Hebrews 7:26 - Exposition

For such a High Priest became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Such a High Priest, it is said, for us was fitting. The same word ἔπρεπε was used in Hebrews 2:10 , where the humiliation of Christ was spoken of. It was there said that to make the Captain of our salvation perfect through suffering "became" God—was befitting to what we conceive of the Divine nature. It is now said that our High Priest's being such as is here described "became" us—was befitting to our state and needs. That he should be both human and superhuman was in all respects fitting—the one that he might be our sympathizing brother; the other that his intercession might avail. The further description of him in this verse is suggested by the qualifications of the Aaronic high priest, what they typified being realized in Christ. The high priest was by his consecration a holy person, ἅγιος (Le 21:6, 8, etc); he bore on his miter " Holiness to the Lord " ( Exodus 39:30 ); he must be without personal blemish (Le 21:17, etc); he must keep himself continually from all ceremonial pollution ( Leviticus 21:1-24 . and 22); he must purify himself by a sacrifice for himself and by special ablutions before entering the holy of holies ( Leviticus 16:1-34 ); when there, he was conceived as in God's presence, apart from the world of sinners outside. Christ was not only ἅγιος , but ὅσιος , personally and inwardly holy (Christians in the New Testament are all called ἅγιος , but not all ὁσίοι : for the use of which word, el. Titus 1:8 ; Acts 2:27 ; Acts 13:34 , where it is applied to Christ, τὸν ὅσιον σου : and Rev 15:4-16:5, where it is applied to God as his special attribute, ὅτι μόνος ὅσιος ); Christ was actually free from evil ( ἄκακος ) and undefiled ( ἀμίαντος ). by any contact of sin; and as such he has passed to God's actual presence (cf. διελελύθοτα τοὺς οὐρανοὺς , Hebrews 4:14 ), separated forever from the world of sinners.