Jesus Christ as Perfect and Perpetual High Priest (Hebrews 4:14–5:10)

Many Christians take for granted the fact that we have access to God—that we can sing about him, talk to him, hear from him, be changed by him, and offer service through him. But these are incredible and privileged realities made possible only by God’s grace. In reality, sinful humanity has no business receiving anything from he who is holy, holy, holy other than judgement (Ex 33:20; Isa 6:5; Luke 5:8). Yet, God has made perfect access to himself possible through a perfect High Priest. God’s people do have access to God today and the author of Hebrews is encouraging us to not forget that reality, to not shrink back from that reality, and to not take for granted that reality. Instead, we are to know our high priest, and let our growing knowledge of his perfection change, excite, and fuel the way we live our lives for him.