus “passed through the heavens,” became man and was tempted in the same ways which afflict us.

But of course he overcame the temptations and remained sinless. Jesus is not an abstract God who judges from afar; he can sympathize with us because, as a human, he too had been tempted. It is important for us to remember what Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:13  13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Jesus, the ultimate High Priest, the mediator between God and man, can sympathize with our daily trials but we must also understand that we too could have avoided sin with the mercy and grace that God provided us with when temptation entered our life.

But of course he overcame the temptations and remained sinless.

Jesus is not an abstract God who judges from afar; he can sympathize with us because, as a human, he too had been tempted.

It is important for us to remember what Paul tells us in 1 Cor. 10:13

 13  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the

temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Jesus, the ultimate High Priest, the mediator between God and man, can sympathize with our daily trials but we must also understand that we too could have avoided sin with the mercy and grace that God provided us with when temptation entered our life.

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