Hebrews 10:21-23 - Let us draw near to God

10:21

We have a great high priest over the house of God. The Hebrews were tempted to look for an earthly priest, much as they had had under Judaism. There is no need for such a priest, for we have Jesus. Now we might think we, especially if we are in evangelical, reformed or charismatic churches, don’t think like that, but this is not always the case. We can easily put a preacher, teacher or prophet in the role of “high priest”. Jesus is our high priest and the only one we need. We should note also that Jesus is actively head of the church. His being head of the church is not just a “theological truth”, but a living reality. He directs the church, He prays on our behalf, representing us to the Father.

10:22

So the upshot of all this is that we can approach God with complete confidence, for God Himself has provided the means of purification, of justification, the blood of His own Son. We put our faith in Jesus, the Son of God, and all that He has done. So we are cleansed from a guilty conscience and are perfectly acceptable to God, we do not, indeed cannot, do anything to make ourselves acceptable to God. He has done it all!

10:23

The Hebrews were tempted to go back to at least some of the Jewish practices. This would have been an act that was a lack of faith in what Christ has accomplished on the cross. See that we are urged to hold fast to the hope we profess. Our hope is a sure hope and it is that through Christ we are perfectly acceptable to God. Our hope is not based on human wisdom, but on the promise of God, He has told us that it is true and we can trust Him completely.