Hebrews 4:14-16 (WEB) Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession. 15 For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. 16 Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.
V14 “Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession.” The High Priest, Jesus Christ, is THE priest now (Psalm 110:4). Any other priest is not important. During the Tribulation, which is for chastening Israel, there will be a descendent of Aaron as High Priest. Also, during the Millennium there will be a new Temple built by Jesus Christ with different laws and practices. See Ezekiel 40-44. Jesus as High Priest, after the order of Melchizedek, entered the heavenly Temple, presenting His blood for atonement for sins (Hebrews 9:14). Jesus, the High Priest, is seated next to God the Father (Hebrews 7:1-2). He offered a one-time offering for sins (Hebrews 7:27). He is sinless (Hebrews 7:26), faithful (Hebrews 3:2), made reconciliation between God and humans (Hebrews 2:17), understands and sympathizes with our temptations to sin (Hebrews 4:15), and makes intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25). Passed through the heavens refers to Jesus’s ascension returning to God His Father. The Bible infers three heavens (2 Corinthians 12:1-2) which are earth’s atmosphere, the universe, and heaven where God lives. Our confession is what we believe–our doctrine and way of life. The Greek word for “confession” is (G3671) ὁμολογία homología, which means saying or writing something in agreement with a standard or belief. Thus, what we affirm and agree to. It is a legal term in Greek. (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) To confess Jesus means honor with God; refusal to confess him is based on the desire for human honor (John 5:44; John 12:43).” [Another use] (Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Abridged – Little Kittel)) “is for ‘to make solemn statements of faith,’ ‘to confess something in faith.’ Rom. 10:9-10 (cf. Dt. 30:14) links faith and confession (cf. 2 Cor. 4:13).”
V15 “For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin.” Jesus, as High Priest, is different in this other way in that He can have special and more complete sympathy for us when tempted. The reason is that He was tempted. This is one of the principles for Christians to follow. We can show sympathy to our fellow believers. This is a type of mercy namely compassion. The reason is that He also suffered being tempted to sin.
V16 “Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.” Since He is sympathetic, let us pray with boldness for His help. Anyone who approached or entered the Holy of Holies died. God is holy; we are not. Now, because of the ministry of Jesus, we can have boldness to walk right in and pray. Let us then pray. Jesus’s throne is the throne of grace. He has a treasure full of mercy and grace to help us when we need it. So pray and continue to pray (Luke 18:1). Mercy for forgiveness, for temptation, for persecution, for abuse, for discouragement, etc. Grace for giving us strength to handle those things plus the success and faithfulness. Jesus can and will give.