Free Bible Commentary
“Hebrews 7:26-28”
Categories: Hebrews“For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens; who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”
---End of Scripture verses---
In verse 26 the Hebrew writer lists five characteristics of the perfection of Jesus’ priesthood and sacrifice that make it far superior to any other priesthood and sacrificial system.
1) Jesus is “holy”. The Old Testament priests were holy and sanctified to God’s special service. But the word “holy” that describes Jesus in verse 26 is not the typical Greek word “hagios” that denotes sanctification. It is the less frequently used “hasios” and implies a greater quality of holiness. Jesus was perfectly sinless in his holiness.
2) Jesus is “innocent”. The King James Version uses the word “harmless” and it literally means “void of evil”. The characteristic of innocence qualifies Jesus to be the perfect and spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
3) Jesus is “undefiled”. This quality of Jesus allows Him to be both our High priest and the perfect sacrifice simultaneously. The priests under the Old Testament could not perform their priestly duties if they were “unclean”. But, while their cleansing was ceremonial in nature, Jesus was completely free from the guilt of sin, which also made Him our perfect sacrifice.
4) Jesus is “separated from sinners”. Jesus was often condemned by the religious leaders of His era for consorting with sinners and even eating with them—a thing that they would avoid doing at all cost. But, unlike those hypocritical leaders and priests, Jesus was “separated from sinners” in that they were sin-laden and He was completely sin-free.
5) Jesus has been “exalted above the heavens”. The old priests held a special office which kept them “separated” from the common people, but Jesus holds a position above and over all others. Jesus has no peer and has been highly exalted, ascended to the right hand of the throne of God in heaven where He reigns as King and mediates as High Priest in a fashion unlike any other.
Please read Hebrews 8:1-6 for tomorrow.
Blessings!
- Louie Taylor
Share
