Hebrews 4:14
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess.
Therefore
This word serves as a bridge, connecting the preceding arguments with the exhortation that follows. In the context of Hebrews, it links the discussion of rest and the power of God's word to the role of Jesus as our high priest. The Greek word "oun" indicates a conclusion drawn from previous statements, emphasizing the logical flow of the author's argument.

since we have
This phrase underscores the present possession and continuous relationship believers have with Jesus as their high priest. The Greek "echomen" suggests an ongoing state, highlighting the assurance and confidence Christians can have in their faith.

a great high priest
The term "great" (Greek: "megan") elevates Jesus above the traditional Jewish high priests. In the Jewish tradition, the high priest was the supreme religious leader, but Jesus is described as "great," indicating His superiority and unique role in mediating between God and humanity.

who has passed through the heavens
This phrase signifies Jesus' ascension and His exalted position. The Greek "dielēlythota" implies a completed action with ongoing significance. Unlike earthly high priests who entered the Holy of Holies once a year, Jesus has entered the heavenly realm, signifying His divine authority and eternal priesthood.

Jesus the Son of God
This title affirms both the humanity and divinity of Christ. "Jesus" emphasizes His incarnation and earthly ministry, while "the Son of God" underscores His divine nature and eternal relationship with the Father. This dual identity is central to His role as mediator.

let us hold firmly
The exhortation to "hold firmly" (Greek: "kratōmen") is a call to perseverance and steadfastness in faith. It suggests an active, ongoing effort to maintain one's confession, especially in the face of trials and temptations.

to what we profess
The "profession" or "confession" (Greek: "homologian") refers to the public declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. This confession is not merely verbal but encompasses a lifestyle and commitment to the teachings and example of Christ. The author encourages believers to remain true to their initial commitment, reflecting the transformative power of the gospel in their lives.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus the Son of God
Central figure in Christianity, recognized as the Messiah and the Son of God. In this verse, He is identified as the "great high priest."

2. High Priest
In Jewish tradition, the high priest was the chief religious leader, responsible for making sacrifices and interceding for the people. Jesus is depicted as the ultimate high priest.

3. Heavens
Refers to the spiritual realm where God resides. Jesus is said to have "passed through the heavens," indicating His divine authority and ascension.

4. The Early Church
The audience of the Book of Hebrews, primarily Jewish Christians who were familiar with the Old Testament priesthood and needed encouragement to remain steadfast in their faith.

5. The Profession of Faith
The confession or declaration of belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, which believers are encouraged to hold firmly.
Teaching Points
Jesus as Our High Priest
Jesus serves as the ultimate mediator between God and humanity, fulfilling the role of the high priest perfectly and eternally.

The Significance of Jesus Passing Through the Heavens
His ascension signifies His victory over sin and death, affirming His divine authority and the assurance of our salvation.

Holding Firmly to Our Profession
Believers are called to remain steadfast in their faith, especially in times of trial, trusting in Jesus' completed work and ongoing intercession.

Encouragement in Perseverance
The verse encourages believers to persevere in their faith, drawing strength from Jesus' example and His role as our high priest.

The Assurance of Our Faith
Our faith is grounded in the reality of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension, providing a firm foundation for our beliefs.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding Jesus as our high priest impact your daily walk with God?

2. In what ways can you "hold firmly" to your profession of faith in challenging circumstances?

3. How does Jesus' ascension and passing through the heavens provide assurance and hope in your spiritual journey?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to strengthen your faith and remain steadfast in your beliefs?

5. How can the role of Jesus as high priest encourage you to intercede for others in prayer?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Hebrews 2:17
This verse explains that Jesus had to be made like His brothers in every way to become a merciful and faithful high priest, emphasizing His role in atoning for the sins of the people.

Hebrews 7:26-28
These verses describe Jesus as a high priest who is holy, blameless, and exalted above the heavens, further elaborating on His unique qualifications and eternal priesthood.

Philippians 2:9-11
This passage speaks of Jesus being exalted by God and given the name above every name, which aligns with His passing through the heavens and His divine authority.

1 Timothy 6:12
Encourages believers to fight the good fight of faith and take hold of eternal life, similar to the exhortation in Hebrews 4:14 to hold firmly to the profession of faith.
A Summons to SteadfastnessW. Jones Hebrews 4:14
Our Great High Priest Passed into the HeavensD. Young Hebrews 4:14
The Word of God DiscoveringC. New Hebrews 4:12-16
Christ a Great High PriestJ. Burns, D. D.Hebrews 4:14-16
Christ the ReconcilerH. W. Beecher.Hebrews 4:14-16
Encouragement to Hold FastD. Dickson, M. A.Hebrews 4:14-16
Exhortation to SteadfastnessJ. Bunting, M. A.Hebrews 4:14-16
Holding Fast Our ProfessionW. Cadman, M. A.Hebrews 4:14-16
Holding Fast the Christian ProfessionH. Hunter.Hebrews 4:14-16
Jesus Christ, the Mediator Between God and ManJ. Crowther.Hebrews 4:14-16
Let Us Hold Fast Our ProfessionW. Jones, D. D.Hebrews 4:14-16
Our Great High PriestD. C. Hughes, M. A.Hebrews 4:14-16
Our Great High PriestA. B. Bruce, D. D.Hebrews 4:14-16
SteadfastnessJ.S. Bright Hebrews 4:14-16
People
David, Hebrews, Joshua
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Chief, Confession, Faith, Fast, Firmly, Heaven, Heavens, Hold, Inasmuch, Itself, Passed, Priest, Profess, Profession, Seeing, Strong, Tightly
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Hebrews 4:14

     2069   Christ, pre-eminence
     2218   Christ, Son of God
     2336   Christ, exaltation
     2505   Christ, ascension
     7414   priesthood, NT
     8459   perseverance

Hebrews 4:14-5:5

     2306   Christ, high priest

Hebrews 4:14-15

     2206   Jesus, the Christ
     5946   sensitivity

Hebrews 4:14-16

     1270   right hand of God
     1680   types
     2015   Christ, compassion
     2575   Christ, temptation
     6606   access to God
     7378   high priest, NT
     7769   priests, NT types
     8027   faith, testing of
     8028   faith, body of beliefs
     8221   courage, strength from God
     8251   faithfulness, to God

Library
February 22. "He that Hath Entered into his Rest Hath Ceased from his Own Works Even as God did from His" (Heb. Iv. 10).
"He that hath entered into His rest hath ceased from his own works even as God did from His" (Heb. iv. 10). What a rest it would be to many of us if we could but exchange burdens with Christ, and so utterly and forever transfer to Him all our cares and needs that we would not feel henceforth responsible for our burdens, but know that He has undertaken all the care, and that our faith is simply to carry His burdens, and that He prays, labors, and suffers only for us and our interests. This is what
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 18. "All Things are Naked and Open unto the Eyes of Him with whom we have to Do" (Heb. Iv. 13).
"All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. iv. 13). The literal translation of this phrase is, all things are stripped and stunned. This is the force of the Greek words. The figure is that of an athlete in the Coliseum who has fought his best in the arena, and has at length fallen at the feet of his adversary, disarmed and broken down in helplessness. There he lies, unable to strike a blow, or lift his arm. He is stripped and stunned, disarmed and disabled,
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

April 23. "An High Priest Touched with the Feeling of Our Infirmities" (Heb. Iv. 15).
"An high priest touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb. iv. 15). Some time ago we were talking with a greatly suffering sister about healing, who was much burdened physically and desirous of being able to trust the Lord for deliverance. After a little conversation we prayed with her, committing her case to the Lord for absolute trust and deliverance as she was prepared to claim. As soon as we closed our prayer she grasped our hand, and asked us to unite with her in the burden that was
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

October 22. "Touched with the Feeling of Our Infirmities" (Heb. Iv. 15).
"Touched with the feeling of our infirmities" (Heb. iv. 15). Some of us know a little what it is to be thrilled with a sense of the sufferings of others, and sometimes, the sins of others, and sins that seem to saturate us as they come in contact with us, and throw over us an awful sense of sin and need. This is, perhaps, intended to give us some faint conception of the sympathy that Jesus felt when He had taken our sins, our sicknesses and our sorrows. Let us not hesitate to lay them on Him! It
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth

The Throne of Grace
In order to such prayer, the work of the Holy Ghost himself is needed. If prayer were of the lips alone, we should only need breath in our nostrils to pray: if prayer were of the desires alone, many excellent desires are easily felt, even by natural men: but when it is the spiritual desire, and the spiritual fellowship of the human spirit with the Great Spirit, then the Holy Ghost himself must be present all through it, to help infirmity, and give life and power, or else true prayer will never be
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Heavenly Rest
"My rest," says God: the rest of God! Something more wonderful than any other kind of rest. In my text it is (in the original) called the Sabbatism--not the Sabbath, but the rest of the Sabbath--not the outward ritual of the Sabbath, which was binding upon the Jew, but the inward spirit of the sabbath, which is the joy and delight of the Christian. "There remaineth therefore"--because others have not had it, because some are to have it--"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God." Now,
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 3: 1857

How Should we Make Use of Christ, in Going to the Father, in Prayer, and Other Acts of Worship?
In short, for answering of this question, I shall lay down those particulars: 1. There should be a lively sense of the infinite distance that is between the great God and us finite creatures, and yet more betwixt the Holy Ghost and us sinful wretches. 2. There should be an eyeing of Christ as the great peacemaker, through his death and merits having satisfied justice and reconciled sinners unto God; that so we may look on God now no more as an enemy, but as reconciled in Jesus. 3. There should be,
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Entrance into Rest.
Hebrews 4:1.--Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. Hebrews 4:11.--Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. I want, in the simplest way possible, to answer the question: "How does a man enter into that rest?" and to point out the simple steps that he takes, all included in the one act of surrender and faith. And the first step, I think, is this: that a
Andrew Murray—The Master's Indwelling

What Now is Become of this True Church, or Where must the Man Go...
What now is become of this true church, or where must the man go, who would fain be a living member of it? He need go nowhere; because wherever he is, that which is to save him, and that which he is to be saved from, is always with him. SELF is all the evil that he has, and God is all the goodness that he ever can have; but self is always with him, and God is always with him. Death to self is his only entrance into the church of life, and nothing but God can give death to self. Self is an inward
William Law—An Humble, Affectionate, and Earnest Address to the Clergy

To-Morrow
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."--Heb. iv. 9. J. S. Kunth, 1700. tr., Emma Frances Bevan, 1899 There is a Day of rest before thee-- Thou weary soul, arise and shine. Awhile the clouds hung darkly o'er thee, Awhile the captive's chains were thine. Behold, the Lamb of God will lead thee To still green pastures round the throne; Cast off thy burden, rise and speed thee, For soon the battle storm is done-- For soon the weary race is past, And thou shalt rest in Love at last.
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen and Others (Second Series)

The Sabbath Year
Gerhard Ter Steegen Heb. iv. 10 Oft comes to me a blessed hour, A wondrous hour and still-- With empty hands I lay me down, No more to work or will. An hour when weary thought has ceased, The eyes are closed in rest; And, hushed in Heaven's untroubled peace, I lie upon Thy breast. Erewile I reasoned of Thy truth, I searched with toil and care; From morn to night I tilled my field, And yet my field was bare. Now, fed with corn from fields of Heaven The fruit of Hands Divine, I pray no prayer,
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Whiter than Snow
Gerhard Ter Steegen Heb. iv. 14 To heart and soul how sweet Thou art, O great High Priest of God! My heart brought nigh to God's own heart By Thy most precious blood. No more my countless sins shall rise To fill me with dismay-- That precious blood before His eyes Hath put them all away. My soul draws near with trust secure, With boldness glad and free; What matters it that I am poor, For I am rich in Thee. Forgotten every stain and spot, Their memory past and gone, For me, O God, Thou seest
Frances Bevan—Hymns of Ter Steegen, Suso, and Others

Old-Testament Gospel Heb 4:02

John Newton—Olney Hymns

John Newton the Word Quick and Powerful. Heb 4:12,13

John Newton—Olney Hymns

Statement of Faith.
1. We believe in one Unbegotten [428] God, Father Almighty, maker of all things both visible and invisible, that hath His being from Himself. And in one Only-begotten Word, Wisdom, Son, begotten of the Father without beginning and eternally; word not pronounced [429] nor mental, nor an effluence [430] of the Perfect, nor a dividing of the impassible Essence, nor an issue [431] ; but absolutely perfect Son, living and powerful (Heb. iv. 12), the true Image of the Father, equal in honour and glory.
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

The Power of God's Word to Convict Men of Sin.
In Hebrews 4:12 we have a Scripture which draws attention to this peculiar characteristic of the Bible--"For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, andis a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." The writings of men may sometimes stir the emotions, search the conscience, and influence the human will, but in a manner and degree possessed by no other book the Bible
Arthur W. Pink—The Divine Inspiration of the Bible

The Great High-Priest.
"Having then a great High-priest, Who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high-priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but One that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need. For every high-priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

Rest
THE Master had much to say to his beloved children about this festival of God. It was of this that he delighted to tell them. Whilst the pestilence, and the war, and the persecution of Rome, were desolating the city, Master Tauler dwelt in the gladness of the bridal chamber, and told to the weary and sorrowful around him, the things that he had seen and heard. And thus it came to pass that many entered in, and found themselves in that inner chamber of rest, and peace, and joy, and to them "the curse
Frances Bevan—Three Friends of God

Our Compassionate High Priest
"Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity."--Hebrews 5:2 The high priest looked Godward, and therefore he had need to be holy; for he had to deal with things pertaining to God. But at the same time he looked manward; it was for men that he was ordained, that, through him, they might deal with God; and therefore he had need to be tender. It was necessary that he should be one who could have sympathy with men;
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 38: 1892

Sixteenth Day for the Power of the Holy Spirit in Our Sabbath Schools
WHAT TO PRAY.--For the Power of the Holy Spirit in our Sabbath Schools "Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children."--ISA. xlix. 25. Every part of the work of God's Church is His work. He must do it. Prayer is the confession that He will, the surrender of ourselves into His hands to let Him, work in us and through us. Pray for the hundreds
Andrew Murray—The Ministry of Intercession

Here is the Sum of My Examination Before Justice Keelin, Justice Chester, Justice Blundale, Justice Beecher, Justice Snagg, Etc.
After I had lain in prison above seven weeks, the quarter-sessions were to be kept in Bedford, for the county thereof, unto which I was to be brought; and when my jailor had set me before those justices, there was a bill of indictment preferred against me. The extent thereof was as followeth: That John Bunyan, of the town of Bedford, labourer, being a person of such and such conditions, he hath (since such a time) devilishly and perniciously abstained from coming to church to hear Divine service,
John Bunyan—Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

The Saints' Privilege and Profit;
OR, THE THRONE OF GRACE ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. The churches of Christ are very much indebted to the Rev. Charles Doe, for the preservation and publishing of this treatise. It formed one of the ten excellent manuscripts left by Bunyan at his decease, prepared for the press. Having treated on the nature of prayer in his searching work on 'praying with the spirit and with the understanding also,' in which he proves from the sacred scriptures that prayer cannot be merely read or said, but must
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Water of Life;
OR, A DISCOURSE SHOWING THE RICHNESS AND GLORY OF THE GRACE AND SPIRIT OF THE GOSPEL, AS SET FORTH IN SCRIPTURE BY THIS TERM, THE WATER OF LIFE. BY JOHN BUNYAN. 'And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.'--Revelation 22:17 London: Printed for Nathanael Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, 1688. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Often, and in every age, the children of God have dared to doubt the sufficiency of divine grace; whether it was vast enough to reach their condition--to cleanse
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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