A Sympathetic High Priest - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14–16

A Sympathetic High Priest
Today’s verses inform us of an extremely important area of our Lord’s priestly work. Presently, because the Lord Jesus Christ has suffered and died, rose again and ascended up on high, passing through the heavens, He is able to sympathize with our weakness. While He was here in this scene, He was tempted in every area that we might be tempted. But the writer here adds one very important detail: He was without sin. We are told that our Lord knew no sin (2 Cor. 5:21), did no sin (1 Pet. 2:22), and in Him was no sin (1 Jn. 3:5). He was the perfect, sinless sacrifice for sin! Yet as a man He can enter into the hurt that we experience in this life. And because He understands our weakness, and because He was the sinless sacrifice for sin, we are able to come to Him to obtain mercy (God’s loving kindness) and find grace (God’s undeserved favor) at the Throne of Grace!

If that were not enough, Hebrews 7:25 reminds us that this blessed High Priest ever lives to make intercession for us and is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God!

How encouraging to know that there is a Man in the glory who is able to aid us, able to sympathize with us, and intercedes for us. What a merciful and gracious High Priest! May we avail ourselves often of this wonderful source of strength and power for the day that is ahead!

Tim Hadley, Sr.

Our great High Priest is sitting at God’s right hand above,
For us His hands uplifting, in sympathy and love.

A. P. Cecil