Hebrews often forces us to slow down. This is one of those passages. The language of High Priest and passing through the heavens is dense, mysterious, and deeply theological. But within just three verses we are given a framework for Christian life and ministry.
Jesus, the Great High Priest (v. 14)
The writer declares:
“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.”
The phrase passed through the heavens, (in my opinion) points to more than Christ’s ascension. It carries the imagery of the Old Testament priest passing into the Holy of Holies, but with a cosmic scope. Jesus has descended in humiliation, ascended in exaltation, and opened access to God by rending the veil of the temple (cf. Matt. 27:51).
Thus, He is not merely a high priest but the Great High Priest — one whose priestly ministry transcends earth and heaven.
The Call to Hold Fast Our Confession
The first command follows: “Let us hold fast our confession.”
Here, confession is not private sentiment but public profession. R. Kent Hughes cites Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott:
“The writer everywhere insists on the duty of the public profession of the faith. The crisis (severe persecution) claimed not simply private conviction but a clear declaration of belief openly in the face of men.” (The Epistle to the Hebrews, p. 106)
This was written to a persecuted church tempted to shrink back. But the exhortation is clear: the Christian faith must be proclaimed openly. In every age—including ours—the temptation is to remain silent. Yet the text insists: hold fast.
The Compassion of Our High Priest (v. 15)
The next verse balances the call to courage with a call to compassion:
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Unlike the Levitical priests, who were “men in their weakness” (Heb. 7:28), Christ is both sinless and sympathetic. Earthly priests had to sacrifice daily, first for their own sins, then for others (7:27). Jesus needed no such sacrifice for Himself, yet His perfection does not remove Him from our condition — it enables Him to bear it fully.
Thus, when Christians hold fast their confession, they must also display the compassion of Christ. We proclaim the gospel not as superior voices but as fellow sinners in need of grace.
Drawing Near with Confidence (v. 16)
Finally, the writer directs us to prayer:
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
The word confidence (Greek: παρρησία, parrēsia) denotes bold, open, and free speech — the frankness of a citizen speaking in the public square. Remarkably, this is the word chosen by the Jewish translators of the Septuagint, emphasizing that prayer is not a timid ritual but bold honesty before God.
Kent Hughes observes that this gives prayer a quality of bold frankness — a vigorous dialogue with God, not out of irreverence, but out of trust in His fatherly mercy. Just as we speak Christ in the marketplace of ideas, we speak with God in prayer—openly, zealously, even wrestling with Him like Jacob at Peniel.
The Christian Life in Three Verbs
In summary, Hebrews 4:14–16 gives us a concise vision of Christian life under the Great High Priest:
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Proclaim — hold fast the confession of Christ publicly and without shame.
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Show Compassion — reflect the empathy of Jesus, who knows our weaknesses.
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Pray Boldly — approach the throne of grace with confident frankness, trusting His mercy.
This is the daily pattern of discipleship. And it is possible only because Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, has passed through the heavens and forever lives to intercede for us.
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