Hebrews 3
“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house.” Hebrews 3:1-2
“Therefore” – because of what we learned about Jesus, because he is greater than angels. “Holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling” – if you know Jesus you are his holy brothers and sisters in Christ and we share in a holy calling with Jesus. So what does this author want us to do? “Consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house” – we are to consider Jesus, we are to think on Him, everything we do comes back to Jesus. The word for consider here is a Greek word “katanoein” it doesn’t mean simply to look at something, it means to fixate on it. It means to give it your full attention! When the author here says “Consider Jesus” he is saying let Jesus be the starting point for all you think or do. So why mention Moses? Moses was faithful. Moses was called a friend of God and he spoke with God.
“For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses – as much more glory 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 were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” Hebrews 3:3-6
Moses was a servant to God, Christ is God’s son. He is faithful over God’s house and is in essence the creator of the house. The builder, the creator is more honorable than the house or the servants of the house. Where do we place our confidence and our hope, in the house itself or the builder of the house?
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years.’” Hebrews 3:7-9
Therefore, because we put our confidence in Jesus, don’t harden your hearts like the Israelites did in the wilderness. I am often amazed when I study about the Israelites at how they saw miracle after miracle and yet still rebelled against God. I hope if I had been there I would be a Joshua or Caleb and remain faithful. But think on how God has used that story through the ages. Nothing even the rebellion of the Israelites is wasted with God.
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12
We have to take care of our heart. We have to hold fast to Jesus, the builder of our house. The enemy is standing close by waiting to lead us away from the living God.
“For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.” Hebrews 3:14
We are here to share in Christ. Let us hold fast to him. The Israelites saw those miracles, they heard from God through Moses, yet their bodies fell in the wilderness and they (the ones who actually left Egypt with Moses) did not see the Promised Land because of their unbelief. (vv 16-19)
Oh Lord, please help our unbelief and please help us to hold fast to our confidence in You, the builder and creator of our house!
Restore 