Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9

Note: These two passages are typically read together on Good Friday, as they pull together the themes of Jesus as priest and sacrifice.

Ancient Lens

What's the historical context?

The Great High Priest

Throughout Hebrews “high priest” is a dominant motif and title for Jesus Christ. While Jesus is, of course, the Lamb of God, this title is not used in Hebrews. Rather, Christ’s death and resurrection is understood as a sacrifice (of his own body) through which he enters the "heavenly places." Christ enters “through the curtain” to the Holy of Holies (10:20), where the high priest would enter once a year to mediate for the whole nation of Israel (Lv 16). In just this way, Jesus Christ…