SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:16
Llegumonos pues confiadamente al trono de su gracia, para alcanzar misericordia, y hallar gracia para la ayuda oportuna.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Hebrew 4:16
Verse 16. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace] The allusion to the high priest, and his office on the day of atonement, is here kept up. The approach mentioned here is to the trpk kapporeth, ilasthrion, the propitiatory or mercy-seat. This was the covering of the ark of the testimony or covenant, at each end of which was a cherub, and between them the shechinah, or symbol of the Divine Majesty, which appeared to, and conversed with, the high priest. Here the apostle shows the great superiority of the privileges of the new testament above those of the old; for there the high priest only, and he with fear and trembling, was permitted to approach; and that not without the blood of the victim; and if in any thing he transgressed, he might expect to be struck with death. The throne of grace in heaven answers to this propitiatory, but to this ALL may approach who feel their need of salvation; and they may approach meta parrhsiav, with freedom, confidence, liberty of speech, in opposition to the fear and trembling of the Jewish high priest. Here, nothing is to be feared, provided the heart be right with God, truly sincere, and trusting alone in the sacrificial blood. That we may obtain mercy] ina labwmen eleon? That we may take mercy - that we may receive the pardon of all our sins; there is mercy for the taking. As Jesus Christ tasted death for every man, so every man may go to that propitiatory, and take the mercy that is suited to his degree of guilt.
And find grace] Mercy refers to the pardon of sin, and being brought into the favour of God. Grace is that by which the soul is supported after it has received this mercy, and by which it is purified from all unrighteousness, and upheld in all trials and difficulties, and enabled to prove faithful unto death.
To help in time of need.] eiv eukairon bohqeian? For a seasonable support; that is, support when necessary, and as necessary, and in due proportion to the necessity. The word bonqeia is properly rendered assistance, help, or support; but it is an assistance in consequence of the earnest cry of the person in distress, for the word signifies to run at the cry, qein eiv bohn, or epi bohn qein. So, even at the throne of grace, or great propitiatory, no help can be expected where there is no cry, and where there is no cry there is no felt necessity; for he that feels he is perishing will cry aloud for help, and to such a cry the compassionate High Priest will run; and the time of need is the time in which God will show mercy; nor will he ever delay it when it is necessary. We are not to cry to-day to be helped to-morrow, or at some indefinite time, or at the hour of death. We are to call for mercy and grace when we need them; and we are to expect to receive them when we call. This is a part of our liberty or boldness; we come up to the throne, and we call aloud for mercy, and God hears and dispenses the blessing we need.
That this exhortation of the apostle may not be lost on us, let us consider:- 1. That there is a throne of grace, i.e. a propitiatory, the place where God and man are to meet.
2. That this propitiatory or mercy-seat is sprinkled with the atoning blood of that Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.
3. That we must come up, prosercwmeqa, to this throne; and this implies faith in the efficacy of the sacrifice.
4. That we must call aloud on God for his mercy, if we expect him to run to our assistance.
5. That we must feel our spiritual necessities, in order to our calling with fervency and earnestness.
6. That calling thus we shall infallibly get what we want; for in Christ Jesus, as a sacrificial offering, God is ever well pleased; and he is also well pleased with all who take refuge in the atonement which he has made.
7. That thus coming, feeling, and calling, we may have the utmost confidence; for we have boldness, liberty of access, freedom of speech; may plead with our Maker without fear; and expect all that heaven has to bestow; because Jesus, who died, sitteth upon the throne! Hallelujah! the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
8. All these are reasons why we should persevere.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace , etc..] Either to Christ, who is before spoken of as an high priest, and who was typified by the mercy seat, to which there seems to be an allusion; and coming to him as a priest upon his throne is very proper: to him saints come for pardon and cleansing, and for a justifying righteousness, for the acceptance of their persons, and the presentation of their services, and for every supply of grace; and to him they may come boldly, since he stands in the relations of a Father, husband, and brother, and from him they may expect receive mercy, since it is kept for him, and with him, and is only dispensed through him; and in him they may hope to find grace, since all fulness of it dwells in him; and help in every time of need, since their help is laid on him.
Or else to God the Father, since Christ, the high priest, is the way of access to God, and it is by him the saints come unto the Father; who is represented as on a throne, to show his majesty, and to command reverence; and as on a throne of grace, to encourage distressed souls to come unto him; and to express his sovereignty in the distribution of his grace: and this coming to him is a sacerdotal act, for every believer is a priest; and is not local, but spiritual, and with the heart, and by faith; and chiefly regards the duty of prayer, and a drawing nigh to God in that ordinance with spiritual sacrifices to offer unto him: and this may be done boldly; or with freedom of speech; speaking out plainly all that is in the heart, using an holy courage and intrepidity of mind, free from servile fear, and a bashful spirit; all which requires an heart sprinkled from an evil conscience, faith, in the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ, a view of God, as a God of peace, grace, and mercy, and a holy confidence of being heard by him; and such a spirit and behaviour at the throne of grace are very consistent with reverence of the divine Majesty, with submission to his will, and with that humility which becomes saints. The Jews often speak of ydh ask , a throne of judgment, and ymjr ask , a throne of mercy f67 ; and represent God as sitting upon one or other of these, when he is dispensing justice or mercy f68 ; and the latter they sometimes call, as here, ymjrw dsj ask , a throne of grace and mercy f69 : and so they make the first man Adam to pray to God after this manner f70 ; let my prayer come before the throne of thy glory, and let my cry come before ymjr ask , the throne of thy mercy.
The end of coming hither is, that we may obtain mercy ; the sure mercies of David, the blessings of the everlasting covenant; particularly pardoning mercy, and the fresh application of it, and every other blessing of grace that is needful: and there is reason to expect it, since there is mercy with God; and it is with Christ, as the head of the covenant; and it is ready for those that ask it; and it has been obtained by many, and is everlasting. And find grace to help in time of need ; the Syriac version renders it, in time of affliction; which is a time of need, as every time of distress is, whether from the immediate hand of God, or through the persecutions of men, or the temptations of Satan: and help at such times may be expected; since not only God is able to help, but he has promised it; and he has laid help on Christ; and gives it seasonably, and at the best time; and it springs from grace, yea, it is grace that does help; by which may be meant, the discoveries of God's love, and the supplies of grace from Christ: which may be hoped for, seeing God is the God of all grace; and he is seated on a throne of grace; and all fulness of grace dwells in Christ: to find grace often, signifies to find favour with God, to be accepted by him, as well as to receive grace from him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-16 - Observe the end proposed: rest spiritual and eternal; the rest of grac here, and glory hereafter; in Christ on earth, with Christ in heaven After due and diligent labour, sweet and satisfying rest shall follow and labour now, will make that rest more pleasant when it comes. Let u labour, and quicken each other to be diligent in duty. The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, i convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully. I makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a pervers spirit, to be meek and obedient. Sinful habits, that are become as in were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated an cut off by this sword. It will discover to men their thoughts an purposes, the vileness of many, the bad principles they are moved by the sinful ends they act to. The word will show the sinner all that is in his heart. Let us hold fast the doctrines of Christian faith in ou heads, its enlivening principles in our hearts, the open profession of it in our lips, and be subject to it in our lives. Christ executed on part of his priesthood on earth, in dying for us; the other he execute in heaven, pleading the cause, and presenting the offerings of his people. In the sight of Infinite Wisdom, it was needful that the Saviour of men should be one who has the fellow-feeling which no being but a fellow-creature could possibly have; and therefore it wa necessary he should actual experience of all the effects of sin tha could be separated from its actual guilt. God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, Ro 8:3; but the more holy and pure he was the more he must have been unwilling in his nature to sin, and mus have had deeper impression of its evil; consequently the more must he be concerned to deliver his people from its guilt and power. We shoul encourage ourselves by the excellence of our High Priest, to com boldly to the throne of grace. Mercy and grace are the things we want mercy to pardon all our sins, and grace to purify our souls. Beside our daily dependence upon God for present supplies, there are season for which we should provide in our prayers; times of temptation, eithe by adversity or prosperity, and especially our dying time. We are to come with reverence and godly fear, yet not as if dragged to the sea of justice, but as kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grac reigns. We have boldness to enter into the holiest only by the blood of Jesus; he is our Advocate, and has purchased all our souls want or can desire __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
προσερχωμεθα 4334 5741 ουν 3767 μετα 3326 παρρησιας 3954 τω 3588 θρονω 2362 της 3588 χαριτος 5485 ινα 2443 λαβωμεν 2983 5632 ελεον 1656 και 2532 χαριν 5485 ευρωμεν 2147 5632 εις 1519 ευκαιρον 2121 βοηθειαν 996
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Come - unto (prosercwmeqa). o P., often in Hebrews, and commonly in the same sense as here - approach to God through the O.T. sacrifices or the sacrifice of Christ. Paul's word prosagwgh access expresses the same idea. 186 See Eph. ii. 18; iii. 12. The phrase come boldly expresses a thought which the Epistle emphasizes - that Christianity is the religion of free access to God. Comp. 2 Corinthians iii. 12, 13.
Unto the throne of grace (tw qronw thv caritov). The phrase N.T.o . Throne of glory, Matt. xix. 28; xxv. 31: of majesty, Heb. viii. 1. In Revelation throne occurs over forty times, either the throne, or his throne, or throne of God. Once throne of the beast, xvi. 10. Throne of grace expresses grace as the gift of divine power.
Mercy - grace (eleov-carin). Mercy for past sins; grace for future work, trial, and resistance to temptation.
To help in time of need (eiv eukairon bohqeian). Lit. for seasonable help, or help in good time; before it is too late; while there is still time to seek God's rest. Others, however, explain, when it is needed; or, before temptation leads to sin.
