“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
A clergy-laity distinction is sinful because it is not taught in Scripture. All Christians are priests/clergy (1 Peter 2:5, 9). Every single Christian is to present his own living sacrifice daily to God (Romans 12:1). No one can do it for you.
Just as was true in the Old Testament, there is no layer of clergy in the New Testament between Christ our great high priest and His priests/all Christians.
In the Greek translation of the Old Testament—the version quoted repeatedly in the book of Hebrews—the verb proserchomai (translated as “come” here) is used in places when the Old Testament priest: approached God to carry out his assigned work (Leviticus 21:17), came near to offer a sacrifice to God (Leviticus 21:21), and went near the holy things dedicated to God (Leviticus 22:3).
Another glorious reason why Jesus is our GREAT high priest is because He has made access to the throne of God possible for every one of His priests. This access is not seasonal or sporadic. We are exhorted to come repeatedly to the throne of grace.
