Hebrews 4:14-16 Hebrews 4 HEB 4:14 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. :14 a great high priest This is going to be one of the writer's great themes in Hebrews, that Jesus is a great High Priest. He's already talked about Jesus being better than the prophets, better than the angels, and better than Moses. Now we're going to be seeing that Jesus is a High Priest better than all other high priests. This is going to be developed over the next five or so chapters. :14 who has passed through the heavens KJV - translates this "passed into the heavens". The verb is better translated "passed through the heavens". Why is it important to see it here as "through" rather than "into"? Because I believe the writer is trying to paint us a picture about the ministry of a high priest. I believe this phrase "passed through the heavens" is a metaphor for describing how the priest would go through the veil of the holy of holies to minister before the mercy seat. The layout of the ancient tabernacle. It was purposely designed to be a model of heaven, a mockup of heaven. Deeper levels: The courtyard, the holy place, the holy of holies. Inside the holy of holies was the "throne room". The ark of the covenant The mercy seat - God's throne Cherubim - the angels in God's presence The holy of holies was set apart with a veil that hung in the doorway. The walls of the holy of holies: Ex 26:1 Moreover thou shalt make the tabernacle [with] ten curtains [of] fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: [with] cherubims of cunning work shalt thou make them. The veil itself: Ex 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail [of] blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: When we first studied this passage, it struck me that it seemed like a description of space, of the "heavens". Now I have my proof! I believe that the heavens here are not the place of God's throne room, but the atmospheric heavens, the stuff that separates us from God's throne room. More verses: Heb 6:19-20 Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, [which are] the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: What did the High Priest do when he got into the Holy of Holies? Leviticus 16 :1-4 First he had to get dressed - The High Priest's garments He had a special outfit, unique to him. Not only did he wear robes and an ephod (kind of like an apron), but he wore a special breastpiece that had twelve special jewels attached to it representing the twelve tribes of Israel. These were to demonstrate the ministry of the priest in bringing the people before God's throne in prayer. Ex 28:29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy [place], for a memorial before the LORD continually. He also wore a special turban with a gold plate (like a crown) with the words "Holy to the LORD" written on it. This represented the high priest's total belonging to God. :5-22 The Day of Atonement ceremony :11 A bull for his own sins :13 Covering everything in prayer :14 Sprinkling blood on the mercy seat (from the bull) Why? To make it possible for him to approach a holy God, who "dwelt between the cherubim" (on the mercy seat). This enabled him to be able to perform the rest of his function without being toasted like Nadab and Abihu. :15 Sprinkling goat's blood. To take care of the sins of the entire nation. :21 The scapegoat Took away the iniquities of the people. As far as the east is from the west... Why was all this done? Le 16:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; Nadab and Abihu had rushed into God's presence unprepared. They were toasted. They were unable to handle God's holiness. This ritual was to make it possible for a sinful people to relate to a holy God, by covering everything in blood, by taking care of their sins. Some people talk as if without knowing Jesus, they can talk to God anytime they want to. They call Him "the man upstairs". They are very wrong. They are much like Nadab and Abihu trying to touch God without taking care of their own sins. You can't get close to God without doing something about your sins, without paying for them with the shedding of blood. :14 let us hold fast our confession What the writer has been telling us all along, one of the main themes of the book of Hebrews. The tense of the Greek verb that was translated "passed through" is interesting. As a "perfect" tense, it signifies action that has taken place but the results of the action continue on to the present time. It's not that Jesus just happened once to get to God's throne, but that He has passed through the veil and the benefits to us keep coming and coming and coming. And since the benefits of Jesus' ministry in the holy of holies still continues to give benefits, we should stick around and get blessed by them. Jesus doesn't just pay for the sins of the year ending December 1993. He pays for all your sins, the next year, and the next, etc. Over and over we've seen warnings to these Hebrew Christians to not fall away from Jesus in the midst of their persecutions. The benefits you receive from Jesus' priesthood aren't going to stop, so stick around! HEB 4:15 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. :15 who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses I like KJV: Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. The Greek words: sumpatheo 1) to be affected with the same feeling as another, to sympathise with 2) to feel for, have compassion on astheneia 1) want of strength, weakness, infirmity; feebleness Have you ever tried pooring out your heart to someone who really didn't care to hear what you had to say? Most likely we won't use those people for counselors too much. That's always a challenge in counseling, to stay sympathetic and not just drift off into thinking about my kids or something. I remember hearing that Pastor Chuck Jr., of Dana Point, used to say to his congregation, "I just can't understand these people who come into my office and who can't get along with their spouse. Why don't they just fix things?" But now his wife has left him. I think he understands now. Jesus is never going to say to you, "I just don't understand how you can feel that way". Because He really, really does understand. Though Jesus didn't give in to sin, He certainly had "weaknesses" in His human nature. (hunger, thirst, weariness, etc.) When I'm counseling, it's not uncommon for someone to say to me, "But you just don't understand", especially if I tell them something they don't want to hear. They're right, I just may not understand. But Jesus does. When you find yourself in a counselling situation, and you really don't understand what the person is saying to you. You have no sympathy. Don't worry, just take them to Jesus. He's the real counselor anyway. :15 tempted in all things as we are Jesus may not have ever been tempted to too many chocolate fudge brownies, or to go buy a Playboy magazine, but the temptations He experienced were of such a broad spectrum, that they cover all the things we could experience. Temptation to meet real, physical, bodily drives: Mt 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. Temptation to test God; to show off Mt 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Temptation to power, to worship Satan Mt 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Temptation to avoid necessary suffering Mt 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Temptation to take revenge: Lu 9:53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? And I'm sure there's more. The point is that Jesus knows what you're going through. :15 yet without sin Some people think that Jesus doesn't really know what we go through because He never did sin. He can't really know the anguish we experience because He never blew it. But maybe the opposite if more correct. Maybe nobody knows the powerful allure of temptation more than the person who resists it. Nothing knows the force and power of a raging sea than the immovable bolder that the waves continually crash against. Another reason we need to cling to Jesus is that He isn't going to blow it. You may be a little flimsy wire, easily bent. But if you get yourself welded to a huge steel I-beam, nothing's going to bend you. HEB 4:16 Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. :16 Let us therefore ... Because Jesus has entered into the Holy of Holies. Because Jesus is able to sympathise with our struggles. :16 draw near with confidence Draw near Jesus didn't go into the holy of holies to be there by Himself, but to make the way open to us as well. Confidence - KJV "boldly" parrhesia 1) freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech 1a) openly, frankly, i.e without concealment 1b) without ambiguity or circumlocution 1c) without the use of figures and comparisons 2) free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness, assurance We don't have to come to God's throne slowly, doing a little dance, kind of slowly working our way closer. We can march right up to God's throne. When we come to God's throne, we don't have to look at Nadab and Abihu and wonder, "Gee, will I get toasted too". In a way, it doesn't hurt to keep a sense of God's holiness and purity. But in truth, Jesus has totally paid the way for you to come into God's presence. :16 the throne of grace This is the "mercy seat" of the Old Testament. We often say that grace is getting what you don't deserve, and mercy is not getting what you do deserve. I believe that in actuality, grace and mercy are practically interchangeable. It's all about God's love, it's all undeserved. This is God's throne. It is not a throne of condemnation. It is not a throne of justice deserved. It is a throne of grace. :16 that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need \Eukairos\ is an old word also (\eu\, well, \kairos\, opportunity), only here in N.T. "For well-timed help," "for help in the nick of time," before too late. This is the whole goal of this passage. We're going to find ourselves in times of need every once in a while. Maybe most of the time. And we need to know that we have grace and mercy available to us at all times. If you're hungry and want to make yourself a sandwich, you go into the cupboard or refrigerator and get the ingredients that you know are there. Of course if you're out of Miracle Whip, you just can't make that sandwich! But God wants us to know that His shelves are always stocked with Grace and Mercy for us. There's a large supply always at hand. But you've got to come to the cupboard to get it.