Hebrews 7:26-28

²⁶Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

²⁸For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Jesus the Perfect High Priest

Chapter 7 starts with the mystery of Melchizedek which, for argument’s sake, can be divided into historical and doctrinal. Historically, we know that he ranked higher and so received a priestly tithe of 10% from Abraham. The doctrinal argument shows how Jesus comes before the priesthood of Aaron which means that he cannot be on a par with the other priests of the Aaronic priesthood.

The Need (v 26)

• - Hebrews 7:26 begins: Such a high priest…. and the qualification of this statement is given in 7:25 which gives us an understanding of the need to intercede for the people. This need God fulfilled through his Son (John 3:16).
• - Jesus meets our needs through his sinlessness, he was set apart, death had no power over him. Only someone who himself is eternal can offer eternal life.
• - He came from the heavenly order of Melchizedek and so his intercession is for the whole world and not only for the Israelites. If he had come only for the Israelites, he would not have met our needs.
• - He intercedes for those who believe in him (John 3:16). The earthly high priest intercedes with God once a year but Jesus, the High Priest, intercedes with God every day, every minute for his people (1 John 2:1-2).

The Sacrifice (v 27)

• - He did not need sacrifices for his sin because he was sinless, blameless and undefiled.
• - The earthly high priest needed to find a sacrifice that was perfect and undefiled., but the heavenly High Priest came as a perfect sacrifice. This is what separates him from the earthly high priest.
• - The earthly high priest goes to God but leaves the people behind. Jesus, the High Priest sacrificed himself (1 Peter 3:18) so that the people could get closer to God.
• - Because he was sinless, he could be near God all the time and intercede for us all the time (Romans 8:34).
• - Hebrews 9:12 says that he entered the holy of holies by his own blood and not by the blood of goats. In Hebrews 9:25-26, only one sacrifice was sufficient to grant eternal redemption for all who believe in him.

The Appointment (v 28)

• - Companies try to recruit the perfect candidate.
• - God also in a way recruited the perfect candidate and appointed Christ for the job, which was to intercede for us (1 John 2:1-2).
• - We do not need someone who follows the priesthood of Aaron. We also do not need the laws that made them priests as these had their own limitations.
• - Hebrews 5:8-9 states that he was made perfect so that he could become the source of eternal salvation for those who believe.
• - The priesthood of Aaron could not last forever. God created a priesthood that is eternal.

Prayer: May God enable us to receive this ministry of grace by this great High Priest through our faith in him. May God grant us the hope which is firm and secure and is an anchor to our soul. May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.