City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

²⁶ For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Hebrews 7:26-28 (ESV)

Reflection

In Hebrews 7, the author is explaining that God is moving his people to a better priesthood.  In verse 12, the author explains that “…when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the laws as well.”  But not everyone is willing to move to the new law.  In fact, many people look to other things for their priesthood.  People have looked to science to answer the questions of life, but they found it empty.  Then they looked to spiritualism and found themselves following something “made by their own hands.”  And of course, there have always been those who simply follow their best feeling at the moment.  They all fail because the substitute priest is insufficient for the task.

Here is a wonderful quote by someone who is arguably one of the smartest people to ever live.

“I do not know what I may appear to the world, but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, whilst the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me.” – Isaac Newton

I think it is an incredibly humbling quote.  For all the work Newton did, which changed the world for so many, he thinks of his work as small compared to the “great ocean of truth.”  He is recognizing that there is something greater than himself.  In his life’s work, he maintained the thought that as he explored the universe, he was exploring something created by a higher being.

In this passage, the writer of Hebrews is describing that higher being and explaining that he is giving us a priesthood that will not fail.  This priesthood is:

Holy: (Adjective) Belonging to, derived from, or associated with a divine power; sacred.

This is the definition of holy that I think is useful to dwell on.  I once heard that the word holy is actually the summation of many different divine attributes, so this definition would only be a first step in understanding holiness. So this sounds about right.

Innocent: (Adjective) Uncorrupted by evil, malice, or wrongdoing; sinless.

One interesting aspect about this definition is that the word itself implies that something is wrong, and this is not that.  So, someone robbed a bank, and it was not me.  Or someone lied to the authorities, and it was not me.  But there is also another implication.  The word implies that one is created in a certain state and it takes something wrong or evil to change that state.  So, before the bad thing happens, one is created from the beginning, innocent.

Unstained: (Adjective) Not dyed or discolored.

This attribute is almost the same as innocence in that it assumes an initial state and then something happens in which one does not participate.  So, there seems to be some staining happening, which does not apply to one.  The “un” at the beginning could also mean that the staining did happen, but something else happened that removes it.

Separated from sinners: This attribute communicates participation or non-participation in a group. Given a group of sinners, this one is not included.  The group of sinners are known as a group because of their behavior, they sin.  But there is one who does not.

Exalted above the heavens: Finally, we get to an attribute for which I have no definition or explanation.  I can not explain heaven, so I can’t possibly explain what above heaven might be.  So, why have it in the Bible?  That question is easy enough to answer.  It is here because it is what is.  There is a God above heaven.  I can stretch my mind far enough from my daily life to think of something outside of it, and perhaps that is heaven.  But the author is saying that there is something, that is someone, that you cannot stretch your mind to that is beyond heaven, and he is the one standing in as priest for you now.  This is the level of surety that is being provided.

Application

It is a funny thought to write an “application” for such high lofty thoughts.  “God is above everything, so read your Bible!”  That is a good application, but it is incomplete.  Take a moment and think on a few things.  First, think on the attributes listed here one at a time.  Second, pray over anything that they reveal in your life.  Third, turn it over to God.  I think you’ll find that your load will be lighter, your heart will be lifted, and your walk with the Lord will be enhanced. For as you separate from sin, you will be able to grow closer to the one who is separated from sinners.

Prayer

O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
²     Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
    to still the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?

⁵ Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶ You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet,
⁷ all sheep and oxen,
    and also the beasts of the field,
⁸ the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
    whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8 (ESV)