Part 2: The Great High Priest of a New Covenant (Hebrews 4:14-5:10)

Sermon on 21 June 2026 by Pastor JustinPs Justin

Introduction

Jesus fulfils and perfects the role as our Great High Priest of a new covenant. Jesus, as the Lamb of God, took away all the sins of the world. Jesus Christ, as the ultimate High Priest, passed through the heavens (Hebrews 4:16). He has completed His redemptive work, ascended to heaven, and seated at the right hand of our Father. The debt has been paid.

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away - Hebrews 8:13

The old covenant is no more. Jesus Christ established this new covenant for us. It is better and permanent. It provides complete forgiveness, transforms the heart, and gives believers direct access to Him. We must come boldly to the throne of grace, so as to obtain mercy in time of need (Hebrews 4:16).

Message

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 sympathise 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. For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honour to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.” As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”; who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear. Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” - Hebrews 4:14-5:10

1. Jesus is the sympathetic High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Jesus is sinless, yet fully able to sympathise with human weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). We have a compassionate High Priest. Jesus Himself was tempted, yet without sin. Jesus came in the form of a man, humbled Himself, and obeyed God till death.

2. Jesus is the divine appointment (Hebrews 5:1-6)

Jesus is chosen by God to be the High Priest in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:10).  Psalm 110:4, written years before the birth of Jesus, mentioned a Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was both a king and a priest (Genesis 14:18). Jesus is also both King and Priest, something which the Levitical priests could not be.

Although Levitical priests had to be descended from Levi, Melchizedek’s priesthood was not based on genealogy. Similarly, Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, yet God appointed Him directly as Priest. Melchizedek appears in Scripture without a recorded beginning or end. Likewise, Jesus lives forever and never needs a successor. Jesus is a priest forever. Jesus rose from the dead and “always lives to make intercession” for His people (Hebrews 7:25).

Jesus surpasses all Levitical priests in offering perfect representation, confirmed by God Himself (Hebrews 5:6). Jesus is the eternal King-Priest whose perfect sacrifice saves forever.

3. Jesus is the suffering perfector (Hebrews 4:15, 16; 5:7-10)

His obedience, even to death (Philippians 2:6-11), uniquely qualifies Him to empathise and save. When we humble ourselves, God will lift us up. Humility is important in our Christian walk.

Closing

In Jesus, our Great High Priest, we find perfect empathy, mercy, and grace, our divine representation, and our salvation.