Need a Priest? Call Jesus

January 16th, 2026
by Lance Waldie

Hebrews 7:26-28 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

The Jewish high priest was a simple man. He was sinful. If it were not for God’s Law that allowed him to serve in the Temple through tribal heritage, he would never have been able to approach God the way God allowed him to. His sinfulness was like any other man. So when a priest did approach the altar once per year on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16), he had to offer not only a sacrifice to atone for the sins of the Israelites but also one for his own sins.

Jesus Christ, however, was different. Verse 26 notes that it was “fitting” for humanity to have a priest like Jesus. Whereas the men who served as priests were not always able to meet the needs of the people, Jesus was able. Because of their sinfulness, the Jewish high priests were simply not fit to mediate for God’s people adequately and eternally. Some of them even abused the Jews. Not Jesus! He was fit to serve, fit to forgive, and fit to be our eternal High Priest.

The first term that depicts the fitness of Jesus as the great High Priest is “holy” (Gr. hosios). This is a term used of persons who live justly before God—not the normal term used for holy, hagios, which speaks of a state of being separated unto God. Jesus’ actions, as opposed to God’s appointment of Him as the Christ, proved Him to be the Priestly Messiah. Whereas the priests in Israel were “set apart” (holy) by God, Jesus lived a holy life fit for a priest. Second, Jesus was “innocent” (Gr. akakos—not evil) in that He was without fault. Third, Jesus was “undefiled” (Gr. amiantos) in that He was pure and untainted. Fourth, Jesus was “separated from sinners.” The Jewish Mishnah required the high priest to separate himself from sinners seven days before the Day of Atonement so as to avoid ritual defilement. But not Jesus. His work is done, and so He is “exalted above the heavens,” separated from sinners. And whereas the previous three terms that depict Jesus were adjectives, the term “separated” is a perfect tense participle showing that His holy separation is a once-for-all event with ongoing, eternal benefits.

In conclusion, Jesus’ ministry was superior to the Jewish priests. Whereas the priests offered daily sacrifices for themselves and for the people, Jesus offered one sacrifice on one occasion. He was the Priest, and He offered Himself, not an animal. He was qualified as a Priest of Melchizedek’s order to offer the sacrifice, and He was qualified to be the sacrifice in that He was without stain or blemish. Since His sacrifice was perfect, it was offered “once and for all”—one time for all people. Whereas the weakness of the Law (18-19) appointed weak priests (limited; lacking), it also contained an oath that appointed God’s Son “made perfect forever.”

Food For Thought
Now because God’s oath in Psalm 110:4 came after the Law of Moses (about 450 years) it proved itself greater than the Law itself. The Mosaic Law was imperfect, weak, and useless for salvation since it only revealed our sinfulness without making us holy. Yet the oath came after God’s children realized that they could not attain holiness apart from God. Though the oath came after the Law, Melchizedek—the one who prefigured Christ’s priesthood, came before the Law and revealed himself to Abraham, the Father of Israel from whom Jesus was a descendant. God had it all mapped out before time began. So, the Law of God revealed sin, and Christ came to perfect those the Law condemned—those who realize they are sinners in need of salvation.