Hebrews 7:26

For such an high priest became us, [who is] holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

For {G1063} such {G5108} an high priest {G749} became {G4241} us {G2254}, who is holy {G3741}, harmless {G172}, undefiled {G283}, separate {G5563} from {G575} sinners {G268}, and {G2532} made {G1096} higher than {G5308} the heavens {G3772};

This is the kind of cohen gadol that meets our need — holy, without evil, without stain, set apart from sinners and raised higher than the heavens;

Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

Commentary

Hebrews 7:26 (KJV)

This verse serves as a powerful summary of why Jesus Christ is the perfect and necessary High Priest for believers. Having argued for the superiority of Christ's priesthood over the Levitical system, the author lists the essential qualifications of this ideal mediator.

Key Characteristics:

  • Holy: Set apart, pure in His very nature. Unlike human priests who needed to offer sacrifices for their own sins, Jesus was inherently without sin (Hebrews 4:15).
  • Harmless: (Greek: akakos) Guileless, innocent, without evil intent or action. He inflicted no spiritual harm and was free from malice.
  • Undefiled: (Greek: amiantos) Not polluted or corrupted by sin or the world's impurities. He maintained His purity throughout His earthly life.
  • Separate from sinners: While He ministered among sinners and associated with them out of compassion, His nature and being were fundamentally distinct from the state of sin. He was not defined or contaminated by sin.
  • Made higher than the heavens: This signifies His supreme exaltation and divine status. His ministry is not confined to an earthly temple but takes place in the heavenly realm, at the right hand of God, reflecting His ultimate authority and power (Ephesians 1:20-21).

The historical and cultural context here is the contrast with the earthly, imperfect Levitical priests who ministered in an earthly tabernacle/temple and were themselves subject to sin and death. Jesus, as High Priest, possesses a perfect, eternal, and heavenly nature, making His sacrifice and intercession eternally effective.

The message is clear: the qualifications of Jesus make Him uniquely fit to be the mediator between God and humanity. His perfect nature ensures the efficacy of His work on our behalf.

Reflection: Because we have such a High Priest, we can approach God with confidence, knowing our mediator is perfectly holy, capable, and eternally present in God's presence for us.

Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
7 Major Themes in the Book of Hebrews An Introduction to Hebrews: Christ is Better The Meaning of "Melchizedek" in Hebrews Aaron: The First High Priest The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

Cross-References

  • Hebrews 4:14

    Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession.

  • Hebrews 4:15

    For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

    For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  • Hebrews 8:1

    ¶ Now of the things which we have spoken [this is] the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

  • 1 John 2:2

    And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.

  • Hebrews 1:3

    Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

  • 1 Peter 2:22

    Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
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