D. Scott Meadows

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 (Heb 4.15, 16).

We are prone to pray less and with less hope when we think less or wrongly about Christ in heaven who hears our prayers. The writer of Hebrews focuses our attention on the Lord Jesus Christ for our persistence in Christian faith and hopeful prayer. Let us consider four aspects of His identity directly related to our Christian experience.

Christ our Great High Priest

By saying, negatively, that we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with us, it is implied that Jesus Christ, the subject of this text, actually is the Christian believer’s high priest. This is explicit in the previous verse: “We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God” (4.14).

As the one and only Mediator between God and men (1 Tim 2.5), the Lord Jesus holds a threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and King, each aspect somewhat distinct. Concerning the priestly aspect, “Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people; and in making continual intercession for them” (Westminster Larger Catechism #44). His title, “High Priest,” reminds us of the Day of Atonement ritual (Lev 16) in which Aaron first served as high priest of OT Israel. The prayers and sacrifice offered on behalf of the people pointed forward to Christ’s crucifixion and present session at God’s right hand, whereby all the chosen people gain access to Him and are preserved in a state of grace, despite our wretched sins. Christ our High Priest is the fundamental reason that sinners like us can find acceptance in our prayers to God. We must always remember that Christ, not anything in us or from us, gains the favorable access for us to the glorious presence of God (Eph 1.6; 2.18). Therefore, that free welcome by God for the sake of Christ never, ever changes.

Christ our Tried Sympathizer

Christ’s profound sympathy with us frail and tested ones is movingly announced both negatively and positively in this passage. It denies that we have as High Priest One who “cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,” or, “cannot sympathize with our weaknesses” (NKJV). In other words, He can “share the feelings and understand the sentiments” of us (definition of the Greek verb). As God Incarnate, the Lord Jesus was truly immersed in the human, physical, psychological, spiritual, and social experience. Positively stated, He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” God is impassible, but in Jesus our High Priest, the Godman is able to, and actually does, know what it feels like to feel as we do.

Furthermore, He sympathizes with perfect knowledge and perfect love. We take comfort when loved ones on earth express their genuine sympathy with us, but no one can sympathize with us perfectly like the Lord Jesus Christ. No one knows us like He does and no one has passed through greater sufferings and trials personally than He has. Therefore, He is our incomparable Friend who loves at all times, a Brother truly born for adversity (Prov 17.17; Heb 2.11).

Christ our Gracious King

Therefore, we are reasonably and powerfully encouraged to approach Him, especially when we feel most keenly our own inadequacy and pain. In a gracious yet majestic appeal to us, this heavenly sermon-letter of Hebrews says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace.” This is our great, spiritual opportunity and responsibility. Because of Jesus, we can and should come boldly, without hesitation or fear that we might be reprimanded for coming or rejected as unworthy in Christ to be heard.

The context seems to suggest that we are intended to think of this as our approach to the enthroned Father through Christ (see commentary on Hebrews by John Owen), but other biblical passages teach us in addition that Christ is now enthroned in heaven and exercising His mediatorial reign (Acts 2.36). It is really the same throne (Rev 7.17; 22.1, 3). Jesus is presently reigning as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 17.14; 19.16).

Nevertheless, the emphasis of this passage is that the divine throne is characterized by “grace,” the source of priceless gifts of immeasurable benefit which are freely and voluntarily given by God even to those who deserve in themselves censure and punishment instead. The origin of such grace is God’s eternal love, and the procurement of gracious salvation and blessing for elect sinners is made sure by Christ’s sacrifice and intercession. The divine purpose to be particularly gracious cannot possibly fail or be frustrated because of the absolute sovereignty of the Father and the Son. That we appeal in prayer to the throne where Grace reigns is a breathtaking encouragement to those who appreciate this!

Christ our Dependable Helper

Coming to Christ daily, we “find grace to help in time of need.” We who are tempted and tried, we who are suffering, sometimes inexpressible anguish of spirit and mountainous chronic pain of body and soul, we who, unlike Christ, have sinned, and we who have been forgiven ten thousand times only to sin again—we are the ones who are called to approach boldly once again for the help that God so graciously promises! So let us pray!

With faith I plunge me in this sea;
Here is my hope, my joy, my rest;
Hither, when hell assails, I flee,
I look into my Saviour’s breast;
Away, sad doubt, and anxious fear!
Mercy is all that’s written there.

—Song of Assurance by Johann Andreas Rothe, 1688-1758