Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Hebrews 4:16

"Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help [us] in time of need." — Hebrews 4:16 (ASV)

Having this High Priest gives “confidence.” So the writer exhorts his readers to approach God boldly. The word “us” does away with the mediation of earthly priests. We can approach God’s “throne of grace” directly. This expression for God’s throne points both to the sovereignty of God and to God’s love to people. The rabbis sometimes spoke of a “throne of mercy” to which God goes from “the throne of judgment” when he spares people. The idea here is not dissimilar, all the more so since the writer goes on to speak of receiving “mercy” (GK 1799). We need mercy because we have failed so often, and we need grace because service awaits us in which we need God’s help. And help is what the writer says we get—the help that is appropriate to the time, i.e., “timely help.” Christians should not be tentative because they have the great High Priest in whom they can be confident. His successful traverse of the heavens points to his power to help, and his fellow-feeling with our weakness points to his sympathy with our needs. In the light of this, what can hold us back?