Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 4:11-16

In this latter part of the chapter the apostle concludes, first, with a serious repeated exhortation, and then with proper and powerful motives. I. Here we have a serious exhortation: Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, Heb. 4:11. Observe, 1. The end proposed?rest spiritual and eternal, the rest of grace here and glory hereafter?in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven. 2. The way to this end prescribed?labour, diligent labour; this is the only way to rest; those who will not... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 4:14-16

4:14-16 Since, then, we have a high priest, great in his nature, who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our creed. For we have not a high priest who is such that he cannot feel with us in our weaknesses; but one who has gone through every temptation, just in the same way as we have, and who is without sin. Let us then confidently approach his throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help as need demands. Here we are coming to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 4:15

For we have not an high priest ,.... That is cruel and unmerciful; the saints have an high priest, but not such an one: which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities ; such as bodily diseases and wants, persecutions from men, and the temptations of Satan; under all which Christ sympathizes with his people; and which sympathy of his arises from his knowledge and experience of these things, and the share he has had of them, and from that union there is between him and his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace ,.... Either to Christ, who is before spoken of as an high priest, and who was typified by the mercy seat, to which there seems to be an allusion; and coming to him as a priest upon his throne is very proper: to him saints come for pardon and cleansing, and for a justifying righteousness, for the acceptance of their persons, and the presentation of their services, and for every supply of grace; and to him they may come "boldly", since he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:15

For we have not a high priest - To the objection, "Your High Priest, if entered into the heavens, can have no participation with you, and no sympathy for you, because out of the reach of human feelings and infirmities," he answers: Ου γαρ εχομεν Αρχιερεα μη δυναμενον συμπαθησαι ταις ασθενειαις ἡμων· We have not a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weakness. Though he be the Son of God, as to his human nature, and equal in his Divine nature with God; yet, having partaken of human... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace - The allusion to the high priest, and his office on the day of atonement, is here kept up. The approach mentioned here is to the כפרת kapporeth , ἱλαστηριον , the propitiatory or mercy-seat. This was the covering of the ark of the testimony or covenant, at each end of which was a cherub, and between them the shechinah, or symbol of the Divine Majesty, which appeared to, and conversed with, the high priest. Here the apostle shows... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:15

Verse 15 15.For we have not, etc. There is in the name which he mentions, the Son of God, such majesty as ought to constrain us to fear and obey him. But were we to contemplate nothing but this in Christ, our consciences would not be pacified; for who of us does not dread the sight of the Son of God, especially when we consider what our condition is, and when our sins come to mind? The Jews might have had also another hindrance, for they had been accustomed to the Levitical priesthood; they saw... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:16

Verse 16 16.Let us therefore come boldly, or, with confidence, etc. He draws this conclusion, — that an access to God is open to all who come to him relying on Christ the Mediator; nay, he exhorts the faithful to venture without any hesitation to present themselves before God. And the chief benefit of divine teaching is a sure confidence in calling on God, as, on the other hand, the whole of religion falls to the ground, and is lost when this certainty is taken away from consciences. It is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 4:12-16

The Word of God discovering, the great High Priest delivering from, the apostate's sin. This completes the argument in this section ( Hebrews 3:1-19 . and 4) on the sin of apostasy. Having brought his readers face to face with the awful peril of departure from the Son of God, we might suppose the writer had reached the limit of the subject. But not so; he goes on to say that this sin and doom may be true of some whose defection is hidden in the heart. But he cannot relinquish the subject... read more