What is the meaning of Hebrews 4:15? For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses • Jesus is called “our high priest,” the mediator who brings us to God, just as Old Testament priests represented Israel before Him (Hebrews 2:17; 7:24-25). • Far from being distant, He “sympathize[s] with our weaknesses.” Isaiah 53:3-4 portrays Him as “a man of sorrows” who carried our griefs. • In the Gospels He feels hunger (Matthew 4:2), fatigue (John 4:6), and sorrow (John 11:35). Matthew 9:36 captures His heart: “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them.” • Because He knows human frailty firsthand, we can come to Him with every fear, failure, and frustration, convinced He understands. but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are • “Tempted in every way” means He faced the full range of human enticements—physical needs, pride, shortcuts to power (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). • Hebrews 2:18 adds, “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted.” • His temptation wasn’t superficial; He felt the pull yet refused to yield, showing us that temptation itself is not sin. • This reassures us that no struggle we face surprises Him, and 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises God always provides a way of escape. yet was without sin • Though exposed to every lure, Jesus never crossed the line. Peter echoes, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:22). • Because He is sinless, He could become the spotless sacrifice for us (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 John 3:5). • His purity secures our confidence: the One interceding for us is perfectly righteous, so His advocacy can never fail (Hebrews 7:26-27). • His example also charts the path for holy living—reliance on Scripture, prayer, and the Spirit, not self-will. summary Hebrews 4:15 assures us that Jesus, our perfect high priest, personally understands every weakness and temptation we face, yet remained sinless. Because He sympathizes fully and intercedes flawlessly, we can draw near to Him with boldness, trusting both His compassion and His power to help us stand firm. |
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