OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST


A. "SEEING THEN THAT WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST THAT PASSED INTO THE HEAVENS, JESUS THE SON OF GOD, LET US HOLD FAST OUR PROFESSION" - HEBREWS 4:14
  1. The words of our text are, as you know:
    1. Addressed to the Christians of Hebrew descent
    2. They were well informed of the earthly sanctuary and its services
  2. In this Epistle, Paul seeks to show:
    1. That the earthly sanctuary and its services foreshadowed the heavenly sanctuary and its services
    2. That Jesus Christ, the Son of God, functions as our great high priest in the heavenly sanctuary
B. OUR GREAT HIGH PRIEST
  1. What a high priest is:
    1. In verse 4 the writer shows that the office or function of the high priest is honorable, because it concerns itself with the highest functions in the relationship between man and God
    2. These functions are (i) He acts for other men in things respecting their relationship to God. The root idea is that, while access to God is denied to sinners on the ground of nature, he has been pleased to grant connections with special connection of grace; (ii) He offers sacrifices, both free will offerings and sin offerings - as men are guilty such sacrifices are indispensable; thus in common language a priest is a coordinator between God and man - a go-between - I John 2:1-3
  2. There can be no priest without sacrifice:
    1. To qualify for his office, our Lord had to be human, of the seed of Abraham - Heb. 2:14-17; Heb. 4:1
    2. He must be human (v.2) capable of being sympathetic with those He represents in the ministry - How sad is the picture of the earthly priests and how dark is the word "priestcraft"
    3. He must be appointed of God - it is for God to decide whether He will allow Himself to be approached by anyone - v. 4
C. BUT NOTE PLEASE HOW QUALIFIED OUR HIGH PRIEST IS TO FUNCTION
  1. In His character:
    1. He is blameless - writes Paul, "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and make higher than the heavens" - Heb. 7:24-28
    2. He is a man - the embodiment of perfect manhood - man never was revealed more perfectly than when the Son of man stood before Pilate - and that sinner had to call attention to the blamelessness of the Son of God with the words, "Behold the Man" - John 19:5
    3. He is able to sympathize with humanity: compare Matt. 9:36 with chapter 14:14; Mark 6:34; Mark 1:41
    4. He made atonement for our sins - by having His blood shed on the cross of Calvary - Eph. 2:14-16
    5. He pleads His own righteousness before the Father - compare Jer. 23:6 with I Cor. 1:30-33; Is. 61:10
    6. He ever liveth - death cannot interfere with His ministry before the Father - Heb. 4:25
  2. The special meaning of our Lord's ministry for us before the Father in the heavenly sanctuary:
    1. He is our elder brother and as such is well qualified to represent our interest before God
    2. His sacrifice has been accepted by the Father, thus He has made atonement for our sins
    3. He has procured the gift of the Holy Spirit for us - who is His true representative during this dispensation
    4. He perfected that which pertains to our relationship with the Father
    5. In Him we have a representative of man; a perfect sacrifice for our sins; an everlasting hope of redemption; a blessed Saviour, who ever liveth, and maketh intercession for us
  3. All this ought to give us holy boldness:
    1. To appear often before the throne of grace and make our supplications before the Father
    2. Prayer ought to be a privilege, a joy, our life


Design © John Bryant 2011