Better Than Moses

Text: Hebrews 3

Introduction

Travel back with me during a time when households were made up the family and many servants. This is not a time similar to the time of slavery in Western civilization. A household was made up of many components: the physical home, the family, employees (servants), property, etc. When it came to servant life, there was somewhat of a hierarchal system: there were your general servant and then you had a lead servant.

Example: Joseph was the lead servant under Potiphar and then Pharaoh. He was ruler over all the Kingdom while remaining subservient to the rule of Pharaoh.

The book Hebrews provides us a grand list of people who are considered heroes of the faith. While their faith was truly extraordinary, they remained servants of God and not a son.

The writer of Hebrews will be laboring the point that Jesus Christ is exalted as Son over His own house. His glory and the words He spoke are far superior than that of what was associated with each respective servant.

Here is the exciting thing — Jesus being the Son, make all those who believe on Him as Savior, children and heirs of His inheritance!

Romans 8:17 “17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Now, chapter 3 will continue to explain how our present day obedience carries with it ramifications experienced today, but also in the kingdom to come. There has been pattern of reasoning developed in Hebrews: “If “A” then how much more with “B.” So, with this chapter it will appear this way: “If there were consequences for disobeying God’s word through Moses, how much more will the consequences be when disobedient toward the words of Jesus Christ?”

Verses 1-7

1) Who Was The Audience?

This question falls in line with the major questions you must ask yourself to properly determine the context and meaning of scripture.

Notice verse 1 — “holy brethren” & “partakers of the heavenly calling”

Options: 1) Unbelievers; 2) Mixed group; 3) Jewish believers

“Partakers” = “fellows” — Hebrews 1:9 “9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

“heavenly calling” — 2 Thessalonians 2:14 “14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The writer exhorts them to “consider” Jesus.

Consider = to observe fully

He is drawing their focus to be completely upon Jesus Christ

This is for the purpose of recognizing Jesus serving in two specific roles:

Apostle — someone sent with authority. Jesus was the fullest representation of the Father in human form.

High Priest — someone who represents the people before God.

Hebrews 4:14 “14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”

Hebrews 10:23 “23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

2) Who Is Worthy Of More Glory?

A. The distinction between a son and servant

There is a similarity yet superiority mentioned between Jesus and Moses in verses 2-6.

Moses is described as a “servant” who was faithful

Numbers 12:7 “7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.”

Q — What are some examples of this in Moses’ ministry? (He received God’s word at the burning bush; confronted Pharaoh; the Passover; parting the Red Sea; etc.

Jesus is described as a “son” who was faithful

(v3) “counted worthy of more glory than Moses”

Example given: The difference of being a servant in your house, and being the Owner of your house.

This is echoed in — Hebrews 10:1 “1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”

Moses was a servant of God’s house leading His people to the Promised land, but Jesus is God’s Son who will is leading people to His kingdom.

This language of Jesus being the Son over His house speaks to receiving an inheritance.

APP — What the writer is doing here is something we all need to be able to articulate as we talk with others who see the need to worship Mary, Mohammad, Buddha, etc.

3) Who Will Maintain Confidence?

A. The Second Warning Presented

The “holy brethren” who were “partakers of the heavenly calling” are those who make up Jesus’ house.

1 Peter 2:5 “5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”

However, the writer presents an “if then” proposition:

“if” they remain confident in their faith regarding the hope they have been given in Christ, they will be partakers of Christ’s house.

“if” they enter into disobedience to God in light of the hope they have been given in Jesus, they will forfeit certain aspects of Jesus’ inheritance.

Jesus the final judge will determine what that will look like for every Believer.

So, this warning has been described in a couple of different ways:

For some, they interpret this to be explaining how believers in Christ can forfeit their sonship; in other words, their justification.

For me, when harmonizing all of Hebrews in light of the established context, the writer is speaking of a loss of future inheritance/rewards or as scripture refers; His “rest.”

While the overall scope of Hebrews includes that of temporal consequences, the message hear speaks to those who get to enjoy the inheritance of Jesus as long as they are in His house.

Now, some will say, “If someone is not in Jesus’ house, they are lost.

However, the imagery seems to be more about a believer getting to enjoy or miss out of the blessings that can only be experienced if they are members of His household.

Here are a few examples of this:

Genesis 12:17 “17 And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram’s wife.”

Genesis 41:40 “40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.”

Genesis 45:2 “2 And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.”

Genesis 50:7 “7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,”

So, Jesus’ house will one day rule in the coming kingdom. Everyone who remains in obedience to Him in this life will join Him in that authority.

Hebrews 1:8–9 “8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Revelation 1:6 “6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 5:10 “10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”

Conclusion

Let’s end by clarifying what faith is and it’s chief purpose.

Some preach a prosperity gospel. They teach that faith is more about receiving temporary treasures in this life. However, when you reach about all the heroes of faith, they were laboring in their faith in light of a future, yet unseen city.