Jesus Our Great High Priest
Once for all
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Hebrews says that God, who spoke through the prophets, has now spoken by his Son, the exact representation of his nature. Jesus became like us in every way, was tempted as we are yet without sin, and freed us from the fear of death, so we can approach the throne of grace with confidence. As our great high priest, he offered himself once for all, entering the Most Holy Place by his own blood, and now always lives to pray for us. So let us draw near, hold on to our hope, keep meeting together, and remember that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Where it is in the Bible: Hebrews 1 to 10, 12 and 13
All the sections at a glanceA map of the chapter, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Letter
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. God Has Spoken by His Son | 1:1-4 | Jesus shows exactly who God is |
| 2. One of Us | 2:9-18 | Jesus became like us to free us from fear of death |
| 3. The Throne of Grace | 4:12 to 5:10 | Our high priest understands our weakness |
| 4. Once for All | 7:23 to 9:28 | Jesus offered himself, one sacrifice forever |
| 5. Let Us Draw Near | 10:11-25 | Come to God with confidence, and meet together |
| 6. An Unshakable Kingdom | 12:18-29 | Not a mountain of fear, but a city of joy |
| 7. Jesus Is the Same | 13:1-16 | Love, welcome strangers, and trust God |
Before You Read
Who wrote it. No one knows for sure. The letter to the Hebrews doesn't name its author.
Who it was for. Jewish Christians who were tired, under pressure, and tempted to go back to their old ways (10:32-39). They had grown up with the temple, its priests, and its sacrifices.
What this letter is. More like a sermon than a letter. It shows that Jesus is greater than everything that came before: greater than the angels, greater than Moses, and the great high priest who offered the one sacrifice that takes away sin forever.
How to read it. This page walks through the main passages read in church. Chapter 11, the heroes of faith, has its own page. Watch for the words "once for all."
Section by Section
Section 1 of 7God Has Spoken by His Son
"On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son" (1:1-2).
God made the universe through his Son.
"The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word" (1:3).
He cleansed us from sin, then sat down at God's right hand, far greater than the angels.
Section 2 of 7One of Us
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone" (2:9).
"So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers" (2:11).
Jesus became flesh and blood like us. By his death, he broke the devil's power over death.
He set free "those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death" (2:15).
He became like us in every way, so he could be a merciful and faithful high priest.
A high priest was the one who went before God for the people and offered sacrifices for their sins.
"Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted" (2:18).
Section 3 of 7The Throne of Grace
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword" (4:12).
Nothing is hidden from God. He sees our thoughts and our hearts.
But we have a great high priest, Jesus the Son of God.
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin" (4:15).
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (4:16).
God himself called Jesus to be high priest.
On earth, Jesus prayed "with loud cries and tears" (5:7). He knows what suffering is.
He became the source of eternal salvation.
Halfway thereThis is a good place for a break. Your spot is saved on this device.
Section 4 of 7Once for All
Other priests died, and new ones took their place. But Jesus lives forever.
"Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them" (7:25).
Intercede means pray and speak for someone.
Other priests offered sacrifices every day. Jesus "sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself" (7:27).
He didn't bring the blood of animals. "He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus securing eternal redemption" (9:12).
The Most Holy Place was the innermost room of the temple, where the high priest went once a year.
Animal blood could only make bodies clean on the outside. "How much more will the blood of Christ" cleanse us inside, and "purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God!" (9:14).
Jesus didn't need to offer himself again and again.
"So also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him" (9:28).
Section 5 of 7Let Us Draw Near
Priests stood every day offering sacrifices that could never take away sin.
"But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God" (10:12).
He sat down because the work was finished.
God promised a new covenant: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more" (10:17).
So we can come close to God, through the new and living way Jesus opened.
"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith" (10:22). Our bodies were washed with pure water in baptism.
"Let us hold resolutely to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful" (10:23).
"Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another" (10:25).
Section 6 of 7An Unshakable Kingdom
At Mount Sinai, God's people met fire, darkness, and a terrifying voice. Even Moses trembled.
"Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem" (12:22).
There are angels in joyful celebration, God's people, and "Jesus the mediator of a new covenant" (12:24).
A mediator stands between two sides to bring them together.
God will shake everything that can be shaken.
"Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude" (12:28).
Section 7 of 7Jesus Is the Same
"Continue in brotherly love" (13:1).
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it" (13:2).
Remember prisoners and people who are mistreated. Honor marriage.
Don't love money. Be content. God has said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you" (13:5).
"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid" (13:6).
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (13:8).
Jesus suffered outside the city to make us holy. Here we have no lasting city. We look for the one to come.
So let us praise God and share with others.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "He has spoken to us by His Son" (1:2) | Jesus is God's clearest word to us. |
| "The exact representation of His nature" (1:3) | To see Jesus is to see God. |
| "Able to sympathize with our weaknesses" (4:15) | Jesus knows what it's like to be human. |
| "The throne of grace" (4:16) | We can come to God without fear. |
| "He always lives to intercede for them" (7:25) | Jesus prays for us right now. |
| "Once for all" (9:12) | Jesus's sacrifice never needs repeating. |
| "Let us not neglect meeting together" (10:25) | We need church and each other. |
| "The same yesterday and today and forever" (13:8) | Jesus never changes. |
Back Then
The temple sacrifices were the center of Jewish worship. Priests offered animals every day, and the high priest entered the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16).
Melchizedek was a priest-king who blessed Abraham (Genesis 14:18-20). Psalm 110 says the Messiah will be a priest like him, forever.
The temple was destroyed in AD 70. If Hebrews was written before then, its readers could still see the sacrifices going on.
Literal Reader Alert
Did Jesus really get tempted? Yes, in every way we are. The difference is that he never sinned. That's why he understands us.
Do Christians need to offer sacrifices? No. Jesus offered the one sacrifice for sin, once for all. Our "sacrifices" now are praise and doing good (13:15-16).
Why does Hebrews have so many warnings? The writer loves his readers and doesn't want them to drift away. The warnings always come with the comfort that God is faithful.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| People everywhere | Afraid | They fear death (2:15) |
| Jesus | In anguish | He prayed with loud cries and tears (5:7) |
| Believers | Weary | Some had stopped meeting together (10:25) |
| Believers | Grateful | They are receiving an unshakable kingdom (12:28) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What do you need today? Tap one.
I'm afraid of dying
Jesus broke death's power and frees us from fear.
I feel weak and tempted
Jesus was tempted too. Come to the throne of grace.
I keep feeling guilty
Jesus offered himself once for all. God remembers your sins no more.
I've drifted from church
Draw near. Don't give up meeting together.
You Might Have Heard
"God is far away and doesn't understand what I'm going through."
What's true: God is holy and far above us.
What the passage is mainly about: Jesus became one of us. "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses" (4:15). He knows, he prays for you, and he invites you to come close.
Where Jesus is: Seated at God's right hand, praying for us, the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Good News
You can come to God without fear.
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (4:16).
Jesus offered himself once for all. His work is finished. He understands you and prays for you.
Jesus is our great high priest. He became one of us, offered himself once for all, and now prays for us, so we can come to God's throne of grace with confidence.
Big Idea
God has spoken by his Son. Jesus became one of us, offered himself once for all, and lives to pray for us, so we can come with confidence to the throne of grace.
If this chapter brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther taught that because Christ's sacrifice was "once for all," nothing we do can add to it. In the Lord's Supper, we don't offer Christ again. We receive what he offered for us.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year B, it reads through Hebrews on seven Sundays in October and November (Lectionary 27 to 33). Hebrews 1:1-4 is read on Christmas Day, and Hebrews 10:5-10 on the Fourth Sunday of Advent in Year C. Hebrews 12 and 13 are read in late August in Year C.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
How did that feel?
You finished Jesus Our Great High Priest.
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Fourth Sunday of Advent Year CSecond reading, Hebrews 10:5-10
- First Sunday of Christmas Year ASecond reading, Hebrews 2:10-18
- Fifth Sunday in Lent Year BSecond reading, Hebrews 5:5-10
- Lectionary 21 Year CSecond reading, Hebrews 12:18-29
- Lectionary 22 Year CSecond reading, Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
- Lectionary 27 Year BSecond reading, Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12
- Lectionary 28 Year BSecond reading, Hebrews 4:12-16
- Lectionary 29 Year BSecond reading, Hebrews 5:1-10
- Lectionary 30 Year BSecond reading, Hebrews 7:23-28
- Lectionary 31 Year BSecond reading, Hebrews 9:11-14
- Lectionary 32 Year BSecond reading, Hebrews 9:24-28
- Lectionary 33 Year BSecond reading, Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Jesus Our Great High Priest, explained in plain words. Jesus became one of us, offered himself once for all, and now prays for us. About 13 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/jesus-our-great-high-priest/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church