“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14).
A perceptive reader will note that the author of Hebrews previewed the subject of this passage (and primary theme of this epistle) earlier within this letter. That theme involves Jesus as our High Priest, a subject that our author touched upon previously in the following verses…
“Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17).
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus” (Hebrews 3:1).
Much of the next six chapters of Hebrews will be devoted to an extensive discussion of this important subject. While it may be difficult to understand why the author has periodically returned to this subject in advance of that discussion, there are several contributing factors that may help to explain why the book of Hebrews is structured in this manner.
First, we should note the emphasis upon our accountability before God in the previous verses. This is important because a person who is accountable to God is someone who needs an intermediary whenever he or she fails in that regard. This serves to focus our attention upon our need for a priest who can intervene on our behalf and deliver us from our failure to live up to God’s standard for humanity.
The following chapter will also alert us to the fact that the original audience for this epistle had become lazy and sluggish in their attention to spiritual things. This was especially true in regard to Jesus’ priestly ministry. As our author will regrettably observe later in Hebrews chapter five, “There is a great deal that we should like to say about this high priesthood, but it is not easy to explain to you since you seem so slow to grasp spiritual truth” (Hebrews 5:11 Phillips).
This may help explain why our author didn’t simply “get to the point” regarding this topic under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Now that the foundation has been established for the primary theme of this epistle, we should be well prepared to follow along as the author of Hebrews discusses these important spiritual truths related to Jesus’ role as our High Priest before God.