Hebrews 4:14-5:10 // Jesus our Great High Priest!

Jesus Our Great High Priest

Hebrews 4:14–5:10

Series: Greater Than >

Date: 3.11.2025

You Need a High Priest...

Many moons ago, there lived a man named Abram. Born in Ur, he heard the voice of God calling him to a new land where God would bless him and make him into a great nation.

So, Abram gathered his flocks, workers, nephew Lot, and wife Sarai, and set off in faith. As their flocks grew, Lot chose to settle in Sodom, while Abram and Sarai remained in Canaan.

One day, a messenger brought terrible news — Sodom had been attacked by four kings, and Lot had been taken captive. Abram gathered 318 men, pursued the enemy by night, and rescued Lot, along with the plunder of Sodom.

As Abram returned home, he met Melchizedek, King of Salem. Melchizedek brought bread and wine, blessed Abram in the name of God Most High, and Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Melchizedek then disappears from the story — a mysterious priest-king who is later remembered only in passing, until he reappears in the book of Hebrews.

The Struggling Church

Fifteen hundred years later, Hebrews was written to descendants of Abraham who had put their faith in Jesus. Many were drifting away, returning to the familiar system of priests and sacrifices because following Jesus felt too hard.

Have you ever felt that way — that the Christian life is just too difficult? Hebrews brings good news: while the difficulties of life are great, Jesus is greater.

Like Abram, we need a spiritual helper. We need a priest.

Hebrews 5:9–10 says:

“He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

The Order of Melchizedek

Let’s think about this name. “Melek” means king, and “Zedek” means righteousness or justice. Melchizedek, therefore, means “King of Righteousness.” He ruled over Salem, which means peace.

In Scripture, kings had three key roles:

1. To lead and protect their people.

2. To judge rightly, punishing evil and defending the weak.

3. To lead spiritually, modelling faithfulness to God.

Priests, meanwhile, had three roles of their own (Hebrews 5):

1. To represent the people before God.

2. To offer sacrifices for sin, reconciling the people to God.

3. To deal gently with those who struggle, identifying with their weakness.

When you put those two roles together — priest and king — you have someone who both rules and reconciles, who leads and intercedes. That’s what makes Melchizedek so significant.

Why Hebrews Matters

For the early church, life was tough. They had no temple, no altars, and no visible priesthood. Their Jewish relatives had priests, sacrifices, and royal heritage — but Christians appeared weak and excluded.

And so Hebrews reminds them: you already have a priest — the Great High Priest! The entire system of temple and sacrifice was pointing toward him all along.

But how could this be? Priests came from the tribe of Levi, kings from Judah. How can one person be both? Only through the line of Melchizedek, who was both priest and king.

And what is the name of this great high priestly King?

Jesus!

Friends, this is glorious news. Jesus is the priest who came from heaven to earth, fully God and fully man. He empathises with our weakness, and in his own body offered the one perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Obedience

So how do we respond to such a great high priest? With obedience.

Hebrews 5:7–9 says:

“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death... Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”

Jesus learned obedience through suffering. He knew the cost of faithfulness.

Think of him in the wilderness, resisting Satan’s temptations.

Think of him in Gethsemane, praying in anguish, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Think of him on the cross, completing the work of salvation.

Jesus obeyed perfectly, not just as an example, but as our representative.

John Calvin wrote:

“He did this for our benefit, to give us the pattern of his submission. If we want the obedience of Christ to be of advantage to us, we must copy it.”

So what does obedience look like for us today?

1. Obey God by Honouring Him

We honour God when we give thanks for a meal, even among friends who don’t. We honour Him when we speak openly about our faith, or when we keep a Sabbath rest in a busy world.

2. Obey God through Sacrifice

Jesus’ sacrifice was once and for all, but we offer ourselves as living sacrifices — giving our time, energy, and gifts for His glory. Whether serving in ministry, caring for others, or simply doing good in His name, every act of obedience is noticed by God.

3. Obey God with Our Finances

Abram tithed to Melchizedek before any law required it. Giving isn’t about legal obligation — it’s an act of trust and worship. When we give from our income, we declare that Jesus is Lord over our whole lives, even our wallets.

You Need a Priest Like Jesus

Now, if obedience sounds hard — that’s because it is. We cannot approach God in our own strength. This is why we need a priest.

My friend Tom is an atheist. Zoë calls him Tom the friendly atheist because he’s such a great guy. I met him one day doing walk-up evangelism at the local university. We got talking about life and faith and even when I moved to another town, Tom was made long trips so we could catch up.

One day I asked Tom why he has happy to go to such lengths to meet up. He shrugged and said: “When people need a doctor they go see their doctor. When people need a psychologist, they go see their psychologist. Even though I’m an atheist, we all need a priest sometimes, and you’re my priest.”

Now while I still pray that God might change Tom’s mind about Jesus, he's right about one thing, every heart longs for a priest.

But not just any priest. We need a priest like Jesus!

Hebrews 4:15 reminds us:

“We do not have a high priest who is unable to empathise with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way we are — yet did not sin.”

Jesus knows what it’s like to struggle, to suffer, even to feel abandoned. It’s not a sin to be tempted — Jesus wrestled with temptation too — but unlike us, he never gave in.

He is the priest who prays for us, listens to us, and will never leave or forsake us. Through His Spirit, He dwells in our hearts, guiding and strengthening us day by day.

When we lean on Him, obedience becomes less of a burden and more of a joyful response to grace.

Come Boldly

That’s why Hebrews 4:16 is worth committing to memory:

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

To weary souls that feel unworthy, Jesus says, “Come boldly to me.”

To those who’ve failed again and again, He says, “Approach my throne of grace.”

To those ready to give up on faith, He says, “I will help you in your time of need.”

In Jesus, there is grace — unearned favour from God.

In Jesus, there is mercy — because He understands our weakness.

In Jesus, there is peace — because our great High Priest has reconciled us to God.

It’s no coincidence that Melchizedek was King of Salem, the city of peace. For in Jesus, we find true peace with God.

Conclusion

So, church — when you’re tired, come boldly.

When you’ve failed, come boldly.

When you’re afraid, come boldly.

Because Jesus, our Great High Priest, is waiting with grace, mercy, and peace.

St Saviour’s — this church has the best priest in the world,

and His name is Jesus.