THEREFORE, SINCE WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST WHO HAS PASSED THROUGH THE HEAVENS, JESUS THE SON OF GOD: Echontes (PAPMPN) oun archierea megan dieleluthota (RAPMSA) tous ("the" = plural) ouranous Iesoun ton huion tou theou: (Hebrews 2:17; 3:1; 3:5,6) (Hebrews 1:3; 6:20; 7:25,26; 8:1; 9:12,24; 10:12; 12:2; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:11; 3:21; Romans 8:34) (Hebrews 1:2,8; Mark 1:1) (Hebrews 2:1; 3:6,14; 10:23)

The writer proceeds to resume the topic of the priesthood. One of the main arguments of the Epistle is that the priestly work of Jesus is superior to that of the Levitical priesthood. He had briefly alluded to Jesus'  priesthood of Jesus in  (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 2:17; 2:18; Hebrews 3:1) as if he were preparing them for this major meaty argument.

Therefore (3767) (oun) is a term of conclusion, which usually looks backward but in this case looks forward. In other words, based on the truth about Jesus' great priesthood, the writer exhorts his reads to hold fast. Notice his charge does not just say "Hold fast" but gives his readers the soul stabilizing truth of God's Word to edify and equip them that they might be strengthened by grace to hold fast. We need to practice this same principle in our churches today -- we must continually give the saints the solid food of the pure milk of God's Word, in order that their minds might be renewed to think rightly about this present, fleeting life.

We have (2192) (echo) means they hold or possess Jesus as their High Priest.  Furthermore the present tense shows that they continually "possess" Him! And even better He continually and forever possesses those sheep who are His own! (John 10:27,28) Glory to God in the highest! Take a moment and meditate on majestic glory of our Great High Priest as you ponder the words of Isaac Watts' hymn...

With joy we meditate the grace
Of our High Priest above;
His heart is made of tenderness,
His bowels** melt with love.

Touched with a sympathy within,
He knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sore temptations mean,
For He has felt the same.

But spotless, innocent, and pure,
The great Redeemer stood,
While Satan’s fiery darts He bore,
And did resist to blood.

He in the days of feeble flesh
Poured out His cries and tears,
And in His measure feels afresh
What every member bears.

He’ll never quench the smoking flax,
But raise it to a flame;
The bruisèd reed He never breaks,
Nor scorns the meanest name.

Then let our humble faith address
His mercy and His power;
We shall obtain delivering grace
In the distressing hour.
Play - With Joy We Meditate the Grace by Isaac Watts
**Bowels = Old KJV term = center of the feelings, affections, especially compassion

Great (3173) High Priest - Israel had many high priests, but they never had a Great High Priest. We have an absolutely unique Great High Priest.

Vincent writes that great emphasizes...

Christ’s priestly character to Jewish readers, as superior to that of the Levitical priests. He is holding up the ideal priesthood.

High priest (749) (archiereus from arche = first in a series, the leader or ruler + hiereus = priest) (Dictionary articles - Easton's; ISBE) refers to the priest that was chief over all the other priests in Israel. This office was established by God through Moses instructions in the Pentateuch. The high priest functioned as the mediator between Jehovah and Israel performing sacrifices and rituals like other priests, but in addition acting to expiate the sins of the nation on the annual Day of Atonement.

The irony is that the high priest Caiaphas was residing over the Sanhedrin during trial of Jesus, the trial which would lead to His death and pave the way for His eternal High Priesthood!

Eerdman's Bible Dictionary explains that...

The high priest descended from Eleazar, the son of Aaron. The office was normally hereditary and was conferred upon an individual for life (Nu 25:10-13). The candidate was consecrated in a seven-day ceremony which included investiture with the special clothing of his office as well as anointments and sacrifices (Ex 29:1-37; Lev 8:5-35).

The high priest was bound to a higher degree of ritual purity than ordinary Levitical priests. He could have no contact with dead bodies, including those of his parents. Nor could he rend his clothing or allow his hair to grow out as signs of mourning. He could not marry a widow, divorced woman, or harlot, but only an Israelite virgin (Lev. 21:10-15). Any sin committed by the high priest brought guilt upon the entire nation and had to be countered by special sacrifice (Lev 4:1-12). Upon a high priest’s death manslayers were released from the cities of refuge (Nu 35:25, 28, 32). (Eerdman's Bible Dictionary)

Archiereus occurs only in the Gospels (Matthew - 25 times, Mark 21 times, Luke 15 times, John 20 times), Acts 22 times and Hebrews (see below). The references to the high priests in the Gospels and Acts refers primarily to their bitter opposition to Jesus Who the writer of Hebrews identifies as our everlasting High Priest.

Clearly archiereus is a key word in the book of Hebrews, and a review of  these 17 verses reveals various characteristics (see underlined sections) of Jesus role as the great High Priest (some of the uses of high priest obviously do not refer to Jesus but to the Jewish high priests).

Hebrews 2:17 (note) Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 3:1 (note) Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.

Hebrews 4:14 (note) Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 4:15 (note) For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 5:1 (note) For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

Hebrews 5:5 (note) So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee";

Hebrews 5:10 (note) being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 6:20 (note) where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7:26 (note) For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

Hebrews 7:27 (note) who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

Hebrews 7:28 (note) For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

Hebrews 8:1 (note) Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Hebrews 8:3 (note) For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; hence it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer.

Hebrews 9:7 (note) but into the second only the high priest enters, once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.

Hebrews 9:11 (note) But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;

Hebrews 9:25 (note) nor was it that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood not his own.

Hebrews 13:11 (note) For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp.

Vincent commenting on the adjective great writes that this picture emphasizes...

Christ’s priestly character to Jewish readers, as superior to that of the Levitical priests. He is holding up the ideal priesthood.

Jesus is not just any High Priest but a Great One, our very own ("we have") High Priest! What an incentive for endurance to those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Seeing then that we have a great high priest with our name on his breast and shoulders, let's hold fast our confession!

HIS DIVINE PASSAGE

Passed through (1330) (dierchomai from dia = through + erchomai = come or go) means to go through, to traverse, to pierce through. The perfect tense describes a past completed action (His passing through the heavens) with present ongoing benefits and effects. The perfect tense thus speaks of permanence of our Lord's passage.

The atoning work is done,
The Victim’s blood is shed;
And Jesus now is gone
His people’s cause to plead:
He stands in Heaven their great High Priest,
And bears their names upon His breast.

He sprinkles with His blood  (See comment)
The mercy-seat above;
For justice had withstood
The purposes of love:
But justice now objects no more,
And mercy yields her boundless store.

No temple made with hands
His place of service is;
In Heaven itself He stands,
A heavenly priesthood His:
In Him the shadows of the law
Are all fulfilled, and now withdraw.

And though awhile He be
Hid from the eyes of men,
His people look to see
Their great High Priest again:
In brightest glory He will come,
And take His waiting people home.
Play - The Atoning Work is Done by Thomas Kelly

Our High Priest is in the very Throne Room of God and ready to minister to all who struggle with the pressures and problems of life on earth. Let us go into His presence and lay our burdens at His feet for He is a sympathetic Great High Priest.

The imagery of passed through suggests the Old Testament Day of Atonement when the high priest passed through the Holy Place of the Tabernacle, into the Holy of Holies where the Shekinah glory cloud over the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat symbolized the very presence of the Living God. The Levitical high priest entered with a blood offering (Lev 16:12, 13, 14, 16) to make atonement (or a "covering" = kaphar which is related to the Jewish name of this day = "Yom Kippur") for himself and all Israel. The passage of the Jewish high priest was but a pale shadow of the passage of our Great High Priest Who on the basis of His perfect, once for all sacrifice of His own blood passed through the heavens and into the Holy of holies, the Throne room of God.

In summary, Jesus' priestly ministry is much better than that of the Jewish high priests, for only one this one day of the year were they allowed to pass through an earthly veil to enter the Holy of Holies.  In contrast, our Great High Priest passed through the heavenly "veil" once for all time and into the Throne Room of God.

David describes the scene in heaven and Spurgeon comments on the impact that this glorious truth had on David's mindset...

Psalm 11:4 The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.

Spurgeon comments on the effect of David's awareness of Jehovah in His holy temple writing that...

David here declares the great source of his unflinching courage. He borrows his light from heaven -- from the great central orb of deity. The God of the believer is never far from him; He is not merely the God of the mountain fastnesses, but of the dangerous valleys and battle plains.

Jehovah is in His holy temple. The heavens are above our heads in all regions of the earth, and so is the Lord ever near to us in every state and condition. This is a very strong reason why we should not adopt the vile suggestions of distrust. There is One Who pleads His precious blood in our behalf in the temple above (Ed note: Our Great High Priest), and there is One upon the throne Who is never deaf to the intercession of His Son. Why, then, should we fear? What plots can men devise which Jesus will not discover? Satan has doubtless desired to have us, that he may sift us as wheat, but Jesus is in the temple praying for us, and how can our faith fail? What attempts can the wicked make which Jehovah shall not behold? And since He is in His holy temple, delighting in the sacrifice of His Son, will He not defeat every device, and send us a sure deliverance?

Jehovah's throne is in the heavens; He reigns supreme. Nothing can be done in heaven, or earth, or hell, which He doth not ordain and overrule. He is the world's great Emperor. Wherefore, then, should we flee? If we trust this King of kings, is not this enough? Cannot He deliver us without our cowardly retreat? Yes, blessed be the Lord our God, we can salute him as Jehovah Nissi; in His Name we set up our banners, and instead of flight, we once more raise the shout of war. (Ed note: So strengthened dear saint, let us hold fast our confession amidst a ever deafening hostility and fierce hatred for genuine followers of Jesus.)

An anonymous psalmist comforts us with the truth that...

Jehovah looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men (Psalm 33:13)

Spurgeon writes that...

The Lord is represented as dwelling above and looking down below; seeing all things, but peculiarly observing and caring for those who trust in Him. It is one of our choicest privileges to be always under our Father's eye, to be never out of sight of our best Friend (Ed note: Our Great High Priest).

Vincent adds that Jesus has passed...

Through, and up to the throne of God of which he wields the power, and is thus able to fulfil for His followers the divine promise of rest.

Heavens (3772) (ouranos - Vine feels is probably akin to ornumi = to lift or heave) is one of 24 NT uses (click all uses of "heavens" - plural -  in NT) of heaven in the plural.

Regarding the term heavens there are at least three divisions (there is not a complete consensus on this however) -

(1) First heaven (the atmosphere) (In Acts 1:9-11 Jesus was "lifted up...and a cloud received Him...into the sky...into heaven (and) will come in just the same way as you [disciples] have watched Him go into heaven.")

(2) Second heaven (outer space)

(3) Third heaven (God’s abode; 2Cor 12:2-4). (See Third Heaven)

Jesus passed through the first two "heavens" to take His seat at the right hand of His Father in the Third heaven, the dwelling place of God ("Our Father Who art in heaven" see note Matthew 6:9)

In the Old Testament the high priest of Israel passed through the courts and veils into the Most Holy Place, but Jesus has passed through the heavens into the very presence of God where He is seated at the right hand of His Father (see note Hebrews 1:3), continually performing His functions as our High Priest (eg, intercession, see note Hebrews 7:25).

In a parallel passage we read

Therefore it was necessary for the copies (hupodeigma) of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly (epouranios) things themselves with better sacrifices than these (animal sacrifices). For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands (the Holy of holies in the earthly copy of the heavenly Tabernacle), a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for (for = preposition huper = on our behalf, as our Substitute) us; (See notes Hebrews 9:23; 9:24)

Heaven is a common theme in the book of Hebrews, which is fitting in view of the great conflict of suffering (see note Hebrews 10:32) they had endured.  Study the 10 uses of ouranos...

Hebrews 1:10 (note) - And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;

Hebrews 4:14 (note) - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 7:26 (note) - For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;

Hebrews 8:1 (note) - Now the main point in what has been said is this: we have such a high priest, who has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Hebrews 9:23 (note) - Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

Hebrews 9:24 (note) - For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;

Hebrews 11:12 (note) - Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

Hebrews 12:23 (note) - to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, (cp Philippians 3:20 - see note)

Hebrews 12:25 (note) - See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.

Hebrews 12:26 (note) - And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN ."

Hebrews is unique of all the NT epistles in explaining the present priestly work of Jesus in this age of the church. To be ignorant of the book of Hebrews is to be ignorant of His role as our High Priest.

Jesus the Son of God - The human name linked with His deity, clinching the argument already made Heb 1:1-4:13 getting reader ready for truth in Heb 4:15.

Vincent adds that...

The name Jesus applied to the high priest is forcible as recalling the historical, human person, who was tempted like his brethren. We are thus prepared for what is said in ver. 15 concerning his sympathising character.

LET US HOLD FAST OUR CONFESSION: kratomen (1PPAS) tes homologia:

Let us hold fast (2902) (krateo) means to lay hold of and cling tightly to that which has been taken hold. Krateo means to cling to tenaciously with the idea of seizing, retaining (using strength) as in Hebrews 6:18. The writer is exhorting his readers (especially those wavering and being tempted to go back into Judaism and not forward to genuine saving faith in Messiah) as a principle of faith to keep on holding on to (present tense) their confession regarding the Messiah.

Click for all 12 "let us..." exhortations in Hebrews (in the NASB).

How important is it to hold fast?

so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold (krateo) of the hope set before us. (See note Hebrews 6:18)

So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to (krateo) the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. (2Thes 2:15) (Comment: Traditions in this context is not a reference to the traditions of men but of God as handed down to the hearers/recipients via God's messengers, in context the apostle Paul. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to keep the traditions they had been taught by him, either verbally or in writing, - 2 Thessalonians 3:6. Remember that for about the first twenty years of the spread of Christianity, each church needed to remember, carefully and accurately, what they had been taught orally by the apostles, for they did not yet have a written Bible as we do today. By the time of the Thessalonians, however, Paul had written down at least some of his teachings, and the NT was beginning to take shape. Eventually, it would all be written and there would be no further need for the disciples to be guided by the oral traditions.)

and not holding fast (krateo) to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. (See note Colossians 2:19) (Comment: Holding fast in this context will keep you from being taken "captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." see note Colossians 2:8)

If you want to get through hard times, hold fast Jesus “the apostle,” (see note Hebrews 3:1) the sent one of God, Who did everything to procure your salvation for you. Along with this, proudly confess that He is your High Priest. Own it publicly. Make it the refrain of your soul, that all around you may know not just Who you know, but Who you belong to and they might be drawn by the aroma of eternal life in Christ Alone by faith alone.

Confession (3671) (homologia from homoú = together with + légo = say) means literally the statement of the same thing and thus expresses agreement with another. It represents the open expression of one's allegiance to a proposition or a person. Such a confession is the effect of deep conviction regarding the facts (Truth).

This word group (verb homologeo, noun homologia) has strong legal connotations. And so a person can confess to a charge in court and thus openly acknowledge guilt. Or one may agree with a court order and thus make a legally binding commitment to abide by it. This last sense is implied in passages that call on us to acknowledge Jesus. We are to express our binding commitment to Jesus publicly and thus acknowledge our relationship to Him as our Lord. John puts the importance of this issue succinctly:

"No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also" (1 Jn 2:23).

Commitment to Jesus brings us into full relationship with God.

In secular documents from New Testament times the related verb homologeo was commonly used to denote agreements between two parties and thus is very common in our sources in the sense “contract,” “agreement.” In legal formulas it meant to "give consent" to something. Another use of the word was to "acknowledge" or "publicly declare." One papyrus from the first century reads

He acknowledges [having found] the box, but alleges that it was empty (Moulton and Milligan)

The noun homologia is found only 6 times in Scripture...

2Co 9:13 - (In Context) Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ (your professing of the gospel finds expression in obedient subjection to its requirements) and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,

1Ti 6:12 - (In Context) Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1Ti 6:13 - (In Context) I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

Hebrews 3:1 (note) - Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;

Hebrews 4:14 (note) - Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 10:23 (note) - Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

Homologia is used 5 times in the Septuagint (LXX)  (Lev. 22:18; Deut. 12:17; Jer. 44:25; Ezek. 46:12; Amos 4:5)

The verb homologeo is utilized by Paul in his famous passage on salvation explaining...

that if you confess (homologeo -  this confession involves a wholehearted acknowledgment) with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (See notes Romans 10:9; 10:10) (Comment:  Luther said that such confession is "the principal work of faith." Calvin added that no one can believe with the heart without confessing with the mouth. It is a natural consequence of faith.)

S Lewis Johnson writes that in this section the author is exhorting his readers...

Do not fall as Israel did. What he is interested in is the kind of faith that works—even as James describes it in his book: a faith that endures. So he talks about holding fast our confession. Peter Lombard describes this

The faith of the heart together, with the confession of the mouth so that faith is also in the mouth!

Faith is not simply spoken words, but words that come from a belief in the heart. Paul agrees in Romans 10:9-10.

The confession here in Hebrews 4:14 has reference to the specific statement of faith which had once been accepted and openly acknowledged before others -  "Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God".

Today, in our individualistic world, we often neglect the salutary benefit of public confession of the truth we hold. When we are going through hard times, we need to confess Christ as our “apostle and high priest”—to own His magnificent ministry as our own—to clutch it close! We ought not to limit our confession to congenial company alone. There are times to confess Him in unfriendly surroundings. Such confession may be just what our soul needs. Confess and embrace your High Priest!

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Today in the Word  (click here) has the following devotionals...

Monday, June 9, 2003
Read: Hebrews 4:14-16
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy. - Hebrews 4:16

TODAY IN THE WORD - Due to skyrocketing legal fees, more and more corporations–and even individuals–are willing to consider settling their disputes through arbitration rather than court. This process uses a mediator to negotiate a binding settlement on both parties. What makes a good mediator? It should be someone who knows and understands both sides as well as the issue causing the problem.

This is a good bit like our position as we stand before God due to our sin. The situation has reached an impasse. Nothing we can say or do can satisfy God. In fact, because of our sin, we cannot even approach Him. One person, however, can do something about it–our High Priest, Jesus Christ.

In the book of Hebrews, the primary function of the “high priest” is to act as a mediator. That is, the high priest goes between God and humanity. As we have already seen, Jesus is no ordinary high priest. He is the high priest who is both eternal God and fully human. He understands both sides of the issue. Moreover, He has done what no high priest before Him has: “gone through the heavens” into the very presence of God Himself (Heb 4:14).

We may wonder why this is so important. Hebrews 4:15-16 give the reason: Jesus understands what it’s like to face temptation. In the context of this letter, the specific challenge addressed here is the temptation to leave Jesus and the community of those who believe in Him. Some of these Hebrew Christians were tempted to stop persevering in the Christian faith. Hebrews assures us that such a temptation is understood by our Jesus, our mediator. He is able to sympathize with us and will give us mercy and grace in our time of need.

Hebrews gives this exhortation: in time of temptation do not stay away from Jesus, rather run to Him! He will not cast us away–He will help us in our time of need.

TODAY ALONG THE WAY - If you are struggling with a particular temptation today, listen to the good news of this passage–Jesus “has been tempted in every way, just as we are” (v. 15). The one seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:4) understands your struggle and will intercede for you. You can approach the eternal throne boldly and with great confidence in your time of need. Go to Him in prayer even now and, thanks be to God, receive His mercy (See Moody Bible Institute's Today in the Word)

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Tuesday, December 19, 2000
Read: Read: Hebrews 4:14-16; 7:23–28
Therefore, since we have a great high priest . . . let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. - Hebrews 4:14
TODAY IN THE WORD

In 1989 a group of Romanian students embarked on a risky trip, smuggling Bibles into neighboring Moldova, part of the former Soviet Union. Being caught with Christian literature in either country could have put them in jail. Yet somehow they made it through border crossings, past local police, into designated apartment buildings, and back home without one encounter with security forces. Only later they learned that a Christian, Vasili, had spent three entire days in intercessory prayer on their behalf.

It is always encouraging for us to learn that others have been praying for us. How much more encouraging is it to realize the Lord Jesus Himself is praying for us! Indeed, Jesus as our Great High Priest “always lives to intercede for [us]” (Heb. 7:25).

A key Old Testament figure was the high priest, chosen from the tribe of Levi. The high priest oversaw the duties of priests (2 Chr 19:11) and served as mediator between God and the people. On the annual Day of Atonement, the High Priest--alone--was able to enter the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle, where he sacrificed for his own sins and for those of all the people (Ex. 30:10).

In Hebrews, we see how Jesus is superior to all that has gone before Him, including the Old Testament high priest. In Hebrews 4:14, Jesus is called the Great High Priest, the One who has gone before us through the heavens. Although Jesus is vastly superior to any human high priest, He is still able to understand our human weakness, because He is fully human and fully divine--yet He is without sin (v. 15).

Hebrews 7:27 (note) shows that whereas a human high priest had to make atonement for his own sin, Jesus had no sin of His own to atone for. Moreover, Jesus “sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself” (Hebrews 7:27). Finally, whereas the high priest had to be replaced each time one died, “because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood” (Hebrews 7:24 - note).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY - Since Jesus always lives to intercede for us, we also have the privilege of praying for others.  (See Moody Bible Institute's Today in the Word)

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