Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Comment: The word ‘therefore’ is calling for a conclusion. The author is reminding us that faith is not a leap into the dark, but rather action based on historical, acts of God.
- We should have confidence in Jesus because He has risen into the very Presence of God by being the perfect sacrifice of Himself. He is our Representative (High Priest) right, as it were, ‘on the spot’.
- Let us in confidence with forgiven clear consciences, baptised, come to God in full confidence in what has been done for us.
- Don’t have weak knees faith wise; let us be part of a like minded family cheering each other on to active living for God; let us be encouragers more and more as time goes on!
Prayer: That sounds good, reasonable and challenging advice, O God.
As I read it! 
Thank you Barry for your comments on this passage. Thank you for the thought that faith is not a leap into the dark, but rather an action based on historical acts of God. “having our bodies washed with pure water” – being baptized, that was a new thought for me. It is interesting that 5 times the author uses “let us” – Darryl always called this passage “the let us patch”, as a way of remembering this. In Hebrews 12:1-3 there is another “Let us” patch. I have chosen these verses(19-25) as the devotional reading for our prayer meeting on Zoom at 1.30pm today, so I will pass on these comments from your study. God bless you.
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I appreciate your comments! Daryl’s ‘let us’ passages I have sometimes called ‘my salad’ or ‘lettuce’ passages! The reference to water being baptism is one understanding. In some old testament passages it seems to refer to repentance. This is for example what it seems to mean to me in Ezekiel 36 25-26. This passage may be one of the references which is behind Jesus talking to Nicodemus in John 3 about being born of water and spirit. Surely this passage in Ezekiel is the promise of the New Covenant which Jesus brought into being.
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