What Does 'Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace' Mean?

Salem Web Network Contributor

Updated March 28, 2024

“Come” means approaching or moving towards something with a specified purpose. Depending on the Bible version, over one hundred verses have the word “come” in them. The prayer invitation to “Come boldly before the throne of grace” is offered to believers. And what is the specific purpose, “that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Before we look at the New Testament passage, let’s go back to the Old Testament and look at an excellent example of what it meant to enter a king’s throne room. If the invitation to “come” was not given, the sentence could be death. Do you know where the illustration is found?

It is in the book of Esther. Perhaps you are familiar with the story. Esther was chosen to be queen after Queen Vashti’s non-compliance regarding the king’s orders. She was banned from the throne. Her choice opened the door for a new queen to reign.

In God’s providence, Esther was chosen “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). Learning of the wicked plans of Haman to destroy the Jews, her uncle Mordecai told her she was the one to be the game-changer and would have to go before the king.

Queen Esther knew the rules of entering King Ahasuerus’ presence when she had not been summoned. To dare to come boldly to the throne could cost Esther her life. The only way her life could be spared was if the king extended his golden scepter. The king did offer his scepter, and Esther entered the inner throne room, approached the throne, and made her request known. Queen Esther came boldly but with fear.

However, for a believer, the scepter is always extended to enter the throne room, and we enter without fear. It’s not because of anything you and I deserve. It is because of who Jesus is—our great high priest.

What Is the Throne of Grace in Hebrews 4:16?

The best way to describe the throne of grace is to see the concept of God’s mercy seat. In the book of Exodus, God instructs Moses to construct the Ark of the Testimony. The ark would hold the Ten Commandments. The mercy seat, made of pure gold and placed in the middle of two cherubs, one on each end, was to be placed on top of the ark of the Testimony.

“And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.” (Exodus 25:22 NKJV)

The glory of God’s presence, known as His shekinah, would be on full display, as Moses or a high priest interceded for the sins of the nation of Israel. Additional Scriptures related to the mercy seat are

When King David gave his son Solomon the plans for the temple, the place of the mercy seat is mentioned (1 Chronicles 28:11).

Jesus spoke of God’s throne in Matthew 5:34 and 23:22, regarding making an oath. But it is in the book of Hebrews that the throne of grace is explained. Believers are to run the race of endurance because “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). The throne room is where God resides in heaven.

Go back and read what is known as the Lord’s Prayer. When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray, notice how Jesus addressed God and His location: “Our Father in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Where Does the Bible say, “Come Boldly Before the Throne of Grace”?

The book of Hebrews is the source for our focal verse, 4:16. The book’s author is unknown. Commentaries believe it could have been Paul, Luke, Apollos, Barnabas, or Silvanus. The book was written to Jewish believers who were under persecution. The overall theme is the superiority of Jesus and the salvation found through Him.

The priesthood of Jesus Christ is the central theme in Hebrews. When you reach the end of chapter four and into chapter five, the focus is on Jesus being our high and perfect priest. Let’s look at three verses and then our focal verse.

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV)

How Are We Able to Come Boldly Before the Throne of Grace?

We can come boldly before the throne of grace because of who Jesus is--our great High Priest. He has a superior title. To better understand the role of a high priest, we need to go back to the Old Testament and review the way God established the sacrificial system.

The first high priest was Aaron. His job, and the high priests who succeeded him, was to make atonement for the people’s sins once a year in the holy of holies. However, before they could enter the holy of holies, they had to make atonement for their sin before offering the sacrifice for sins for the nation. This continued for centuries until the day Jesus died on the cross. He was the sacrifice once and for all (see Hebrews 7:27).

Furthermore, Jesus “passed through the heavens.” He dwells in a heavenly tabernacle at the right hand of God the Father. He is enthroned there—the throne of grace. When Jesus died on the cross, the veil that hindered the common person from entering the holy of holies was ripped from top to bottom, allowing full access to those who have believed and repented of their sins.

No other high priest has been to heaven. Jesus, the creator of the heavens, has been there. He is there now, seated at the right hand of God the Father.

We have a Savior who knows our weaknesses and our temptations. He is there to offer us sympathy and guide us towards a deeper relationship with Him.

We can hold fast because, as believers, we have confessed our faith in Jesus.

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9 NKJV).

How Do We Come Boldly Before the Throne of Grace?

We must begin with two definitions to understand the throne of grace. First, there is mercy. Because of sin, we don’t deserve the opportunity to come before a holy and righteous God. Mercy means God does not give us what we deserve.

Grace means God gives us what we don’t deserve. I can come to the throne room of grace because of who I am in Jesus Christ (see the book of Colossians).

You might want to try a mental picture of what it is to enter the throne room. You come to the door of prayer and knock. Jesus is there to allow you to come in. He walks with you to the Father and gives Him your name. Realizing you are before the Almighty God and the King of Kings, you fall to your knees with humility. The fear of the Lord gripes your heart. And yet, you hear the invitation, come and do so boldly.

As you bow before Him, you offer adoration and praise, confession of sin, and you make your petitions known. The invitation is to come as you are, casting all your care upon Him, realizing only Jesus can give you everything you need to live a godly life.

What Helps Us to Approach the Throne of Grace?

Charles Hadden Spurgeon delivered a sermon on November 19, 1871, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle entitled “The Throne of Grace.” In writing and delivering eloquence that only he can do, the following are a few of his statements throughout the sermon. Perhaps it will stir you to read the sermon in its entirety.

“True prayer is an approach of the soul by the Spirit of God to the throne of God.”
“First, here is a throne; then secondly, here is grace; then we will put the two together, and we shall see grace on a throne; and putting them together in another order, we shall see sovereignty manifesting itself, and resplendent in grace.”
“. . . the throne is to be approached with devout joyfulness.”
“. . . whenever the throne is approached, it should be with complete submission. We do not pray to God to instruct him as to what he ought to do, neither for a moment must we presume to dictate the line of the divine procedure.”
“Approach the throne with enlarged expectations.
“Approach the throne with the right spirit, which is unstaggering confidence.”
“We are called to the throne of grace, not to the throne of law.”

What Lessons Can We Learn from Hebrew 4:16?

Jesus is the great High Priest; believers have direct access to God.
Only those who have put their faith and trust in Christ are eligible to come to the throne of grace (Hebrews 3:1).
We have the glorious privilege to pray, bringing everything before our Heavenly Father.
Jesus is our compassionate, perfect High Priest–He sympathizes with our weaknesses. We can go to God at any time with anything through prayer. As believers, we have the freedom, through Christ, to access the throne room.
God desires you and me to know, love, and obey Him. We grow in our relationship with Him as we pray and study the Scriptures.

Daily, do you heed the call to come boldly to the throne room of grace with confidence? And when you leave, know that He promises His mercy and grace will be with you whatever you need.

Do you want to learn more about this passage? Explore this topic further with these articles:

Bible Verses about “Come As You Are”

Where Does the Bible Say “Come with Confidence”?

What Does “Come Boldly Before the Throne of Grace” Mean?

Laura Lee Leathers is a writer and speaker. Imagine Lois Lane, over sixty-five, and living on a farm. Her metropolis is the area of freelance writing. Her primary love interest is the Word of God. She digs for information, interviews fascinating people, offers a cup of biblical hospitalit-tea, encourages, and helps others with the ‘how-to’s’ of life. To sign up for her newsletter, connect with her at http://lauraleeleathers.com - - - “Helping You Flourish in Faith & Finish Well by His Word”

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