“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God…Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus…Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice’…Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it…Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience…Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 2:17; 3:1, 7; 4:1, 11, 16, emphasis added).
One of the characteristics of the book of Hebrews which makes it a challenge to probe and study in depth is the way it is so tightly stitched together. Like intricately interlocking links of an expertly crafted chain, the logic and argument of the penman flow seamlessly.
With the introduction of Jesus’ High Priesthood in 2:17, the writer builds to the climactic exhortation of 4:16—“Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
This exhortation is not a random emotional appeal. It is the reasonable, irresistible conclusion of the compelling truths contain in its argument. How and why is this the logical, practical conclusion when all has been heard?
Because Jesus had to be made like His brethren so He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest (2:12), we should…Consider the High Priest of our confession (3:1); Hear His voice (3:7); Fear the possibility of falling short of the spiritual rest He offers (4:1); Be diligent in entering that rest (4:11); and, thus Come boldly to the throne of grace and receive the rest of mercy and grace in time of need (4:16).
That’s what your High Priest is there for!
