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. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The author of Hebrews is unknown. In our verses today the great theme of the priesthood of Christ Jesus is introduced. The first readers of this epistle were Jewish Christians who were tempted to abandon the Christian faith and return to Judaism because of persecution. But Jesus is not just another high priest. He has passed through the heavens (ascension) into the very presence of God and sits at God’s right hand (rather than stands) because His work is finished. Once and for all He made atonement for our sins. If He had not been fully human He could not have atoned for our sin. But He is also fully God. Jesus was tempted in all things but was never tempted by indwelling sin – He was like Adam and Eve before the fall; for Jesus temptation had to come from without, not from within.

Since sin involves the whole person, in this sense Jesus could not have sinned or He would have ceased to be God. Jesus met every temptation to sin not by His divine power but by His human nature relying on the Father and the Spirit. His divine nature could not be tempted or sin but His human nature could..This is difficult to understand but Scripture tells us Jesus truly was tempted and He never sinned. He is our sympathetic and sinless high priest. In contrast, once a year on the Day of Atonement, the Jewish High Priest alone would enter into the Holy of Holies to make amendment for all the sins of that nation. When he came out alive it meant to the people that God had accepted the sacrifice for their sins fo another year.

The author of Hebrews is addressing every believer – we do not have to go through any human priest to draw hear to God. We could not come in on our own merit or righteousness but the faithful come with confidence because Jesus, our high priest, has gained us access. We can expect mercy and grace to help. We are engaged in spiritual warfare and mercy is the remission of deserved judgment while grace is the supply of undeserved blessing. Our great high priest, Jesus, will not leave, nor forsake, nor fail His saints.