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  • Hebrews 4:14-5:10

    14 Also, let’s hold on to the confession since we have a great high priest who passed through the heavens, who is Jesus, God’s Son; 15 because we don’t have a high priest who can’t sympathize with our weaknesses but instead one who was tempted in every way that we are, except without sin.

    16 Finally, let’s draw near to the throne of favor with confidence so that we can receive mercy and find grace when we need help.

    Introduction to a deeper teaching

    Every high priest is taken from the people and put in charge of things that relate to God for their sake, in order to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. The high priest is able to deal gently with the ignorant and those who are misled since he himself is prone to weakness. Because of his weakness, he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as for the people. No one takes this honor for themselves but takes it only when they are called by God, just like Aaron.

    In the same way Christ also didn’t promote himself to become high priest. Instead, it was the one who said to him,

    You are my Son.
            Today I have become your Father,

    as he also says in another place,

    You are a priest forever,
            according to the order of Melchizedek.

    During his days on earth, Christ offered prayers and requests with loud cries and tears as his sacrifices to the one who was able to save him from death. He was heard because of his godly devotion. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience from what he suffered. After he had been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him. 10 He was appointed by God to be a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.