Hebrews 3:1-6

https://www.biblestudytools.com/hebrews/passage/?q=hebrews+3:1-6

Jesus Greater Than Moses

1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

Study Notes: These will be added as I am able.

3:1 This verse would have been especially meaningful to Jewish Christians. For Jews, the highest human authority was the high priest. For Christians, the highest human authorities were God's apostles. Jesus, God's apostle (meaning "one who is sent") and high priest, is the ultimate authority in the church.

3:1-6 The author uses different pictures to explain Jesus' relationship to believers: he is (1) the apostle ("one who is sent") of God, to whom we should listen; (2) our high priest, through whom we come to God the Father; and (3) the ruler of God's house (faithful as a son over God's House"), whom we should obey. The Bible is filled with different names for and pictures of Jesus Christ, and each one reveals something more about his nature and ministry. What do these images teach you about your relationship with Christ?

3:2, 3 To the Jewish people, Moses was a great hero; he had led their ancestors, the Israelites, from Egyptian bondage to the border of the promised land. He had also written the first five books of the Old Testament, and he was a prophet through whom God had given the law; therefore, Moses was the greatest prophet in the Scriptures. But Jesus is worthy of greater honor as the central figure of faith than Moses, who was merely a human servant. Jesus is more than human; he is God himself (1:3). As Moses led the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage, so Christ leads us out of sin's slavery. Why settle for Moses, the author of Hebrews asks, when you can have Jesus Christ, who appointed Moses?

3:5 Moses was faithful to God's calling not only to deliver Israel but also to prepare the way for the Messiah ("testifying to what would be said in the future"). All the Old Testament believers also served to prepare the way. Thus, knowing the Old Testament is the best foundation for understanding the New Testament. In reading the Old Testament, we see (1) how God used people to accomplish his purposes, (2) how God used events and personalities to illustrate important truths, (3) how, through prophets, God announced the Messiah, and (4) how, through the system of sacrifices, God prepared people to understand the Messiah's work. If you include the Old Testament in your regular Bible reading, the New Testament will grow clearer and more meaningful to you.

3:6 Because Christ lives in us as believers, we can remain courageous and hopeful to the end. We are not saved by being steadfast and firm in our faith, but our courage and hope do reveal that our faith is real. Without this enduring faithfulness, we could easily be blown away by the winds of temptation, false teaching, or persecution. (See also 3:14.)

All this thinking about the builder and the house made me think about the foundation upon which the People's House in my nation was built. Am thinking that foundation in the beginning was good. But over time, deceptions and corruptions have caused the House to not age well. The builder is good ("One nation under God"), the foundation is good (our Constitution), but we seem to have lost our way ("The Way, The Truth, The Life"). We are being reminded now, it seems. Time to clean house and restore that which is broken. Will we do it? On my list of 21 things: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

Almighty Builder God, thank You for Your Son, who provides the way to restore our houses and cleanse our hearts and minds with truth. You provide the energy and perseverance to do Your works. Work through us, Lord, so that great tasks can be accomplished for Your glory. For those in trials today, give the clear message that cannot be ignored. For those making important decisions today, give them wisdom and may Your divine judgment prevail. Remind us that it is futile to go against You, Lord, and against the Truth. Lord, let us find strength in Your house from the other members with integrity. Build us up. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A Song: https://youtu.be/WP4tqu4bsqI

Bonus Song: https://youtu.be/bDaI725AkoI

Have a blessed day.