Hebrews 3:1-6
Hebrews 2026 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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COMMUNION
COMMUNION
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Bottles for Life - Amnion
SCRIPTURE MEMORY
SCRIPTURE MEMORY
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
We are going through the book of Hebrews and this morning we’re looking at Hebrews 3:1-6.
If you were to outline this book, it might look something like this:
The Superiority of Christ’s Identity (1:1-4:13)
The Superiority of Christ’s Priesthood (4:14-7:28)
The Superiority of Christ’s Sacrifice (8:1-10:39)
The Sufficiency of Faith (11:1-13:25)
So you see we are in the first major section of the book focusing on the Person of Jesus Christ, his identity.
I chapter 1, the author wrote about Christ being superior to the angels.
I chapter 2, the author wrote about Jesus being the author of a greater salvation, and the superior true man.
This morning, the author shows how Jesus is superior to Moses.
Let me read to you Hebrews 3:1-6...
SCRIPTURE READING
SCRIPTURE READING
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 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. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 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.
EXPOSITION
EXPOSITION
MOSES
MOSES
Before we dig into the verses, let me just point out what we all know already - just what a central figure Moses is to the Jew.
Next to Abraham, Moses was undoubtedly the man most greatly revered by the Jewish people.
Our recent study of the book of Exodus reminded us how important Moses was/is to the Jewish faith: divinely spared from death as a baby, grew up in Pharaoh’s household, was humbled in Midian, to eventually being called to deliver the Hebrew people out of Egypt to the promised land.
In his writing, Philo of Alexandria portrayed Moses as an extraordinary philosopher, sage, and lawgiver, and describing him as “the greatest and most perfect man who ever lived.”
Perhaps this Moses was second only to the angels whom the Hebrews held in such high regard.
The author already showed Jesus to be far greater than the angels. Now he’s going to show how Jesus is greater than Moses.
Pray.
3.1 CONSIDER JESUS
3.1 CONSIDER JESUS
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
Again, if we see a therefore, we must determine what the therefore is there for.
The author is drawing on truth he wrote about in chapter two.
He calls them brothers - not just with each other, but also brothers to the Captain of their faith.
For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
He called them holy because of the sanctifying work of Christ as Hebrews 2.11 addresses.
They share in a heavenly calling because of what was written in Hebrews 2:10
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.
All this makes it clear that the author of Hebrews is writing to those in the family of God, set apart by his grace.
To indicate they were partakers of the heavenly calling makes it clear they were part of the church, the body of Christ.
To share in the heavenly calling - that word “share” is the Greek word “metochos” which means to partake or participate in.
It’s the same Greek used in Luke 5:7. Jesus met Simon the fisherman and instructed him to let down his nets for a catch.
And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
Just as these fishermen were in it together in the fishing business, as sons and daughters of God, we are also in it together.
HEAVENLY CALLING
HEAVENLY CALLING
Is this heavenly calling a calling/invitation to heaven or is it a description of the spiritual position believers already occupy through their union with Christ.
I think it’s both. Philippians 3:14 has that “not yet” future aspect...
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
And Ephesians 4 speaks of our current standing in Christ...
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
CONSIDER JESUS
CONSIDER JESUS
It was not Moses who did all this for the people to whom this letter is addressed. It was Jesus!
The writer didn’t urge them to consider Moses, but to consider Christ.
This word consider means...
to give very careful consideration to some matter—‘to think about very carefully, to consider closely.
There should be no quick glances toward Jesus. We must give careful consideration of who he is and what he has done for lost mankind.
Of course, it is obvious that Jesus is superior to Moses. Moses was a mere man; Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
Jesus is also apostle and high priest, two titles that Moses never held.
APOSTLE
APOSTLE
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 53.74 ἀπόστολος, ου
one who fulfills the role of being a special messenger
Word Pictures in the New Testament Hebrews 3:1
“not a mere envoy, but an ambassador or representative sent with powers.”
Moses was certainly called and commissioned by God, but Jesus Christ was sent as the last word to sinful man as proclaimed in the very first verses of this book...
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
From Jesus’ own testimony...
For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Not only is Christ an apostle, he is high priest.
HIGH PRIEST
HIGH PRIEST
Back in chapter two we read...
Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
I like how Warren Wiersbe puts it...
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Three: Greater than Moses (Hebrews 3:1–4:13)
As the Apostle, Jesus Christ represented God to men; and as the High Priest, He now represents men to God in heaven.
Jesus is the apostle and high priest of our confession.
OUR CONFESSION
OUR CONFESSION
Greek word is homologeo:
homo = same
lego = say
Confession means to say the same thing, to agree, to profess
Here are some other NT uses of the word confession...
By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
If these Hebrew Christians had confessed Jesus as Apostle and High Priest as the passage suggests, perhaps they didn’t fully understand just who this Jesus truly was and is.
Or perhaps the persecution was becoming too much for them to bear and there was concern they would give up. Because...
Word Pictures in the New Testament Hebrews 3:1
The word “confession” runs through Hebrews with an urgent note for fidelity.
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Hold fast to Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.
Let’s continue...
3.2 FAITHFUL TO GOD
3.2 FAITHFUL TO GOD
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.
THE SON’S FAITHFULNESS
THE SON’S FAITHFULNESS
Jesus...who was faithful. Present active participle. Continued, ongoing faithfulness to his Father.
MOSES’ FAITHFULNESS
MOSES’ FAITHFULNESS
Both Jesus and Moses were faithful. The faithfulness of Moses was not in question.
We read from Numbers 12...
Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house.
Just as the author did not belittle the angels so as to make Christ look better, he doesn’t belittle Moses either.
Angels and Moses didn’t need to be belittled in order to make Christ look greater. He is greater!
The writer now gets to the reason why Christ is greater than Moses. Jesus is counted worthy of more glory.
3.3-4 WORTHY OF MORE GLORY
3.3-4 WORTHY OF MORE GLORY
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.)
We have here two comparisons the author makes:
the comparison of a builder vs. the house built
the comparison of the roles in the house - Moses’ role vs. Jesus’
The word house is used 6 times in these few verses beginning at the end of verse two.
BUILDER VS. HOUSE
BUILDER VS. HOUSE
First, who is worthy of more glory - the house or the one who made the house?
Of course, the builder.
Our House in Afton
I loved and appreciated that house, but that’s nothing compared to the love and appreciation I have for the builder of that house.
What an accomplishment!
This word house refers to the people of God, not to a physical building.
Moses ministered to the people of God under the Old Covenant, and Jesus ministered to God’s people under the New Covenant.
Listen to the two ways the word “house” is used in 2 Samuel 7...
Now when the king lived in his house and the Lord had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, the king said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent.”
And Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you.” But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan,
“Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent for my dwelling.
In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ’
Now, therefore, thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel.
And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.
And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly,
from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
David wanted to make God a house - a physical structure - but God wanted to make Dave a house - a dynasty, a dynasty through Solomon and ultimately through Jesus, whose kingdom is eternal.
Of course the builder of this house for David is the Lord himself.
And that what our passage declares...
(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)
We love and appreciate what is built, but we give greater honor to the one who did the building. And ultimately, God gets the greatest honor of all for he built the heavens and the earth!
The next comparison consists of the roles IN the house.
3.5-6 SERVANT VS. SON
3.5-6 SERVANT VS. SON
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.
Jesus is greater than Moses because he is the Son OVER the house verses the servant IN the house.
And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
And then the final phrase of verse 6...
WE ARE THE HOUSE OF GOD
WE ARE THE HOUSE OF GOD
And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Remember verse 4...
(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.)
The builder of all things is God. WE are the house that God is building. How so?
Paul writes to the Ephesians...
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
So God is building this holy temple, built not with physical stones, but with the saints and members of the household of God.
Peter writes it this way...
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the cornerstone of this spiritual temple with the remaining foundation being the apostles and the prophets.
Listen to other verses about this spiritual temple being built by God...
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,
What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
Any physical temple on earth was a mere shadow of the spiritual temple that God is now building, a temple in which he can reside.
So here on earth, you have all these little temples walking around, the redeemed in Christ, indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God. Now that’s worth meditating on this week!
I came across this illustration in my sermon prep...
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 4379 The Embassy Building
One of our ambassadors to a foreign country recently said, “You have invited me to tell you about the duties of an ambassador. Let me begin by telling you first of the embassy, the place where we live. The embassy is a little spot of America set down in an alien land. On the walls we have pictures of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the President of the United States, with a big flag—Old Glory—high over everything. When we had prohibition in the United States we had prohibition in the embassy.
Inside the embassy the laws of our own country are supreme. We celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, and the Fourth of July. Outside, it is different, We celebrate none of these. Let me repeat, the embassy is a little spot of America in an alien land.”
Paul calls followers of Christ ambassadors. We represent not America, but Christ’s kingdom. So everywhere we go, as temples of God, we bring the hopes and promises of that kingdom.
Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Church, we have the very presence of God within us, called to be salt and light. So let us represent our Lord well wherever we go, proclaiming the gospel message to a fallen world.
As strangers here on earth, we are a little spot of heaven in an alien land.
The writer finishes with a warning...
ASSURANCE
ASSURANCE
And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
I don’t the believe the “if” in this verse is giving the impression that we could lose our salvation.
[Defender’s Study Bible] The Word of God provides adequate assurance of eternal salvation for every genuine believer, but no warrant for arrogant presumption.
They note the following verses:
But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
If Godly qualities are not evident in our lives, it should cause us to examine ourselves to see where we stand.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
There’s our hope and assurance of salvation - Christ in us!
I’ll close with this quote from Life Application Notes...
[Life Application Notes] 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.
Friends, hold fast to the hope we have in Jesus, our Apostle and High Priest, our great Deliverer, a type of Moses, but greater than Moses.
Hold fast to Jesus!
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
CLOSING SONG
CLOSING SONG
Only a Holy God
BENEDICTION
BENEDICTION
