• Hebrews Outline:

• Chapter 1 Jesus is greater than the prophets and the angels.
• Chapter 2 Jesus' message is greater than the angel's.
• Chapter 3 Christ is greater than Moses.

• Introduction & Review

The author has made numerous points to establish that Christ is superior both to the Prophets and angels. In addition, he has explicitly stated the deity, humanity and glory of the Son. In the next two chapters, he continues to layout the superiority of Christ but now moves on to compare Moses with Christ.

In these two chapters, it is crucial to note that the author considers the time between Pentecost and the destruction of Jerusalem to be similar to the wilderness experience of the Jew prior to conquering Canaan. This was the wilderness period of the Church.

• Exposition

Hebrews 3:1-11

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

• Since this passage begins with "therefore", we must consider that which has been already taught. Christ is superior to prophets and angels. He is not a created entity, rather, He is the creator. He became flesh like us, was tempted, suffered and died in such a way that He was glorified. His glorification has now provided a means of being glorified with Him. Based on this, we are to consider or "fix our thoughts" upon our Apostle and High Priest.

• Two offices of Christ are mentioned in the first verse: Apostle and High Priest. An Apostle is simply a sent one. One who is sent by someone else. Paul and Barnabus were Apostles of the church at Antioch and they were also Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ Himself was an Apostle of the Father. In addition, Christ was our High Priest whose purpose was to represent us to God. In these two offices we see that Christ was the perfect mediator; He represented God to man and man to God.

• The author of the book now begins his comparison between Christ and Moses. He begins by considering their similarities. Both Christ and Moses were faithful to Him who appointed them. But Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house and Christ was faithful as a Son over His own house.

• The construction of verse six is of primary importance. We are part of Christ's house if we hold firm to the end. If we don't hold firm to the end then we weren't part of Christ's house. We know ultimately who the elect are by the fact that they persevere in hope and obedience to the end. Those who fall away are revealed for who they are, those who will not inherit salvation. Just as we considered in verse 13 of chapter 2, the elect are preserved by God not by themselves. There will always be those who are trying to look like the elect, but in the end, they shall be revealed for who they really are.

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

"Today, if you will hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,

And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,

And said, 'They always go astray in their heart,

And they have not known My ways.'

11 So I swore in My wrath,

'They shall not enter My rest.' "

• By the fact that the author quotes from this Psalm five times in the next twenty verses we can conclude that he is trying to teach us something important. I believe that the point is a warning not to commit the same sin that the Israelites committed just prior to conquering Canaan which God ultimately delayed 40 years.

• These people were tempted to have too high of a view of Moses in light of what they had been revealed from God. They were going to return back to a state of affairs (Jerusalem) which God had showed them was not to be preferred in that it was only types and shadows. This is the same thing the Israelites did in the desert when God had led them out of Egypt with great signs and wonders only then to have them want to return to Egypt. It is very common for people to honor a prophet or great Godly people after they have passed away.