Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 13 No creature is concealed from him, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. 16 So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
God’s word is living, active, and powerful, incisively penetrating the deepest parts of a person’s being to bring about transformation. It instructs, judges, heals, and saves, discerning not only outward actions but also revealing the innermost thoughts and intentions of the heart. God is omniscient; nothing in creation is hidden from Him. Everything will be laid bare before Him, and all will be held accountable at the final judgment.
Jesus is identified as the "great high priest," emphasizing his supreme role as the mediator between God and humanity (Heb. 7:27). The concept of a mediator is deeply rooted in Old Testament theology, where the high priest served as an intermediary in the sacrificial system established under the Mosaic Law, repeatedly atoning for their own sins and those of the people (Lev. 16:17). Jesus, as the perfect and final sacrifice for sin, has ascended into the heavenly sanctuary where he continually intercedes for us (Heb. 9:11-12). He fulfills and perfects the role of mediator as conceived in Old Testament theology. Believers are strongly urged to remain steadfast in their faith in Christ.
Through the Incarnation, Jesus shared in the human condition, experiencing the full range of human trials, including temptation, suffering, and the limitations of human existence, yet He remained sinless. This enables Him to fully understand human weakness, making Him a compassionate mediator who sympathizes with our struggles while offering us the grace to overcome sin. Believers have access to God’s loving mercy, made possible through Christ, and are encouraged to approach God confidently in their time of need, trusting in His readiness to help..
Heavenly Father, we come before Your throne of grace with confidence, knowing that Jesus, our compassionate High Priest, understands our every weakness and intercedes for us. Strengthen our faith, help us to hold fast to our confession, and grant us the mercy and grace we need in our time of need. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
- McKenzie, John. Dictionary of the Bible. Collier Books, 1965.
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