The superiority of Jesus as High Priest. He is living. He is in heaven ministry for us. He is a compassionate High Priest. He was tempted yet was victorious. He never sinned in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. Because of His ministry, we can come to the heavenly Holy of Holies and pray for God’s help and comfort. His throne is a throne of grace where we can find mercy and grace when we need it.
My translation and notes on Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus Is The High Priest
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who is gone into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold on tightly to what we believe,
[The great high priest is identified as Jesus, the Son of God. Son of God refers to Jesus’s deity (1 John 5:20, Matthew 26:63, John 1:1, and John 1:14). We are to ‘hold on tightly,’ that is, be loyal, be consistent, be dedicated to the doctrines/teachings of Jesus (Hebrews 10:23, Colossians 2:5, and Acts 2:42. The Greek word for ‘gone into’ is διέρχομαι diérchomai (G1330). TDNTa has this entry: In Romans 5:12 this word denotes the extension of death to everybody, while in Hebrews 4:14 it signifies Christ’s passing as High Priest through the heavens to the heavenly sanctuary].
15 For we don’t have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in every way tempted like us, yet without any sin.
[The Greek word for ‘sympathize’ is συμπαθέω sympathéō (G4834). It means to identify with other’s feelings in suffering, sympathize. Ryle writes (EXPOSITORY THOUGHTS ON THE GOSPELS, W/NOTES, J. C. RYLE on Matthew 4:35): Let us mark this lesson also attentively. The Savior in whom we are bid to trust, is as really a man as He is God. He knows the trials of a man, for He has experienced them. He knows the bodily infirmities of a man, for He has felt them. He can well understand what we mean, when we cry to Him for help in this world of need. He is just the very Savior that men and women, with weary frames and aching heads, in a weary world, require for their comfort every morning and night. “We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” (Hebrews 4:15)].
16 Therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
[‘Throne of Grace’ is God’s throne. It is called Grace because God’s favors grace and mercy instead of condemnation, judgment, and sentencing. God is, though, the King of all kings and Judge of all judges. This King and Judge welcomes all to come and ask for mercy and grace. See Exodus 25:17 where the High Priest of Israel comes yearly to atone for his own sin and the sin of the nation. The Levitical High Priest does find mercy for him and the nation. Compare Isaiah 55:7, Ephesians 3:12, and Psalm 119:132].