“Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession” (Hebrews 4:14 NET).
In comparing the priestly class that descended through the lineage of Aaron, the Old Testament patriarch, and Jesus, our great High Priest, Hebrews 4:14 makes a critical distinction: Christ has “ascended into heaven” (NIV).
“Heaven” is a concept that holds several different Biblical meanings. Depending on the context, heaven might refer to the sky above or the domain of anything that travels through the air. This word is also used to refer to the celestial realm, the universal expanse where the sun, moon, stars, and other stellar objects reside. Psalm 19:1 touches upon this definition when it tells us, “The heavens tell of the glory of God; And their expanse declares the work of His hands” (NASB).
Finally, the word “heaven” is used to identify the dwelling place of God (Matthew 6:9) along with the angels (Mark 13:32). This is an area that exists outside the physical universe, a place that Paul the Apostle identified as the “third heaven” in 2 Corinthians 12:2. It was there that Paul heard things so astonishing that any attempt to express them in a human language would have been criminal.
One commentator ties these definitions together for us in the context of Hebrews 4:14: “Just as the High-Priest under the Old Covenant passed through 3 areas (the outer court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies) to make the atoning sacrifice, Jesus passed through 3 heavens (the atmospheric heaven, the stellar heaven, and God’s abode; cf. 2Co 12:2–4) after making the perfect, final sacrifice.” (1)
In view of this, Hebrews 4:14 presents us with an important action item: “let us hold firmly to the faith we profess” (NIV) or, “let us continue to express our faith in him” (ERV). The knowledge that Jesus has ascended through the physical realm to serve as our High Priest is something that should comfort us and reinforce our faith in Him. In the words of one Biblical scholar…
”’Jesus the Son of God’ is not disqualified by His divine origin from sharing in His people’s troubles and sympathizing with their weakness. He Himself endured every trial that they are likely to undergo, but remained steadfast throughout, and has now ‘passed through the heavens’ to the very throne of God. In Him, then, His people have a powerful incentive to perseverance in faith and obedience.” (2)
(1) MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Heb 4:14). Thomas Nelson Publishers.
(2) The New International Commentary On The New Testament – The Epistle To The Hebrews, F. F. Bruce, General Editor © Copyright 1964, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. Grand Rapids, Michigan [pg. 84]