Hebrews 7:26
Jesus is described perfectly by the phrase, “separate from sinners”. There has never been a man more accurately described, as He was in no way like a sinner, even down to the very nature inside of Him. Since Jesus was not born of an earthly father, he carried no nature to sin. His nature was human and divine, with no propensity towards any certain sin. He could have sinned, of course, for even perfect Adam sinned in the Garden without a nature to do so, but Jesus lived spotless and sinless in this present world (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Though He was nothing like sinners, Jesus was still “numbered with the transgressors” at His death; hanging between two criminals (Isaiah 53:12). Even though He had no iniquity of His own, He was numbered with sinners even during His lifetime, as the religious world of that day called him a glutton and a winebibber (Luke 7:34). In the same passage of scripture, Jesus said that He was also accused of being a “friend of publicans and sinners”.
Now we know why Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors”; that was because He hung between two criminals at Calvary, thus He was identified as a criminal by all who viewed it. But to be a “friend of publicans and sinners”, Jesus must have often showed Himself friendly and open with these groups of people. The religious world of that day would not be caught dead in the presence of publicans and sinners, so to watch someone who all considered a teacher or “rabbi” to be doing so was shameful in their eyes.
The book of Hebrews assures us that though Jesus was identified with the sinners, He never ceased to be “separate from sinners” and this is because He was “holy, harmless, undefiled,…and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). The descriptions offered here by the Spirit show us a man that retained His characteristics, regardless of who was in His company. Though the publicans and the sinners were unholy, harmful to others and defiled by iniquity, none of it rubbed off on Jesus. The writer goes so far as to say that Jesus did not need to make sacrifice daily for His own sins as other priests would. The reason for this was that Jesus had no sin!
You and I live in a world of sin and failure, where there is ungodliness at every turn. The believer is bombarded with this on a daily basis and it weighs against our spirit. We do not lose our salvation when we are around these activities but we certainly feel their effects. Even in the midst of sinning people, because of the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ that dwells in every one of us, we are seen as holy, harmless and undefiled. Even when we slip and fall, we retain what Christ paid for, keeping us separate from sinners.
Christ is our redemption, having paid the price as our high priest under the New Covenant. His finished work at the cross has assured us of wholeness and rest in Him. Rejoice in the knowledge that you are separate from sinners through the One who loves you.
Jesus is described perfectly by the phrase, “separate from sinners”. There has never been a man more accurately described, as He was in no way like a sinner, even down to the very nature inside of Him. Since Jesus was not born of an earthly father, he carried no nature to sin. His nature was human and divine, with no propensity towards any certain sin. He could have sinned, of course, for even perfect Adam sinned in the Garden without a nature to do so, but Jesus lived spotless and sinless in this present world (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Though He was nothing like sinners, Jesus was still “numbered with the transgressors” at His death; hanging between two criminals (Isaiah 53:12). Even though He had no iniquity of His own, He was numbered with sinners even during His lifetime, as the religious world of that day called him a glutton and a winebibber (Luke 7:34). In the same passage of scripture, Jesus said that He was also accused of being a “friend of publicans and sinners”.
Now we know why Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors”; that was because He hung between two criminals at Calvary, thus He was identified as a criminal by all who viewed it. But to be a “friend of publicans and sinners”, Jesus must have often showed Himself friendly and open with these groups of people. The religious world of that day would not be caught dead in the presence of publicans and sinners, so to watch someone who all considered a teacher or “rabbi” to be doing so was shameful in their eyes.
The book of Hebrews assures us that though Jesus was identified with the sinners, He never ceased to be “separate from sinners” and this is because He was “holy, harmless, undefiled,…and made higher than the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26). The descriptions offered here by the Spirit show us a man that retained His characteristics, regardless of who was in His company. Though the publicans and the sinners were unholy, harmful to others and defiled by iniquity, none of it rubbed off on Jesus. The writer goes so far as to say that Jesus did not need to make sacrifice daily for His own sins as other priests would. The reason for this was that Jesus had no sin!
You and I live in a world of sin and failure, where there is ungodliness at every turn. The believer is bombarded with this on a daily basis and it weighs against our spirit. We do not lose our salvation when we are around these activities but we certainly feel their effects. Even in the midst of sinning people, because of the righteousness of God through Jesus Christ that dwells in every one of us, we are seen as holy, harmless and undefiled. Even when we slip and fall, we retain what Christ paid for, keeping us separate from sinners.
Christ is our redemption, having paid the price as our high priest under the New Covenant. His finished work at the cross has assured us of wholeness and rest in Him. Rejoice in the knowledge that you are separate from sinners through the One who loves you.
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