JESUS, THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST

Passage: Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Key verse: 4:14

NIV

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest(A) who has ascended into heaven,[a](B) Jesus the Son of God,(C) let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.(D) 15 For we do not have a high priest(E) who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are(F)—yet he did not sin.(G) 16 Let us then approach(H) God’s throne of grace with confidence,(I) so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

5 Every high priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God,(J) to offer gifts and sacrifices(K) for sins.(L) 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray,(M) since he himself is subject to weakness.(N) 3 This is why he has to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.(O) 4 And no one takes this honor on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was.(P)

5 In the same way, Christ did not take on himself the glory(Q) of becoming a high priest.(R) But God said(S) to him,

“You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father.”[b](T)

6 And he says in another place,

“You are a priest forever,
    in the order of Melchizedek.(U)”[c](V)

7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions(W) with fervent cries and tears(X) to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard(Y) because of his reverent submission.(Z) 8 Son(AA) though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered(AB) 9 and, once made perfect,(AC) he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10 and was designated by God to be high priest(AD) in the order of Melchizedek.(AE)

Footnotes
  1. Hebrews 4:14 Greek has gone through the heavens
  2. Hebrews 5:5 Psalm 2:7
  3. Hebrews 5:6 Psalm 110:4
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Since then we have (A)a great high priest (B)who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, (C)let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest (D)who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been (E)tempted as we are, (F)yet without sin. 16 (G)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.

5 For every high priest chosen from among men (H)is appointed to act on behalf of men (I)in relation to God, (J)to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 (K)He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself (L)is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins (M)just as he does for those of the people. 4 And (N)no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, (O)just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ (P)did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

(Q)“You are my Son,
    today I have begotten you”;

6 as he says also in another place,

(R)“You are a priest forever,
    after the order of Melchizedek.”

7 In the days of his flesh, (S)Jesus[a] offered up prayers and supplications, (T)with loud cries and tears, to him (U)who was able to save him from death, and (V)he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although (W)he was a son, (X)he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And (Y)being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10 being designated by God a high priest (Z)after the order of Melchizedek.

Footnotes
  1. Hebrews 5:7 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The benefits of having a priest (4:14-16) A priest is someone who intercedes before God on people's behalf. To have a priest means that we have access to God's grace. Jesus is the greatest priest because he is fully able to empathize with our weaknesses, yet perfectly sinless before God. Through Jesus, we can confidently approach God to receive help in any kind of need. 2. Jesus became our eternal high priest (5:1-1 ) To be a priest is an honor that can only be given by God. Though Jesus was the Son of God, he did not receive the high priesthood easily. Through great struggle and suffering to obey God's will for him to die on the cross, he became the eternal high priest who brings salvation to everyone who obeys him.

Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus, my high priest. I will confidently seek help from the throne of grace through Jesus.

One Word: We have an eternal high priest