“For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).

The high priest of the Old Testament performed regular and continual offerings on behalf of the entire nation of Israel. Christ is now our High Priest, but His function is quite different. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, . . . but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Hebrews 9:24).

As our text informs us, our High Priest is “holy,” and “pure,” as in He “offered Himself without spot to God” (Hebrews 9:14). He is “harmless” and the blood He shed was “innocent blood” (Matthew 27:4). He is “undefiled,” and we have been begotten unto “a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled [untainted, uncontaminated], and that fadeth not away” (I Peter 1:3,4).

The Pharisees and Scribes murmured against Jesus saying, “This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them” (Luke 15:2); and Paul said, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Timothy 1:15), yet our High Priest is “separate from sinners,” that is, “He hath made Him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (II Corinthians 5:21).

He is “made higher than the heavens.” Thus, “we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God. . . . 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 4:14–16). CJH