Hebrews 4

Having then a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let’s hold tightly to our confession. Wesley: Great indeed, being the eternal Son of God; as the Jewish high priest passed through the veil into the holy of holies with the blood of the sacrifices, so our great high priest went once for all through the visible heavens, with the virtue of his own blood, into the immediate presence of God. Shared christology: Son of God, great high priest, passed through the heavens—not a camp fork on typology.

The "Having then" grounds holding fast in a priest already given. Hold fast is not optional theater; the confession is to be kept because this priest is no illusion. Grace enables the grip; the command still summons the will. Do not soften "hold tightly to" into inevitability that never warns.

Calvin: Having a great high priest, Jesus Christ, let us hold fast our profession. Confession is metonymy for faith; the priesthood confirms the doctrine, so there is no reason to doubt or waver—the Son of God has approved and sanctioned it; such a pledge ought to render us confident. Jesus is the great high priest, Son of God, who has passed through the heavens.

Hold fast because this priest seals the gospel. The elect hold fast; the exhortation is God's means and the evidence of belonging, not a sham. Profession without perseverance is not the confession Christ keeps. Hold fast—because those who are truly his do, under so great a high priest.

We don’t have a high priest unable to sympathize with the feeling of our infirmities, but one tempted in every respect like we are, yet without sin. Wesley: He sympathizes with us even in our innocent infirmities, wants, weaknesses, miseries, dangers. Yet without sin—and therefore is indisputably able to preserve us from it in all our temptations.

For the hearer: shared christology. The Son truly took our flesh and felt our temptations; he never sinned. Comfort the weak with a priest who knows weakness from within, and holiness without stain. Both camps rest here together.

Calvin: There is in the name Son of God such majesty as ought to constrain fear; yet were we to contemplate only that, consciences would not be pacified. He was tried by our infirmities that he might condole with us—he put on our flesh and its feelings, taught by his own experience to help the miserable; yet without sin, for his feelings were always regulated according to the strict rule of justice.

Sympathy with weaknesses and without sin belong to both camps. The Mediator is near as brother and pure as Son. Take temptations to the One who was tempted and did not fall.

Let us then with confidence draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need. Wesley: Come boldly—without any doubt or fear. Unto the throne of God, our reconciled Father, even his throne of grace—grace erected it, and reigns there, and dispenses all blessings in a way of mere, unmerited favour.

Both traditions share this pastoral invitation. The throne is grace because of this high priest; the needy are summoned to come, not to hang back in despair. Draw near for mercy and timely help. No fork on whether grace is unmerited—Wesley names mere favour; both camps kneel here.

Calvin: An access to God is open to all who come relying on Christ the Mediator; he exhorts the faithful to venture without hesitation. The throne is not arrayed in naked majesty to confound us, but adorned with a new name, even that of grace. We obtain mercy, and find grace for seasonable help—encouragement for those who feel the need of mercy.

Draw near with confidence because the Mediator covers the majesty that would otherwise terrify. Who may come? Those who come relying on Christ. The throne of grace is the banner of paternal love; receive mercy and find help in time of need.