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. 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. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16 — New American Standard Bible)
In the Old Testament the high priest of Israel would enter the temple, go through the curtain which separated the two rooms of the temple — the holy place and the most holy place — and enter into the actual presence of God. But Jesus as High Priest has not entered a room in a building, He has entered heaven to the very presence of God, and is now seated at God’s right hand. And so this passages encourages us to “hold fast” to our confession of Jesus as our God and Savior. He has done what no one else has ever done, He has the power to transform us and give us a future, so we should make sure we never give up on Him, no matter what.
The writer of Hebrews then reminds us that this special High Priest is not only God, He was also a man and felt everything that we feel. He is a priest that can sympathize with anything we are going through. He knows what it is to be tempted, because he was, only He never gave in to it. He knows what it’s like to be hated, lied about, laughed at — what it’s like to be tired, discouraged, to cry, to feel agony. And so Jesus is uniquely qualified to understand and help us. We don’t have to be afraid to speak to Him or to confess our sins and weakness to Him. He doesn’t like our sin, but He knows what it’s like to be tempted.
One of the greatest things in life it to be heard and understood by others, and the Lord Jesus the supreme sympathizer.
At Mount Sinai the people of God were commanded: “Do not go up to the mountain or touch its base”, a huge contrast to the command in this passage to confidently draw near to the throne of God. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, people of faith are ordered to enter God’s presence. We are not asked to approach Him in a timid, insecure manner (like most Christians do). We are asked to enter with confidence, to speak plainly, to be fearless, and courageous. If we truly believe that God is our Father, and if we truly believe in the promises He has given us, logic demands that we insist on their fulfillment in our lives. God cannot lie, and so His promises have to come true, and if they aren’t He wants us to speak plainly to Him and demand their fulfillment.
Real children have confidence and boldness with their fathers. I can’t go up to any man and demand his help, but I can approach my father. If we are God’s children, we have to behave like it.
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