Got a High Priest? (A Look at Hebrews 4:14-16) Part 2

My friends and I have been reading through the book of Hebrews. This week we’re reading Hebrews 4 together. I describe our Bible-reading covenant here and recommend that you consider doing the same with a few of your friends!

Let’s continue our discussion of the Lord Jesus as our great High Priest! Here’s what we read in Hebrews 4 —

We’ve made two observations in our first post: (1) Jesus is our “great” high priest — and we need to focus on Him! (2) The second observation is that He has ascended into heaven (v. 14). We have an ascended High Priest who is at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us!

Let’s notice this morning —

(3) His role as our high priest should motivate us to “hold firmly to the faith we profess” (v. 14). By “the faith” the writer to the Hebrews means the total content of the Christian faith. And we are to “hold firmly” to that. Two people that I love have chosen to abandon their spouses and have (even though they don’t think so) abandoned the Christian faith. Really. They’ve turned away from God’s teaching about marriage and faithfulness and suffering. And they think they are still in God’s will. Whenever you or I choose our own way instead of God’s, we are doing the same! We are to “hold firmly” to this faith we profess!

(4) Observation #4 is that we must notice what we don’t have! We don’t have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses! That’s a lot of negatives, isn’t it? In other words, our great high priest can sympathize, can empathize with our temptations and weaknesses and struggles. We dare not think otherwise.

Today’s Challenge: Are you holding firmly to the faith you profess? How can you tell? And are you grateful for your high priest who is with you in your challenges and trials? Praise Him this morning for Who He is.