Hebrews 7:26
“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”
Context:The book of Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were facing persecution and tempted to return to their former Jewish religious practices. The author of Hebrews presents Jesus Christ as the ultimate High Priest, superior to the Levitical priesthood, and emphasises His role in our salvation.
High Priest:In the Old Testament, the high priest served as the mediator between God and the people. The author of Hebrews asserts that Jesus, as the ultimate High Priest, fulfils this role perfectly. He is the one who intercedes on behalf of humanity before God.
Holy:Jesus is described as holy. This signifies His complete moral purity and separation from sin. Unlike the earthly high priests who were sinners themselves and had to offer sacrifices for their own sins, Jesus is perfect and blameless.
Harmless:Another characteristic of Jesus is that He is harmless. This term implies that Jesus is without malice, innocent, and without the desire to harm others. He came to bring peace, healing, and salvation to humanity.
Undefiled:Jesus is undefiled, meaning that He is untainted by sin and completely pure. This emphasises His qualification to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, as only an unblemished sacrifice could atone for the sins of humanity.
Separate from sinners:Jesus is described as being separate from sinners. While He interacted with sinners during His earthly ministry, He Himself was without sin. This does not mean that He isolated Himself from sinners, but rather that He remained without sin, even while in their midst.
Higher than the heavens:The verse concludes by stating that Jesus has been made higher than the heavens. This indicates His exalted position and superiority over all creation. Jesus, as the Son of God, is above all things and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Overall, Hebrews 7:26 highlights the uniqueness and superiority of Jesus Christ as the High Priest. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has been exalted above all things. As believers, we can find comfort and assurance in the fact that Jesus is the perfect mediator between God and humanity, offering salvation and eternal life to all who trust in Him.
