Hebrews 7:26

Became. Gr. prepo, “to suit,” “to be fitting,” “to be becoming.” Compare the use of prepo in ch. 2:10. It was fitting that we should have a high priest of Christ’s nature.

Holy. Gr. hosios, “devout,” “pious,” “pleasing to God” (see on Acts 2:27).

Harmless. Gr. akakos, “guileless,” “innocent,” not vindictive.

Undefiled. Gr. amiantos, “pure, in a religious and moral sense.” Compare the use of the word in Heb. 13:4; James 1:27; 1 Peter 1:4.

Separate from sinners. Or, “having been separated from sinners.” Some believe this refers to Christ’s ability to mingle with sinners and yet be separate from them during the incarnation. Others believe the description is of Christ, not in His incarnation, but in His role as high priest, and that therefore “separate from sinners” refers to the completion of His work for sinners as far as His sacrificial death was concerned (see ch. 9:28). They believe the phrase should be interpreted in the light of the following phrase, which refers to Christ’s removal from this world and thus from literal contact with sinners, to be in the very presence of God. Those who hold this second view believe as fully as do those who hold the first, that Christ was ever “holy, harmless, undefiled.”

Made higher than the heavens. Christ, in His exaltation, is at the Father’s right hand. It is this kind of high priest that is fitting for us.