Jesus, our Perfect High Priest
Hebrews 4:14-16 - “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
[15] For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
[16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The authorship of the Book of Hebrews has been a topic of debate in early church history. While many initially attributed the book to Paul, there were suggestions that it could have been authored by figures such as Luke, Barnabas, Apollos, or even Clement. Despite the uncertainty surrounding its authorship, the Book of Hebrews was still widely accepted and considered authoritative by the early churches.
The book of Hebrews has made significant theological contributions to the biblical Canon. Since the late first century, it has been regarded as sacred Scripture and consistently upheld by Christians for two millennia. Its divine inspiration and canonicity have been widely recognized and respected.
The Book of Hebrews is strongly influenced by Jewish culture, indicating that it was likely written between AD 64 and 69. Its numerous references to Hebrew customs and the Old Testament suggest it was probably intended for a Jewish Christian community.
The book emphasizes the present priestly ministry of Christ in the lives of believers. It presents Jesus as the divine Son of God, who is also fully human. As a priest, He paves the way for people to approach the Father in heaven through prayer.
The superiority of Jesus' priesthood over the Old Testament priesthood of Aaron is highlighted by the fact that eternal salvation is only attainable through Jesus (5:1–9). Additionally, Jesus serves as the ultimate and flawless High Priest, surpassing all others by presenting Himself as a sinless offering to atone for the sins of humanity (7:24–26; 9:28).
In its pages, Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus Christ surpasses all other people, pursuits, objects, or hopes to which human beings offer allegiance. Hebrews depicts Jesus as superior to the angels, bringing improved lives to humanity through salvation, offering a greater hope than the Mosaic Law, serving as a superior sacrifice for our sins than a bull or a goat, and providing a better inheritance in heaven for those who place their faith in Him.
Jesus is genuinely above all others. This message of Jesus' superiority would have been crucial to Jewish Christians, who were enduring Nero’s persecution and contemplating returning to the Mosaic Law. Paul demonstrated to these Jewish Christian believers that, despite their suffering, they were following a superior path and should persist.
The book of Hebrews emphasizes that only one Person should rightfully hold the central position in our lives. Instead of placing all our focus on climbing the corporate ladder or pinning all our aspirations on our children, the book suggests that Jesus offers us a superior position, serves as a better priest, establishes a better covenant, provides better hope, and offers a better sacrifice. It suggests that only when we give Jesus the place He deserves in our lives will everything else fall into its proper place.
Our Prayer for today!
Heavenly Father, we rejoice in the fact that because of the actions of Your Son Jesus, we have been granted the incredible opportunity to approach You confidently in prayer. We recognize that no one else can fulfill all our desires and meet our needs like You can. Let us always remember and appreciate that we rely solely on our Lord Jesus Christ. In His name, we pray. Amen!