Hebrews 4:14 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Hebrews 4:14

Comments

This verse might be the start of a new chapter, for the writer now considers in more detail what he had briefly mentioned in Hebrews 2:17 - 3:1 – that Christ is our merciful and faithful high priest. We are to think much about him and what his priestly work involves, because such a provision for our salvation is perfectly suited to our needs and will be a wonderful encouragement to us. The thought here is clearly linked to Hebrews 3:1 because the writer repeats the word ‘profession’ that is used there. Let us hold firmly onto our professed or confessed confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, who as our high priest will successfully bring us to heaven, in spite of all the obstacles that lie in the way. We have made a public acknowledgement to the world that we belong to him and we must hold on tight to that profession, for he is faithful to us who have put our trust in him.He has passed into the heavens to carry out his work of atonement and of intercession for us, because the true temple in which he serves is not a temple on earth, but is one made without hands. If he had served in the earthly temple, he would have been dealing with the shadow of heavenly things and not with the heavenly things themselves, but that would not have accomplished anything in reality. Christ has gone into the presence to his Father to make intercession for us and to present his blood which he offered up on Calvary, and if he has gone to heaven then it is because the Father is perfectly satisfied with his mediatorial work. He has overcome every obstacle and there is no longer room for doubt about his completing the work of our salvation. Where he has gone his people will follow since they are united with him and he came into the world so that where he is, his people may be also.

Application

Following one of the most profound and searching verses in the New Testament (verse 13), we immediately receive this comfort. The Bible is wonderful. It is the preacher who gets things wrong, not the Bible. The preacher could preach a whole sermon on sanctification, and it could have the tone of ‘this is your duty’. Point 1, point 2: ‘and this is your duty.’ Point 3: ‘and also this is your duty.’ But the Bible doesn't work like that. It says, this is your duty, and this is your blessing. In every dinner there is at least a main course and then there is a desert. The little children often don't like their greens and the main course, but there’s always the desert and the sweet stuff to compensate them. And so it is with the word of God. You are reeling after the strong warning verses, and then you come to this: ‘Seeing then that we have a great high priest,’ – a mediator, a real high priest, not like the symbolic ones of old for whom it was just a ceremony pointing forward to the Messiah who would come – ‘that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.’ So the spotlight swings from our poor souls onto Christ from one verse to the other. That is how the Bible works. So every preacher who is serving a main course which might involve strong meat, and concentration, and even chastising and reproof, must remember the desert just like the Scripture does, and speak of Christ, and his love, and his blessings.

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Hebrews 4:14 Commentary and Bible Study