Hebrews 4:14-5:10
March 2, 2025
preached by Ed O’Leary
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“A key word, ‘better,’ occurs 13 times in Hebrews. Messiah Jesus is better, for example, than ‘the angels’ (1:4) and than all the leading figures of the Hebrew Bible. As priest he has offered up a better sacrifice (9:23) than those offered by Israel’s other priests; consequently, his blood speaks of better things (12:24), such as our better eternal possession (10:34). Jesus is mediator of a better covenant (7:22) based on ‘better promises’ (8:6) and offers us ‘a better hope’ (7:19), because God has ‘provided something better for us’ (11:40), which, in part, is ‘a better resurrection’ (11:35).”

~ Ronald Sauer, Commentary on Hebrews

“Hebrews clearly lays out the present priestly ministry of Christ in the life of the believer. Jesus is both the divine Son of God and completely human, and in His priestly role He clears the way for human beings to approach the Father in heaven through prayer (Hebrews 4:14-16). The priesthood of Jesus is superior to the Old Testament priesthood of Aaron, because only through Jesus do we receive eternal salvation (5:1-9). Furthermore, Jesus became the permanent and perfect High Priest, going beyond all other priests by offering Himself as a sinless sacrifice on behalf of the sins of human beings (7:24-26; 9:28).”

~ Chuck Swindoll, Insights for Living: Hebrews

Sermon Passage

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 (ESV)

Hebrews 4

¹⁴ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 5

¹ For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. ² He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. ³ Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. ⁴ And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

⁵ So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
⁶ as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
after the order of Melchizedek.”

⁷ In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. ⁸ Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. ⁹ And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, ¹⁰ being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.