---
title: Hebrews 4:16
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/hebrews-4-16/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/hebrews-4-16.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Hebrews 4:16
testament: NT
section: Letters
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Hebrews 4:16

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (1984 edition): "Let us, therefore, approach with freeness of speech to the throne of undeserved kindness, that we may obtain mercy and find undeserved kindness for help at the right time."
- NWT (2013 revision): "Let us, then, approach the throne of undeserved kindness with freeness of speech, so that we may receive mercy and find undeserved kindness to help us at the right time."

## JW Usage

The Watchtower restricts direct approach to God through the Faithful and Discreet Slave / Governing Body channel: "Come to Jehovah's organization for salvation" (The Watchtower, November 15, 1981, p. 212). Hebrews 4:16's invitation to "approach the throne of undeserved kindness with freeness of speech" is read as applying primarily to the 144,000 anointed who are parties of the new covenant; the great crowd's access is mediated through the organisation's published direction rather than through immediate prayer to God in Christ.

## Protestant Usage

Hebrews 4:16 is the throne-room invitation that is unconditional on organisational status. The "us" of 4:16 is the same "us" of 4:14 ("we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God") — every reader who confesses Jesus. There is no two-tier access in the verse and no qualifying membership in any subset. Pair with Matthew 11:28 ("come to ME"), John 15:5 (vine and branches with no organisational trunk between), and Romans 8:15-16 (the believer's "Abba, Father" cry). If Jesus invites you directly, an institution standing between you and his throne stands where Hebrews 4:16 places nothing.

## NWT Issue

The NWT renders charis as "undeserved kindness" in both 1984 and 2013 here ("the throne of undeserved kindness"), consistent with its systematic treatment of grace-language across the New Testament. The phrase is documented at Ephesians 2:8 ("you have been saved by undeserved kindness"), Romans 11:6, and 2 Corinthians 13:14. The semantic narrowing shifts the focus from the gift's character (gratuitous favour, the gospel's free basis) to the recipient's unworthiness — and the throne becomes a throne of pity for unworthy persons rather than a throne of freely-given righteousness in Christ. Standard English translations (ESV, NIV, NASB, KJV) read "throne of grace."

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Come to ME — Direct Relationship with Christ](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/direct-relationship-with-god.md) — Matthew 11:28 / John 15:5 / 1 Timothy 2:5 — No organisation between you and the Saviour [Salvation]
- [The Vine Has Two Roles, Not Three](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/vine-not-channel-ecclesiology.md) — John 15:1, 15:5 — No Channel Between Christ and the Branch [Authority]
- [No Pastoral Grace — The Judicial Committee vs the Throne of Grace](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/no-pastoral-grace-confession.md) — Hebrews 4:15-16 — A sympathetic high priest [Salvation]
- [Pornography and Judicial Escalation — From Tribunal to Throne](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/pornography-judicial-escalation.md) — 1 Corinthians 10:13 — A way of escape, not a way of removal [Sanctification]