Hebrews 4:14-16 “The Lord Who Knows Us”

Hebrews 4:14-16 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• Scars – I Am They
• Shane and Shane – Before the Throne of God Above
• HILLSONG WORSHIP – Cornerstone
• Turn It Up – Team Luke Worship

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Who is Jesus? – For Kids – | GQKidz.org – Lesson for Kids
• Kids Worship Motions: Cast Your Burdens – Song for Kids
• Nothing is Impossible | HLA Nazareth Music Video | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• I Have a Friend in Jesus | Cross Culture Peru Music Videos | Group Publishing – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

Up to this point, the author has demonstrated that Jesus Christ is greater than the angels and higher than Moses. Following this, the author explains in great detail, from verse 14 to chapter 10, verse 18, why Jesus Christ is the eternal High Priest.

Just before this passage, the author states that everything is laid bare before God’s Word (verses 12-13). For sinful human beings, this is a frightening reality. If all the hidden sins within us — even those we are unaware of — are exposed, we would not be able to stand before God. Therefore, the translation of the conjunction in verse 14 as “Therefore” is appropriate. We do not need to be afraid. There is someone who stands before God on our behalf. That person is “Jesus, the great High Priest who has ascended into heaven, the Son of God.”

The author uses three descriptive phrases for Jesus in this passage. The first is “who has ascended into heaven.” Jesus came to dwell among us in human form, personally experiencing our weaknesses, and then returned to his rightful place with God. At that time, the Jerusalem temple had the Most Holy Place, where only the high priest could enter to offer an atonement sacrifice for the people of Israel. The Most Holy Place symbolizes God’s throne. However, Jesus did not merely enter the symbolic Most Holy Place — he went directly to God’s throne. The second description is “the great High Priest.” To distinguish Jesus from the human high priests who descended from Aaron, the author adds the word “great.” Jesus is the eternal High Priest who offered himself as a sacrifice of atonement for all humanity, who were bound by sin and death. The third description is “the Son of God.” Jesus was God Himself, who came among us in the flesh.

If we fully believe in Jesus — the One who came to earth, offered himself as a living sacrifice, and then returned to God’s throne to intercede for us — we need not tremble in fear even if all our sins are exposed before God. The phrase “our confession of faith” refers to our belief in Jesus Christ. The expression “hold firmly” can also be translated as “grasp tightly.” The statement, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses” (verse 15), addresses a common question: “Does Jesus really understand our weaknesses?” The Greek word translated as “sympathize” is sympatheo, which is the root of the English word “sympathize.” This term does not describe shallow pity; instead, it refers to a deep empathy that shares in the suffering of others. Jesus truly experienced human weakness. The word translated as “tempted” (peirazo) can also mean “tested” or “enticed” and often refers to temptations toward sin. Jesus faced every kind of temptation that humans can experience, yet he remained without sin.

Here, the author again uses the conjunction “therefore.” Since we have such a High Priest, we should not tremble in fear but instead “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (verse 16). For those who believe in Jesus Christ, God’s throne is not a place of judgment but a place of grace. Although we will ultimately stand before that throne on the final day, we are also invited to approach it at any time, relying on the grace of Jesus Christ. There, we may “receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (verse 16). The phrase “in our time of need” refers to the right or appropriate moment when God’s help is most necessary and ideally given.

Meditation:

The confession that “Jesus Christ is truly God (vere deus) and truly human (vere homo)” is a fundamental distinction between heresy and orthodox Christian belief. Throughout the 2,000-year history of Christianity, heresies denied one side of this essential truth.

In early Christian history, Gnosticism taught that God merely borrowed the body of Jesus of Nazareth for a time and left Him just before He died on the cross. This doctrine denied the true humanity of Jesus. This belief is known as Docetism, which suggests that Jesus only appeared to have taken on flesh rather than fully becoming incarnate.

On the other hand, there have been — and still are — heresies that deny Jesus’ divinity. Such groups may recognize Jesus as an extraordinary prophet or a great teacher but reject the doctrine of the Incarnation. For example, while Judaism and Islam acknowledge Jesus as a prophet, they reject the belief that He is the Son of God. Groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Christian Science, and Unitarianism also deny the divinity of Jesus. Denying Jesus’ divine nature ultimately rejects the doctrine of the Trinity, which affirms that God is one being in three persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God — who took on human flesh, dwelt among us, and fulfilled God’s plan of salvation — is not a doctrine invented by a theological genius. Rather, it is the conclusion that the early Church reached after carefully considering Jesus’ words and actions as recorded in the Gospels, along with the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit throughout history. If Jesus were not truly both divine and human, much of what is recorded in the New Testament would be impossible to explain. Likewise, the experiences we encounter in our life of faith would be difficult to understand. The idea that one person could fully possess both divine and human natures defies human reason, common sense, and experience. Yet, paradoxically, there are far more things that cannot be explained unless we accept this truth.

Although this reality may be beyond our understanding and explanation, embracing it by faith brings profound comfort, satisfaction, and courage. This is because Jesus:

• Knows our weaknesses personally — having experienced human frailty himself.
• Gave himself as an atoning sacrifice for our weaknesses.
• Now stands at the right hand of God, advocating for us and interceding on our behalf.

If Jesus had been only human, he could not have been our Savior. Conversely, if he were only divine, He would have felt distant and intimidating to us. But because Jesus is fully God and fully human, he is both our powerful Savior and our compassionate Advocate — the One who knows, understands, and cares for us deeply.

Prayer:

Lord, you did not cling to your place in heaven, nor did you choose to perform miracles from afar. Instead, you humbled yourself, taking on our human form. Because of this, you fully understand the limits of our weaknesses and the struggles we face when tempted. So, even when we stumble under the weight of sin’s temptation, we can still call upon your name. Each time we do, you pour out your grace and mercy upon us. And with every fall and every rise, you continue to transform us. This is why our hope rests in you alone. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: Jesus Understands Us Completely. Jesus is both God and human. Because he experienced human weakness and temptation, he knows what it’s like to feel tired, hurt, or tempted. Even when we struggle or make mistakes, we can turn to Jesus for help, knowing he understands and will give us grace and strength.

• For Preschool-Lower Elementary
  • Have you ever felt sad, scared, or tempted to do something wrong? How did you feel?
  • What can you do when you’re struggling or feel like giving up?
• For Upper Elementary-Middle School
  • When Jesus faced temptation but didn’t sin, what do you think that tells us about His strength? How can his example help you when you’re feeling pressured?
  • What does it mean to “approach God’s throne with confidence”? How can you practice doing that in your daily life?
• For High School
  • Why do you think Jesus had to be both fully God and fully human? How does that change the way you see him?
  • What practical ways can you “hold firmly” to your faith when life feels overwhelming or uncertain?