Elias_Amare
Puritan Board Freshman
From Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture, ACCS, New Testament, x p.69-70
John Chrysostom on Hebrews 4:16
"What is “let us come boldly”? We come boldly because “we have a sinless high priest” contending with the world. For he says, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”; for this is to suffer all things and yet to be pure from sins. Though we are under sin, the apostle means, yet the High Priest is sinless. How is it that we should “approach boldly”? Because now it is a throne of grace, not a throne of judgment. Therefore, boldly, “that we may obtain mercy,” even such as we are seeking. For the affair is one of munificence, a royal largess. “And may find grace to help in time of need.” He said well, “for help in time of need.” If you approach now, he means, you will receive both grace and mercy, for you approach “in time of need.” . . . Now he sits granting pardon, but when the end is come, then he rises up to judgment. For it is said, “Arise, O God, judge the earth.” “Let us come boldly” or, he says again, having no “evil conscience,” that is, not being in doubt, for such a one cannot “come with boldness.” On this account it is said, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation,”since even now, for those who sin after baptism, to find repentance is grace. But lest when you hear he is High Priest, you should think that he stands, Paul immediately goes on to the“throne”. A priest does not sit but stands. Do you see that for him to be made High Priest is not of nature but of grace and condescension and humiliation? Thus is it seasonable for us also now to say, “Let us draw near,” asking “boldly”; let us only bring faith, and he gives all things. Now is the time of the gift; let no one despair. Then will be the time of despairing, when the bridechamber is shut, when the king is come in to see the guests, when they who will be accounted worthy will have received as their portion the patriarch’s bosom;41 but now it is not as yet so. For still are the spectators assembled, still is the contest, still the prize is in suspense."
John Chrysostom on Hebrews 4:16
"What is “let us come boldly”? We come boldly because “we have a sinless high priest” contending with the world. For he says, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”; for this is to suffer all things and yet to be pure from sins. Though we are under sin, the apostle means, yet the High Priest is sinless. How is it that we should “approach boldly”? Because now it is a throne of grace, not a throne of judgment. Therefore, boldly, “that we may obtain mercy,” even such as we are seeking. For the affair is one of munificence, a royal largess. “And may find grace to help in time of need.” He said well, “for help in time of need.” If you approach now, he means, you will receive both grace and mercy, for you approach “in time of need.” . . . Now he sits granting pardon, but when the end is come, then he rises up to judgment. For it is said, “Arise, O God, judge the earth.” “Let us come boldly” or, he says again, having no “evil conscience,” that is, not being in doubt, for such a one cannot “come with boldness.” On this account it is said, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation,”since even now, for those who sin after baptism, to find repentance is grace. But lest when you hear he is High Priest, you should think that he stands, Paul immediately goes on to the“throne”. A priest does not sit but stands. Do you see that for him to be made High Priest is not of nature but of grace and condescension and humiliation? Thus is it seasonable for us also now to say, “Let us draw near,” asking “boldly”; let us only bring faith, and he gives all things. Now is the time of the gift; let no one despair. Then will be the time of despairing, when the bridechamber is shut, when the king is come in to see the guests, when they who will be accounted worthy will have received as their portion the patriarch’s bosom;41 but now it is not as yet so. For still are the spectators assembled, still is the contest, still the prize is in suspense."
