Hebrews 4:14

Our "great High Priest" (Hebrews 2:17) has already proved faithful through suffering and is now in God’s presence where He intercedes for us (cf. Romans 8:34). Compare our "great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3). He is not just a priest serving on earth, like Israel’s high priests. He is our file leader (Hebrews 2:10), and we will follow Him through the heavens one day. This great High Priest is none other than Jesus, not an angel (Hebrews 1:4-14) or Moses (Hebrews 3:2-6). He is the Son of God (Hebrews 1:2).

"The picture of Jesus Christ as High Priest is the most distinctive theme of Hebrews, and it is central to the theology of the book." [Note: Fanning, p. 388.]

Notice that this verse does not say that since we have such a High Priest we will hold fast our confession. Perseverance in faith and good works is not inevitable, though perseverance in salvation is (2 Timothy 2:12-13). Since we have such a High Priest we must be careful to hold fast our confession. This verse concludes the exhortation to enter into our rest that began in Hebrews 3:12.

"The warning in Hebrews 3:1 to Hebrews 4:13 is inextricably related to the Exodus generation and the concept of rest. By referring to Moses’ and Christ’s faithfulness in the house of God, the writer exhorted his readers to remain faithful to their worship function in God’s house as believer-priests (Hebrews 3:1-6).

"The generation in the wilderness is an example of those who failed to be faithful and as a result experienced both temporal discipline and eschatological loss. A royal enthronement psalm (Psalms 95), with its past and present perspectives, was used as the basis for explaining Israel’s failure.

"Hebrews 4 begins with an application to the present readers. Four times the text says that the promise of rest remains [i.e., is future] (Hebrews 4:1; Hebrews 4:6; Hebrews 4:9; Hebrews 4:11).

"The concept of rest in Hebrews 3:1 to Hebrews 4:13 includes (a) a historical sense related to the Exodus generation and Joshua (Psalms 95; Joshua 21:44); (b) an eschatological sense related to the Exodus (Psalms 95); and (c) the sabbath rest related to the readers with its eschatological perspective (Genesis 2:2-3; Hebrews 4:9).

"The readers’ entrance into this eschatological rest depends on their faithfulness in doing good works. As metochoi (’companions’) of Christ they must be diligent to receive eschatological reward (Hebrews 4:11-13) at the judgment seat of Christ. Failure to persevere may result in temporal discipline (Hebrews 12:4-11) along with the loss of future rewards and authority to rule with Jesus in the millennium." [Note: Oberholtzer, 578:196.]

"The reference to Jesus in his office as high priest in Hebrews 4:14 is not an afterthought, but the intended conclusion of the entire argument. The crucial issue for the community is whether they will maintain their Christian stance. The issue was posed conditionally in Hebrews 3:6 b, and more pointedly in Hebrews 3:14. It was raised again forcefully in Hebrews 4:14 in the exhortation to hold fast to the confession that identified Christians as those who had responded to the message they had heard with faith (cf. Hebrews 4:2). The ministry of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary as a faithful high priest in the service of God gives certainty to the promise that God’s people will celebrate the Sabbath in his presence if they hold fast their initial confidence." [Note: Lane, p. 105.]