Useful Bible Studies > Hebrews Commentary > chapter 4
When Christians pray, they can be confident. That is, they can pray with faith (active belief and trust in God).
They must not imagine that their chief priest is not important. He is Jesus, the king who sits on the throne (royal seat) in heaven, next to God the Father. He has the place of greatest honour in heaven or earth. Nobody is greater than he is.
But the description of his throne is not a place of terror. It has been that in the past (Hebrews 12:18-21). And it will be in the future, for people who do not obey God (Hebrews 12:25-27). But it is not so for God’s people, because Christ receives us with grace. Grace means kindness. Christ’s throne, which we approach by prayer, is a place of kindness. It is there that he shows his kindness to us.
And it is from that place that Christ acts to help us. He sends his angels (special servants) to work on our behalf (Hebrews 1:14).
That help comes at the proper time. It may not come immediately when we request it. That is why we need faith (active belief and trust in God). We would not need any faith if God always answered our prayers immediately. But God wants us to continue to trust him. The author of Hebrews emphasises that fact often (Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 6:12; Hebrews 10:35-39). We may have to wait. And sometimes, we have to wait for a very long time (Hebrews 11:13-16). But God does not disappoint anyone. In the end, he will do everything that he has promised.
So we must not lose our confidence, because God really will reward it (Hebrews 10:35).
Next part: Israel’s chief priests (Hebrews 5:1)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.