Hebrews 4:14

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Cross-references

Hebrews 6:20 names Jesus as a forerunner who became high priest forever after Melchizedek, directly expanding on his entry into heaven.

Hebrews 1:3 Parallel

Hebrews 1:3 describes Jesus as the radiance of God's glory, seated at the right hand after purification — amplifying his divine exaltation in 4:14.

Hebrews 10:23 repeats 'hold fast the confession' with added assurance of God's faithfulness — a direct parallel.

Hebrews 2:1 Parallel

In Hebrews 2:1, the same author warns against drifting away — a parallel call to hold fast our confession.

In Hebrews 2:17, Jesus was made like his brothers to be a merciful high priest—directly parallel to the great high priest introduced in Hebrews 4:14.

Hebrews 3:1 Parallel

Hebrews 3:1 also calls Jesus the high priest of our confession, directly paralleling the call to hold fast our confession in 4:14.

Hebrews 3:5 Contrast

In Hebrews 3:5, Moses is a faithful servant in God's house, contrasting with Christ the Son — reinforcing Jesus' superior high priesthood.

Hebrews 3:6 Parallel

Hebrews 3:6 identifies Christ as Son over God's house and links holding fast to being his house, echoing the same call in 4:14.

Hebrews 3:14 similarly urges holding our original confidence firm to the end — an almost identical exhortation.

Hebrews 7:25 explains Jesus' ongoing intercession for those who draw near, showing the saving power of his high priesthood.

Hebrews 7:26 describes Jesus as holy, unstained, and exalted above heavens — matching and deepening the description in 4:14.

Hebrews 8:1 Parallel

Hebrews 8:1 summarizes that we have such a high priest seated at God's right hand, directly reinforcing 4:14's point.

Hebrews 9:12 specifies Jesus entered the heavenly holy places with his own blood, securing eternal redemption — fulfilling the entry mentioned in 4:14.

Hebrews 12:2 shows Jesus enduring the cross and then seated at God's right hand, reinforcing his exaltation after his high priestly work.

Hebrews 9:24 states Christ entered heaven itself to appear before God on our behalf, exactly parallel to his passing through the heavens.

In Hebrews 10:12, Christ's single sacrifice and sitting at God's right hand confirms his finished work as the great high priest who passed through the heavens.

Hebrews 7:28 expands on Jesus as high priest 'made perfect forever' — deepening the description of the great high priest in Hebrews 4:14.

Hebrews 1:2 Parallel

Hebrews 1:2 identifies Jesus as the Son through whom God created the world, reinforcing his divine sonship stated in Hebrews 4:14.

Hebrews 1:8 Parallel

Hebrews 1:8 cites Psalm 45:6 to declare the Son's eternal throne, affirming his divine kingship and identity as Son of God from Hebrews 4:14.

Hebrews 10:35 echoes the same call to hold fast confidence, reinforcing the exhortation to persevere in faith.

Romans 8:34 Parallel

Romans 8:34 explicitly states Christ intercedes at God's right hand, revealing the ongoing high priestly ministry implied in Hebrews 4:14.

Acts 3:21 Parallel

Acts 3:21 explains that heaven must receive Christ until restoration, aligning with his exaltation and session as great high priest.

Acts 1:11 Historical context

Acts 1:11 confirms Jesus' ascension into heaven and adds the promise of his return, expanding on the 'passed through the heavens' statement.

Luke 24:51 Historical context

Luke 24:51 records Jesus being carried up into heaven, providing a Gospel account of the ascension that Hebrews 4:14 references.

Mark 16:19 Parallel

Mark 16:19 describes Jesus being taken up into heaven and sitting at God's right hand, directly depicting the ascension implied in 'passed through the heavens'.

Mark 1:1 Related theme

Mark 1:1 opens the gospel by calling Jesus the Son of God, directly matching the title used in Hebrews 4:14.

Ephesians 4:10 states Christ 'ascended far above all the heavens' — matching Hebrews 4:14's description of passing through the heavens.

Ephesians 3:12 adds that through Christ we have 'boldness and access with confidence' — the very confidence our high priest gives us.

Ephesians 1:21 describes Christ's exaltation 'far above all rule' — echoing the ascension language of Hebrews 4:14's 'passed through the heavens'.

Mark 15:38 Parallel

In Mark 15:38, the torn temple veil symbolizes access to God's presence opened by Jesus' death, which Hebrews 4:14 describes as his passing through the heavens.

In Zechariah 6:13, the priest-king figure prefigures Jesus, the great high priest who sits at God's right hand.

Psalm 68:18 Allusion

Psalm 68:18 describes God ascending on high — a prophecy of Christ's ascension as the great high priest.

Leviticus 16:2 restricts the high priest to entering the Holy of Holies once a year — a direct type of Christ's entering heaven.

Revelation 2:25 uses the same 'hold fast' command, urging steadfastness until Christ's return, similar to the exhortation here.

2 Timothy 1:13 urges holding to 'sound words' — a parallel to Hebrews 4:14's call to hold fast the confession of faith.

In Jeremiah 30:21, the promise of a ruler who draws near to God prefigures Jesus as the great high priest entering heaven.

Numbers 35:25 ties the manslayer's release to the high priest's death — a type of Christ's death providing freedom.

Romans 4:25 Parallel

Romans 4:25 points to Jesus' resurrection for justification, which is the basis for his high priestly work in heaven mentioned in Hebrews 4:14.