Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 KJV)
By instructing His disciples, and ultimately all of us, to pray in His name, Jesus was telling us that we have the right to come boldly before God’s throne of grace, because we are members of God’s family through the acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.
While God did speak and interact with specific individuals throughout the Old Testament, and performed amazing miracles to protect and provide for His people, generally people didn’t have the level of direct access to God that we have today. They were not yet the sons and daughters of God through faith in His Son. They didn’t have the same personal relationship that we can have today through being fully reconciled to God by receiving Jesus as our Savior and having the Spirit of God dwelling within us.
Prior to the new covenant established by Jesus’ death on the cross, the faithful had access to God and redemption of sins through the sacrificial system of the temple. God was considered to be dwelling in the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the temple, which was divided from the rest of the temple by a thick curtain. Only the high priest was allowed into the Holy of Holies, and only on one day of the year.
Upon Jesus’ death, that veil was torn in two. Since His death and resurrection and the imparting of the Holy Spirit, we have the privilege of accessing God directly. [1]
The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful than we will ever be able to comprehend. - Aiden Wilson Tozer
[1] Anchor God’s Eternal Plan
