Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:14–16).
Notice the promise of what awaits us at the throne of grace in Hebrews 4:16: mercy and grace to help in time of need. This leads to a question. If this is the case, why does the author of Hebrews even need to exhort us Christians to draw near to God? The short answer is (1) when trials, afflictions, and temptation arise in this life, we often still sin, and (2) we are prone to unbelief. Thus, in response to a particular sin or sinful moment, the sin of unbelief tempts us to not trust in the work of Jesus. So, rather than drawing near to God in repentance, we often linger just outside the throne room of grace choosing to stay in our weariness and sense of guilt. This passage, though, gives us a couple of astounding reasons not to hesitate but to instead make a confident, mad dash to our heavenly Father—even in the day of our sin. Here I highlight one, which is not least of these reasons: Jesus is our sympathetic high priest.
Let’s consider this reality.
Our Sympathetic Great High Priest
Hebrews 4:15 encourages us to draw near to God, because we have a sympathetic high priest in Jesus. The author of Hebrews reminds us of the nature of Old Testament (OT) high priests so that we can more fully appreciate Jesus’ priestly ministry.
In Hebrews 5:2, the author tells us that the OT high priest was able to “deal gently with the ignorant and wayward” because of his own human nature and weakness. Similarly, Hebrews 4:15 tells us, in Jesus “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are.” However, there is one major difference between Jesus and us that the author of Hebrews reminds us of: Jesus has, in every respect, been tempted and tested as we are “yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Now, we might be tempted to think that because Jesus never sinned, he could never relate to or understand our struggles. However, it is actually the opposite. Precisely because Jesus never sinned, he understands temptation, trials, suffering, and affliction far more intimately than any other high priest ever could. Jesus’ sinlessness means he has nothing but welcome for the weary, sympathy for the sinner, and righteousness for the repentant. Consider an illustration, which I heard from a former pastor of mine.
Imagine you go to the local fair or circus. There you see a strong man performing great feats of strength. This strong man takes a sturdy metal bar in his mighty grip. And, using his great strength, he cranks down on the bar until it finally gives under the extreme pressure and bends. This same strong man then takes another metal bar in his hands. Again, he cranks down on the bar using just as much force as before. This bar, however, does not bend. So he regathers himself, mustering up every last ounce of strength he has, and he cranks on the bar with greater and greater force. Still, the bar does not bend.
So now, I pose to you the same question my former pastor posed: Which bar endured the most force? Well the answer is obvious, isn’t it? The bar that never bent endured the most force. What’s the point? Consider that we are the bar that bends. When temptation, trial, and affliction applies enough force on us, we give in to the pressure and sin. Often, sadly, this does not require much force at all. However, Jesus is the bar that never bent. Because he never sinned, Jesus endured infinitely more pressure from temptation, trial, and affliction than you or I ever have or ever could. Therefore, Jesus is more intimately acquainted with temptation, trial, suffering, and affliction than any man before or after.
Welcome for the Weary and Sympathy for the Sinner
Thus, Jesus’ sinlessness gives rise to his sympathy for you. He understands you and sympathizes with you more infinitely and more intimately than you could ever imagine. Therefore, Jesus’ welcomes the weary and afflicted who come to him, because no one understands weariness and affliction more than he does. And, Jesus has sympathy for sinners who turn to him, because no one understands the pressures of temptation more than he does.
Righteousness for the Repentant
But there is another great benefit of Jesus’ sinless life. The most miraculous benefit of Jesus’ sinless life for those united to him by faith is that he takes his righteousness and makes it their own. Thus, Jesus’ sinlessness gives rise to his mercy and righteousness for you. So, when the weary, afflicted sin-sick saint comes to Jesus in repentance, they find not only welcome and not only sympathy but also mercy and grace and righteousness.
So I ask you again: Are you a tired saint, weary from the trials and afflictions of this life? Are you a sin-sick saint in need of mercy? Are you both? You can confidently draw near to God. Jesus, our sympathetic high priest welcomes you into his very throne room where he resides to intercedes for weary, afflicted sinners based on his sinless life. Do not linger at the door.
Conclusion
Recall again the purpose of our drawing near to God in Hebrews 4:14–16. We draw near in order to receive mercy and find grace to help in a time of need. When are we ever in greater need of help than in a moment of affliction-induced and -ladened sin? Answer: Never. And what awaits us if we will but draw near to God? Answer: The very grace and mercy we need. In Jesus our great high priest, we find abundant reasons to not linger outside the throne room. Just look through the torn opening of that veil into the heavenly throne room, as Hebrews 4:14–16 invites us to. What do you see? There you see Jesus, your sympathetic high priest interceding on your behalf. And suddenly, your breath catches in your chest as he turns to look at you with a smile. And you hear an unbelievable, heavenly invitation ring out from the throne of our Triune God: “Why do you linger? Draw near. And come in boldly, my child. You are welcome here.”
