Hebrews 3 (3)

Introduction
During His earthly sojourn, Jesus was often pitted against Moses by those who, vaunting their association with the great Hebrew leader, sought to put Jesus down. Apparently, that was still going on when the writer of Hebrews took pen in hand to address these drifting Jewish believers. Would they turn from Jesus to Moses, just to get the pressure off themselves? Even Moses knew that was a wrong turn.

Read Deuteronomy 18.15-19.

Read Hebrews 3.3-6.

Think it through.
1.  The writer has no intention of demeaning Moses. Moses was a great man, but his greatness is best understood when put in the proper context – the whole grand scheme of redemption and of our great salvation. Verse 3 mentions Moses having glory. To what does this likely refer (cf. Exod. 34.29-35)? Our writer says Jesus was more deserving of glory than Moses, and we see this, for example, on the Mount of Transfiguration (cf. Mk. 9.2-7, and refer to Deut. 18.15-19). How is it evident that Jesus is “worthy of more glory than Moses”? Paul picked up on the account Moses’ glory and compared it with the glory we may know in Christ in 2 Corinthians 3.12-18. What was his point? Our writer likens Moses to a house worthy of praise and honor, and Christ to the builder of that house. The builder has more honor than the building. Explain. How was the writer trying to help his readers at this point?

2.  The image of a house continues in verses 4 and 5. Ultimately, God is the Creator of all things (v. 4). Thus, if we want to understand anything about anything, we need to consult with the Creator, looking to Him to guide us. If the first readers of this epistle would have looked to God, speaking in His Word, rather than to the intimidating voices of their Jewish contemporaries, what would they have learned about Moses and Jesus? Moses is not to be discredited, but to be properly credited, and looked to only for what he was faithful in doing. Moses’ work and writing were “for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward” (v. 5). What does that mean? Did not Jesus say as much (Jn. 5.39-47)? In what ways did Moses’ work and writing point to Christ? The writer says that we are the house of Christ. What does this imply? To whomdoes this apply? What does it mean to “hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of hope”? 

Meditate.
“As great as is the difference between creature and creator, he is saying, so great is the difference between Moses and Christ.” Theodoret of Cyr (393-466 AD)

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” John 5.46, 47

All Scripture is about You, Lord Jesus. When I read Your Word, therefore, I need to …

Pray Psalm 95.1-6.
As you pray these words, especially verses 4 and 5, let your vision of Jesus expand. “See” Jesus and “consider” Him as Maker and Upholder of the vast cosmos, and let your praise flow accordingly.

Psalm 95.1-6 (Tidings: O Zion Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Come, let us sing with joy to God, our Savior!
Let us with joy to Him, our Rock, bow down!
Come now before Him, grateful for His favor;
Let joyful psalms break forth from all around.
Refrain v. 6
Come let us worship, kneel to our Lord;
Worship our Maker: Father, Holy Spirit, Word.

Great are You, Lord, a King above all nations.
All of earth’s depths lie hidden in Your hand.
Yours are the mountains, Yours the sea, You made it;
You by Your hands created the dry land.
Refrain

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.