Hebrews 7:26-28 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needed 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. For the law made men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, made the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
‘Once’ – He offered no sacrifice for Himself, for He was sinless (7:26; 1Pet. 2:22). He offered Himself once for all sinners, not daily or annually for the Jews only. He tasted death for every man (2:9-15; John 3:16; 1Pet. 2:24).
‘Himself’ – Christ’s eternal human body: He offered His body – the one God prepared for Him to offer as a sacrifice for all men (10:1-14). Since it was His body that died for sin, the same body needed to be resurrected and ascend into heaven to represent men. This is what is stated in Hebrews 7:25, “He ever liveth.” He is ever to live in the same body that lived and died on earth (Luke 24:39; Acts 1:11; Zech. 13:6). Thus, by His eternal intercession and presentation of His resurrected humanity before God, He represents man in heaven and makes it possible for God to justify men who meet His terms (John 3:16; Rom. 3:21-26; 10:9-10).
‘Since the law.’ This refers to the oath of God after the law was given to the effect that He would abolish the law and the Aaronic priesthood raising up another priest after the order of Melchizedek (Ps. 110:4). This oath, made over 600 years after the giving of the law, abolishes the law that was not established by an oath (7:11-22, 28). Since the Son’s priesthood is eternal, the covenant upon which it operates is eternal. The old covenant, which the new covenant replaces, is not now in force.
Living the Word 