Jesus, the Faithful Son Over God's House (Hebrews 3:1–6)

Introduction

We’re continuing our series in the book of Hebrews. Today, we’ll be in Hebrews 3:1-6, looking at Jesus as the faithful Son over God’s household. We’ll be reminded of our need to hold onto him.

Today is also Super Bowl Sunday. It’s my day to pretend that I know something about football. Thanks to an internet search, I know that it is the Kansas City Chiefs playing the Philadelphia Eagles. May the best team win.

When you watch football, you see these big, strong men who have worked all their lives to get to this point. They say that out of over a million high school football players each year, only 1% ever make it to the NFL. You’ve got to have incredible athletic talent, strength, mental toughness, and be willing to work hard every day. They persevere and work hard to get to a day when they are playing in the Super Bowl.

Perseverance is not just for the NFL. Hebrews 3:1-6 is going to tell us that Christians must persevere in Christ. What does that mean for us? Please open to Hebrews 3:1-6.

Scripture Reading

Hebrews 3:1–6 CSB

1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was in all God’s household. 3 For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house. 4 Now every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over his household. And we are that household if we hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast.

Pray

Up to this point in Hebrews 3, the author has been building the case for the greatness of Jesus Christ. He started about as big as you can get. In Hebrews 1:2, the universe was made through Jesus Christ. As Hebrews 1:3 says, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature.” Jesus sustains all things by his word. He is above all the created order, including the angels. As Hebrews 1:6 reminds us, the angels worship Jesus.

The greatness of Jesus Christ is shown not only in who he is but also in what he has done for humanity. Hebrews 2 shows us that the one through whom creation came to exist became one of the creation himself. The Son of God took on human flesh, and as Hebrews 2:9 says, he was “made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God’s grace he might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:10 says he brought “many sons and daughters to glory” through his sacrifice. Jesus destroyed the power of death to separate man from God, and as Hebrews 2:17 says, he is “a merciful and faithful high priest” who has made “atonement for the sins of the people.” Praise God.

The transition from Hebrews 2 to Hebrews 3 might seem odd. The writer will say that Jesus is not only greater than the angels but also greater than Moses. Huh? If Jesus is greater than the angels, then he is greater than Moses or any other human in Scripture. Why Moses?

Realizing that the writer is speaking to a Jewish audience and within that context, out of all the humans in Scripture, Moses was deeply revered by the Jews. Their entire culture is built around the Law, which God gave to the people of Israel through Moses. To say that Jesus is greater than Moses to the Jews is to challenge everything they had known, but that is the point. If Jesus is greater than Moses, then the covenant Jesus brought in his blood is greater than the covenant Moses brought through the Law. To the Jewish people, that is a challenge to their entire cultural way of understanding God.

This text is more than for Jews. It’s also for us. Sometimes, we take godly people and put them on a pedestal to make them more than they are. When those people fail, we think God has failed. Of course, he has not. Jesus is greater than godly people.

For Christians, we’re reminded in Hebrews 3:1 to consider Jesus, and it’s the first point:

I. Consider Jesus: Our Apostle and High Priest

Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters,

who share in a heavenly calling,

consider Jesus,

the apostle

and high priest of our confession.

The thought process for Christians is always to think about and meditate on Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus should transform our thought patterns. Hebrews 3:1 says that we should “consider Jesus.” Regarding this, Dr. Al Mohler states,

“The word consider communicates the idea of meditation. Jesus is the heart of Christianity, which means his person and work are the best objects for Christian meditation.” (1)

How should we consider Jesus? The first point the writer of Hebrews makes is that:

A. Jesus is the focus of our heavenly calling.

Do you want to know what your calling is? Hebrews 3:1 states that as “brothers and sisters” in Jesus Christ, we "share in a heavenly calling.” Our calling is to focus our minds and our hearts on Jesus Christ. We are to “consider Jesus.” Jesus should consume the thoughts of a Christian and radically change how you see the world.

Considering Jesus is more than just acknowledging him. It is a continuous meditation on his work, character, and presence. Jesus is our leader! Charles Spurgeon said it this way,

“Holy brothers, sharers in a heavenly calling, we may well consider him. If you think little of your Leader you will live but poor lives. Consider Him, often think of Him, try to copy Him. With such a Leader what manner of people ought we to be?” (2)

To consider Jesus is to “set your mind on things above,” where Jesus is at the right hand of God. The Bible says it this way in Colossians 3:1-2,

Colossians 3:1–2 CSB

1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

We are given two reasons why we should “consider Jesus” in Hebrews 3:1. The first one is,

1. Jesus is the Apostle sent to reveal God to us.

The word “apostle” comes from a Greek word that can be translated as a messenger, a special delegate, or an envoy. An “apostle” is not merely an envoy but it’s “a person’s authorized representative; his acts are binding upon the 'sender.'” (3) In other words, when Jesus sent out his apostles, he was sending out his special representatives to the world whose acts would be binding upon him because they represent him.

In that sense, Jesus is the ultimate Apostle, sent to reveal God to us. This is what Jesus is saying in John 5:36, where he says,

John 5:36 CSB

36 “But I have a greater testimony than John’s because of the works that the Father has given me to accomplish. These very works I am doing testify about me that the Father has sent me.

As the writer is telling us to “consider Jesus,” he is saying to meditate on Jesus as the revelation of God to us.

The second reason we should “consider Jesus” is because,

2. Jesus is the High Priest who represents us before God.

These two reasons to consider Jesus summarize what we’ve heard in the letter so far about Jesus (Hebrews 1-2). Hebrews 1 tells us Jesus reveals God to us because he is “the exact expression of (God’s) nature” (Hebrews 1:3). Hebrews 2 says Jesus is a “merciful and faithful high priest” (Hebrews 2:17). Not only does Jesus reveal God to us, he also represents us before God.

Paul was referencing Jesus’ role as our merciful and faithful high priest when he says in 1 Timothy 2:5,

1 Timothy 2:5 CSB

5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus,

The high priest had a role in the Jewish temple that mediated between God and man. Jesus now stepped into that role for us. Aren’t you thankful that Jesus stands in our place?

When meditating on Jesus, we should consider that he is God’s revelation and grace.

If you ever go and visit a foreign country where you’ve never been and you don’t speak the language, it would be essential for you to have two people with you on the trip. The first person you would need is a guide. That person could reveal the country's culture and the significance of what is around you. The second person you will need is a translator, someone who can speak on your behalf to others. Without those two people, you’ll be lost.

Jesus does the impossible and does both of those things for us. To people who have not known God, he reveals God to us. He also is our mediator. He stands in our place. Without him, we are lost and without hope. With him, we have all we need.

Christian, consider Jesus, meditate on who he is, what he has done, and what he means in your life. Let your meditation on Jesus shape your life and faith.

Meditating on Jesus includes meditating on his greatness, and that transitions us to the second point of this passage, where we see that,

II. Christ is Greater Than Moses

Hebrews 3:2-5

He was faithful to the one who appointed him,

just as Moses was in all God’s household.

For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses,

just as the builder has more honor than the house.

Now every house is built by someone,

but the one who built everything is God.

Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s household,

as a testimony to what would be said in the future.

After talking about Jesus’ role as Apostle and High Priest, the author transitions into developing how Jesus is greater than Moses. This is a radical comparison for the Jewish audience because they revered Moses. For the Jews, Moses was the Law-giver, the deliverer, the one through whom God established his covenant with them. The writer says, “Jews, you’ve put this godly man on a pedestal. Jesus is above him.”

He words this argument in three ways. The first thing he says is,

A. Jesus was faithful to his calling, just as Moses was faithful to his.

The first argument that he deals with is calling. God has a plan and a purpose for people, and if you don’t understand God’s plan and purpose for a person, you will not understand what God is doing through them.

There are many examples of God’s plan and purpose for a person being misunderstood in Scripture. In Genesis 50:20, the brothers of Joseph didn’t understand God’s calling on Joseph. They just saw him as arrogant. In 1 Samuel 16:7, people couldn’t see how God’s purpose for the young shepherd David was to be king. The Pharisees rejected Jesus because they didn’t understand his calling.

Moses had a specific calling in his life, and he was faithful to that calling. He was called to lead the people out of Egypt and to give the law. Moses was a servant of God, someone within God’s household.

In Numbers 12, there was opposition against Moses. Two people of importance in Israel, Miriam and Aaron, were criticizing Moses. The Lord heard their criticism and called them to the tent of meeting. The Lord describes Moses to them in this way. He says in Numbers 12:7,

Numbers 12:7 CSB

7 Not so with my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my household.

This is the point the writer of Hebrews is making. Moses was faithful to his calling, and Jesus was faithful to his calling. The reason the Jews misunderstand Jesus is because Moses was a servant within God’s household, but,

B. Jesus is the builder of the house that Moses served in.

This is the exact point that the writer is making in Hebrews 3:3,

Hebrews 3:3 CSB

3 For Jesus is considered worthy of more glory than Moses, just as the builder has more honor than the house.

Growing up in the Bronx, there was a saying that we used to say in the hood: “Don’t get it twisted!” Jesus and Moses were faithful in what they were called to do, but that doesn’t make them equal.

Moses was a servant of God.

Jesus was God in the flesh.

Therefore, Moses was a servant of Jesus Christ.

In other words, like you and I, Moses was someone within the household of God. Jesus built the house. As Spurgeon said, Moses had the honor of being a servant of God. Jesus is the Son of God and, as Son, the Master of his house. (4)

Jesus is the house builder because he is the Son of God and Creator. John 1:3 says,

John 1:3 CSB

3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.

As Christians, we are God’s children within his household, a house that the Son of God created and owns.

Finally, the writer tells us that the connection between Moses and Jesus is this,

C. Jesus is the fulfillment of what Moses’ faithfulness pointed toward.

He describes it this way in Hebrews 3:5,

Hebrews 3:5 CSB

5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s household, as a testimony to what would be said in the future.

Much of what you read in the Old Testament is pointing ahead toward Jesus, including Moses. Moses was a faithful servant in God’s household, but his role served a greater purpose than the Jews realized.

His faithfulness wasn’t the end goal; it was preparing the way for Christ. His role pointed ahead to Jesus.

Moses himself prophesied that a prophet like himself would come after him. He says this in Deuteronomy 18:15,

Deuteronomy 18:15 CSB

15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him.

There are many connections one could make regarding how Moses foreshadowed Jesus. For instance,

Moses turned water into blood, split the sea, and brought manna from heaven. Jesus turned water into wine, calmed the sea, fed 5,000 miraculously with bread, and called himself the true bread from heaven (John 6:32-33).

Moses mediated the Mosaic Covenant through the Law. Jesus gave a new and better covenant in his blood (Heb. 8:6).

Moses’ face shone as a result of speaking with the Lord (Ex. 34:29). In his transfiguration, Jesus’ face “shone like the sun” (Matt. 17:2).

Moses delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt through the Passover lamb and the Red Sea. Jesus delivered us from slavery to sin through his death and resurrection (John 8:36).

You could imagine Jesus explaining some of these things to his disciples. After his resurrection, he met a couple of his disciples who were traveling to Emmaus. He gave them a Bible lesson along the road. It says in Luke 24:27,

Luke 24:27 CSB

27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.

From the beginning of the Bible to the end, the Scriptures point you to Jesus.

If you go on a road trip to Arizona to see the Grand Canyon, along the way, you’ll see signs that are pointing you there. The signs are helpful because they let you know if you’re on the right path to see the canyon and how far away it is. But when you get to the Grand Canyon, you’re no longer thinking about the signs. Your mind is on the destination. The signs were there to point you to the beauty of the Grand Canyon.

Moses was a sign along the journey. His life, his faithfulness, was pointing toward a destination. He was there to point people toward Jesus.

Sometimes, people who go to church can fall into this trap. You can start to put church leaders on a pedestal because you believe they are so godly. There are famous pastors, and people say they follow this one or that one.

It’s okay to honor someone’s work in ministry, but know the difference between a signpost and a destination. We all should be signposts pointing people to Jesus. Fix your mind and thoughts on him.

That leads us to the final point that we see in Hebrews 3:6, which is,

III. Hold Firm to Your Confidence in Christ

Hebrews 3:6

But Christ was faithful as a Son over his household.

And we are that household

if we hold on to our confidence

and the hope in which we boast.

We transition from the comparison between Moses and Jesus to our responsibility, as believers, to hold fast to our confidence in Jesus Christ. There is an interesting element within this verse that I want to point attention toward.

He says in Hebrews 3:6,

Hebrews 3:6 CSB

6 But Christ was faithful as a Son over his household. And we are that household if we hold on to our confidence and the hope in which we boast.

He starts by reemphasizing the truth of who Jesus is.

A. Jesus is the Son who is over God’s household.

Moses was a servant within God’s household. A servant doesn’t own anything. Jesus is the Son over the house. He inherits everything.

Paul says this in Colossians 1:18,

Colossians 1:18 CSB

18 He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.

As the Son who is over God’s household, Jesus has first place in everything.

The second half of part of this verse is what we’ll focus on. It makes the point that,

B. We are God’s household if we hold onto confidence and hope.

The “if” in this verse can feel very troubling. It introduces this conditional statement that can sound like, “You are a Christian if you do these things.”

This verse can feel like an encouragement, a warning, or both.

If you’ve been through trials and you still have confidence and hope in Jesus, it’s an encouragement.

If you’re on the fence about your faith in Christ, this is a warni.

What the writer is talking about is your perseverance in your Christian faith. It’s the continuation of your confidence and hope in Jesus despite the things you go through.

The first thing to know about persevering in your faith in Jesus from this verse is this,

1. Perseverance does not earn salvation; it is evidence of salvation.

That’s an important distinction to make. We are not talking about actions you must take to earn your salvation. We are only saved by faith in Jesus through God’s grace alone.

But there’s a difference between earning your salvation and the evidence of your salvation. You go to work to earn money. The proof that you’ve earned cash is that there is money in your bank account on payday.

If someone gives you money as a gift and you deposit it in the bank, there will be evidence that you have that gift because it will be in your bank account.

Salvation is Jesus Christ is not earned. It is a gift (Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:23-24). The writer is talking about the evidence in your life that you are saved and part of God’s household. If you look into your life and see confidence and hope in Jesus, that is evidence that you are a child of God.

This isn’t unique to Hebrews. John also talks about this in 1 John 2:19, where he talks about some people who were against Christ. He says this about them,

1 John 2:19 CSB

19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

This is not to say that a believer will never struggle or have doubts. You see that in the life of the apostles, particularly Peter and Thomas. But even as you struggle with your doubts, as Thomas did, you’ll eventually respond to Jesus as Thomas did in John 20:28: “My Lord and my God!”

Second,

2. Confidence and hope are the marks of God’s people.

Faith in the Christian life is marked by confidence in Jesus Christ. That doesn’t mean that you’ve figured everything out. It just means that there is a strength within you, saying, “I know who I believe, and I know that he is faithful.”

Hebrews 3:6 says that we have a hope in Christ in which we boast. You also see this in Romans 5:2,

Romans 5:2 CSB

2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

The reason that Christians “boast in the hope of the glory of God” is not out of pride. It is out of joy. Even in the most challenging struggles, we have confidence and hope in Jesus, which gives us a reason for joy.

Therefore Christian,

C. Cling to Jesus, the one over the house, as a servant within his household.

We serve Jesus from joy because our confidence and hope in Jesus Christ is a reason to boast and give him praise.

When you think about being a servant like Moses within the household of God, what does that look like? Serving needs to come from your heart. Serving God comes from a reality that is within you. Colossians 3:23-24 says it this way,

Colossians 3:23–24 CSB

23 Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord. You serve the Lord Christ.

Every Christian is a servant within the household. As a child of God, you serve the Lord Jesus Christ. You have a sphere of influence, a people around you, where you get to be the signpost pointing people to Jesus.

Being a servant is not easy. There will be trials and troubles in life. But no matter what, you have confidence and hope in Jesus because you are in the household of God.

Conclusion

What are you holding onto?

Some think Christianity is about being better and doing the right things. If I do the right things, I’ll be okay.

Some think they need to be self-reliant; if they can be stronger, they’ll be fine.

Some want to be comfortable, never go through anything difficult, and be left alone.

We hold onto these things because we think they’ll make life better. But we’re called to hold onto the one who gave us life, Jesus. Hebrews 10:23 says,

Hebrews 10:23 CSB

23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.

Our hope is not in ourselves. It’s in Jesus. Are you holding onto him today? Remember that you are secure in Christ, and he will never fail you. Hold onto him today.

Prayer

Last Song

Doxology

Numbers 6:24–26 CSB

24 “May the Lord bless you and protect you; 25 may the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 may the Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.” ’

Jude 24–25 CSB

24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen.

You are dismissed. Have a great week in the Lord!

R. Albert Mohler Jr., Exalting Jesus in Hebrews (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2017), 42–43.

Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Hebrews, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Jessi Strong, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 59.

Ceslas Spicq and James D. Ernest, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1994), 189.

Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon Commentary: Hebrews, ed. Elliot Ritzema and Jessi Strong, Spurgeon Commentary Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014), 59.

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Sermon Reflection Questions

What is the significance of Jesus being described as both our Apostle and High Priest in Hebrews 3:1?

How does the author of Hebrews establish the greatness of Jesus in comparison to Moses?

What does it mean for Christians to ‘consider Jesus’ according to the sermon?

In what ways did Moses point to Jesus as mentioned in the sermon?

What does it mean to hold onto our confidence and hope in Christ, as stated in Hebrews 3:6?