Peter Barnes: Christ the Sympathetic High Priest, Matthew 4:1-11, Heb.4:14-16. (5 April 2020 am)

In Matthew 4:1-11 Satan tempted Christ three times, and three times Christ rebuffed him. J. C. Ryle: ‘A religion without a priest is a poor, unhappy, useless thing.’ A priest represents his people before God, and he offers sacrifices for sins (Heb.5:1).

1. Christ is our exalted high priest.

– 4:14 . The Old Testament priesthood was corrupt, but limited, a shadow at best.

– the Old Testament priests were sons of Aaron, but Jesus is the Son of God. He is sinless – 4:15 ; John 14:30 .

2. Christ is our sympathetic high priest.

– 4:15 . KJV: ‘we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities’. So He is exalted in heaven but He is also sympathetic; He ‘suffers with’ His people.

– Matt.4:1-11; 26:39 ; Christ identifies with His people – Acts 9:4. John Brown: ‘The Son of God, had He never become incarnate, might have pitied, but He could not have sympathized with His people.’ Bonhoeffer: ‘It feels like an invasion from outside, as if by evil powers trying to rob one of what is most vital.’

3. Be steadfast and confident in grace.

– First, we must hold fast our confession (4:14 ); see the danger of drifting – 2:1; 3:14 .

– Secondly, approach the throne of grace with boldness or confidence (4:16 ). Eph.3:8-12. This is a free pardon to the worst of sinners. Queen Esther: ‘If I perish, I perish’ (Esther 4:16 ). Contrast to Charles Wesley: Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

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Sermon Notes 05042020-am