Hebrews 4:14 - Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.
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What does "Hebrews 4:14" mean?
Hebrews 4:14, "Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession," is packed with meaning and encouragement for believers. Let's break it down:
"Having then a great high priest...": This establishes the context. The author is drawing a parallel between the Old Testament High Priest and Jesus. In the Old Testament, the High Priest was a mediator between God and the people, offering sacrifices for their sins in the earthly temple. The author is saying that Christians have something even better: a "great" High Priest.
"...who has passed through the heavens...": This phrase signifies Jesus' ascension into heaven after his resurrection. He didn't just operate in an earthly temple; he went all the way to God's very presence in the heavenly realm. This underscores the authority and superiority of Jesus' priesthood compared to the Levitical priesthood. His sacrifice wasn't limited to the earthly realm; it was accepted in heaven itself. "Passed through the heavens" is important because it implies that the access to God has been paved by Jesus.
"...Jesus, the Son of God...": This reinforces Jesus' divine nature and his unique relationship with God the Father. He is not just any high priest; he is the Son of God, giving his priesthood infinite value and authority. This emphasizes that Jesus is not just a man but is divine. His divine nature makes him uniquely qualified to be our High Priest.
"...let us hold tightly to our confession.": This is the practical application of the preceding statements. "Confession" here refers to the Christian faith, the belief that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. Knowing that we have such a powerful and compassionate High Priest in Jesus, who has ascended to heaven, we should "hold tightly" to our faith. This implies:
Steadfastness: Don't waver in your belief.
Commitment: Remain faithful, even in the face of difficulties.
Public Declaration: Be willing to openly profess your faith.
In essence, the verse means:
Because we have Jesus, the Son of God, as our great High Priest who has ascended to heaven and is now in God's presence, we should firmly and confidently hold onto our Christian faith, without giving up, being willing to openly profess our belief, and trusting in his atoning work.
The verse provides:
Comfort: Knowing that Jesus is interceding for us in heaven gives us comfort and assurance.
Encouragement: It encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, even when facing trials.
Motivation: It motivates us to live a life worthy of the gospel, knowing that we have a great High Priest who understands our struggles.
Call to Action: A call to steadfastly hold on to our confession of faith in Jesus.
This verse is a central theme in the book of Hebrews, which seeks to demonstrate the superiority of Christ over the Old Testament sacrificial system and encourage Jewish Christians to remain faithful to their new faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 4:14 - Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession.
What does "Hebrews 4:14" mean?
Hebrews 4:14, "Having then a great high priest, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold tightly to our confession," is packed with meaning and encouragement for believers. Let's break it down:
"Having then a great high priest...": This establishes the context. The author is drawing a parallel between the Old Testament High Priest and Jesus. In the Old Testament, the High Priest was a mediator between God and the people, offering sacrifices for their sins in the earthly temple. The author is saying that Christians have something even better: a "great" High Priest.
"...who has passed through the heavens...": This phrase signifies Jesus' ascension into heaven after his resurrection. He didn't just operate in an earthly temple; he went all the way to God's very presence in the heavenly realm. This underscores the authority and superiority of Jesus' priesthood compared to the Levitical priesthood. His sacrifice wasn't limited to the earthly realm; it was accepted in heaven itself. "Passed through the heavens" is important because it implies that the access to God has been paved by Jesus.
"...Jesus, the Son of God...": This reinforces Jesus' divine nature and his unique relationship with God the Father. He is not just any high priest; he is the Son of God, giving his priesthood infinite value and authority. This emphasizes that Jesus is not just a man but is divine. His divine nature makes him uniquely qualified to be our High Priest.
"...let us hold tightly to our confession.": This is the practical application of the preceding statements. "Confession" here refers to the Christian faith, the belief that Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of humanity. Knowing that we have such a powerful and compassionate High Priest in Jesus, who has ascended to heaven, we should "hold tightly" to our faith. This implies:
Steadfastness: Don't waver in your belief.
Commitment: Remain faithful, even in the face of difficulties.
Public Declaration: Be willing to openly profess your faith.
In essence, the verse means:
Because we have Jesus, the Son of God, as our great High Priest who has ascended to heaven and is now in God's presence, we should firmly and confidently hold onto our Christian faith, without giving up, being willing to openly profess our belief, and trusting in his atoning work.
The verse provides:
Comfort: Knowing that Jesus is interceding for us in heaven gives us comfort and assurance.
Encouragement: It encourages us to remain steadfast in our faith, even when facing trials.
Motivation: It motivates us to live a life worthy of the gospel, knowing that we have a great High Priest who understands our struggles.
Call to Action: A call to steadfastly hold on to our confession of faith in Jesus.
This verse is a central theme in the book of Hebrews, which seeks to demonstrate the superiority of Christ over the Old Testament sacrificial system and encourage Jewish Christians to remain faithful to their new faith in Jesus.