Hebrews 7:26-8:2

Hebrews 7:26–8:2 KJV 1900

26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore. 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; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

*Open Prayer

We have been building up on the idea that Jesus is a greater, higher priests than any other type of priest or leader for that matter.

We looked at some of the intellectual humps that early Jews would have had to overcome, and spoke about a ruler and priest that Abraham gave offerings to.

We are going to continue to build on this concept as dig deeper into the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 7:26 KJV 1900

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

For such an high priest...

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 7

that is, suits us, meets our needs. No descendant of Aaron could fit the description given of Christ in these verses. These men were not “holy, harmless, undefiled.” Aaron made a golden calf and led Israel into idolatry! And Eli’s sons were guilty of gluttony and immorality (1 Sam. 2:12ff). But we have a perfect High Priest: He is holier and higher than any priest on earth, for He is ministering in the heavenly tabernacle in the very presence of God.

Aaron and his sons had to offer daily sacrifices, for themselves first, and then for the people. Christ is sinless; He needs no sacrifices. And the one sacrifice that He offered settled the problem of sin for all eternity. Furthermore, He offered Himself, not the blood of bulls and goats, as the sacrifice.

It is easy to see, then, that the order of Melchizedek is superior to the order of Aaron. This point has been proved historically, for Abraham honored Melchizedek above Levi; it has been proved doctrinally, for Ps. 110:4 definitely states that God created a new order of priesthood in the Law; and it has been proved practically, for no man could ever qualify to be High Priest except Jesus Christ. There is no need for us to look beyond Christ—He is all that we need.

The priests under the Law of Moses did not have the personal character of the Son of God. Jesus is holy, harmless (without guile or deception), undefiled, separate from sinners (in the sense of not sharing in their sin). Jesus is far superior in His personal character than any earthly priest.

Has become higher than the heavens: Two facts prove the perfect character of Jesus. First, His exaltation in heaven. Second, that He did not need to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins – which the other priests needed to do daily.

Hebrews 7:27 KJV 1900

27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

This is totally unique. A priest may bring a sacrifice and offer it on the altar. But Jesus was both the priest and the sacrifice. This is the best sacrifice brought to God the Father by the best priest.

When He offered up Himself it was a willing offering. “Oh, this makes the sacrifice of Christ so blessed and glorious! They dragged the bullocks and they drove the sheep to the altar; they bound the calves with cords, even with cords to the altar’s horn; but not so was it with the Christ of God. None did compel him to die; he laid down his life voluntarily, for he had power to lay it down, and to take it again.” (Spurgeon)

Hebrews 7:28 KJV 1900

28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

Under the Law of Moses the priests were always men with weaknesses. But Jesus is a Son who has been perfected forever. Because He is a perfect High Priest, He was able to offer up Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sin. Jesus is perfectly qualified to be our perfect High Priest – perfected forever.

Hebrews 8:1–2 KJV 1900

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; 2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.

These 2 verses in chapter 8 sums up nicely what all we read thus far...

This is the main point of the things we are saying: The writer of Hebrews brings together the main point of the previous chapter. We have a High Priest – Jesus Christ – who serves us from a position of all authority in heaven (seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty).

Who is seated at the right hand of the throne: Additionally, Jesus is seated in heaven, in contrast to the continual service of the priesthood under the Law of Moses.

The tabernacle and the temple of the Old Covenant had beautiful furnishings, but no place for the priests to sit down because their work was never finished. The work of Jesus is finished, therefore He is seated in heaven.

A Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle: Jesus doesn’t serve as a priest in an earthly tabernacle or temple. He serves in the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, the original made by God. The tabernacle of Moses was a copy of this original, and it was made by man (Exodus 25:8-9).

Some suppose the true tabernacle is the Church or Jesus’ earthly body. But it is best to understand it as the heavenly reality that the earthly tabernacle imitated.