Hebrews 5. Recall that this letter to the Hebrews was written to a Jewish audience, making a compelling argument for following Jesus Christ, instead of the familiar routines of Judaism. The work of Jesus is consistently presented as an improvement on the old way of doing things. Hebrews 5 presents a comparison between the ministry of priests in the Jewish temple and the work of Jesus Christ as a high priest. Remember comparisons are a significant literary technique in this letter!

Three times already Jesus has been described as a high priest:

Therefore, Jesus had to be made like his [human] brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people (2:17).

Therefore brothers, you who share in the heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him (3:1-2).

Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to 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 (4:14-15).

A Jewish audience would have been very familiar with the role of the priests and the high priest in the temple worship and sacrifices. The author now embarks on a formal comparison between the priests of the Mosaic law and the priestly ministry of Jesus (5:1-10).

Priests served as mediators between God and humankind. Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God (5:1).

Priests offered sacrifices for sin. … appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices (5:1).

Priests were called to humility and to recognize the vulnerabilities we all have regarding sin. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness (5:2).

Priests did not volunteer for their position but were appointed. No one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God (5:4).  

Jesus is the great high priest because of who he is, the Son of God (4:14), but also because of what he has achieved – as he himself was the perfect atonement sacrifice for our sins and he has passed through the heavens (or ascended into heaven). Jesus has secured an access to God that was not available by any other means.

The result of this comparison, this introduction of Jesus Christ as the Great High Priest, is a strong encouragement: 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 (4:16). The command verb here is draw near – we can now approach the throne of God with confidence because of Jesus! When we fail, we find mercy. When we struggle, we find grace and help in our time of need.

The command to draw near is set in comparison to the opposite response – to turn away or to shrink back from. These warnings that should sound familiar to us from the apostasy alarms going off in the first couple of chapters of Hebrews.

Have you approached the throne of grace today? Do so with confidence, knowing we have a great high priest who sympathizes with us and offers grace, help, and mercy!