July 8, 2021 — A Study on the Book of Hebrews

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses also “was faithful in all God’s house.” Yet Jesus is worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later. Christ, however, was faithful over God’s house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.” Hebrews 3:1-6

“The book of Hebrews frequently uses the word “therefore” in order to connect various thoughts. In the previous chapters, the author has been explaining how Jesus Christ is superior to angels and is, in fact, fully human. As a completely human High Priest, Jesus can serve as our ultimate example. For the Jewish people, there was no greater example than Moses, but according to this section of Hebrews, Jesus is far greater. This verse makes a connection between Jesus’ role as our ultimate example—the “founder of our salvation”—and His superiority to even Moses.” (BibleRef.com)

Why does the author of this letter now make a comparison between Moses and Christ — Moses, who was “…truly faithful in all God’s house, as a servant, But Christ was faithful as a Son over his own house; whose house we are”? Well, in the Old Testament Moses is considered the greatest of the prophets. So it makes sense that to put into perspective the deeds of Jesus, there is no other prophet to compare Jesus to except Moses. Moses receives great glory for leading the Israelites out of slavery into the Promised Land (or at least onto the brink of the Promised Land). Moses led the people to the point of great new beginnings.

Jesus, however, becomes the greatest — not just a great prophet, but is the Son of G-d — and as such, he eclipses all that Moses accomplished for G-d. Moses led the people out of slavery into freedom — Jesus offers all people a path out of slavery to sin, into the freedom of eternal life. And as the people had the choice to follow Moses or not — we have the choice to follow Jesus or not. We have no choice as to whether we receive the forgiveness of sins or not — we simply have the choice to turn our backs on G-d (or not).

“Lord Jesus, to whom shall we go — you have the words of eternal life”.

Pastor Dave