Lenten Reading 8 - Thursday, February 25

Lent Reading 8: The Great High Priest. Hebrews 4:14-5:10

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.

 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;

 he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;

 and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.

 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

 So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,

         "YOU ARE MY SON,

         TODAY I HAVE BEGOTTEN YOU";

 just as He says also in another passage,

         "YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER

         ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.

 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.

 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

 being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.