Hebrews: Jesus is Greater part3

Jesus is Greater then Moses

One of my favorite subjects in school was History. As a boy, I especially loved stories of hero’s who fought during wars.

I remember hearing the story of John Paul Jones an American naval commander, fighting the British fleet, and when it looked like all hope was lost, the British commander called out for his surrender, and John Paul Jones replies, “I have not begun to fight sir.”

Men like these are our hero’s. We can list many of them; George Washington, William Wallace, Captain America, and Batman!

They change history with there courage.

This is what Moses was like for the Hebrew People- and still is like. He was the one that liberated and entire nation from Slavery with just a staff.

This man was considered on of the greatest prophets to ever live, yet the writer of Hebrews reminds us and the readers that Jesus is the greatest Hero!

The letter of Hebrews is a study of contrast, between the imperfect and the incomplete provision of an old covenant and the New Covenant.

Hebrews chapter three begins this comparison by comparing the greatest prophet that was a man, to the greatest “word” that was ever given by God.

Hebrews 3:1–6 ESV

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. 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.) 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. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

Before we jump into the comparison, the writer in no way is making less of Moses. In fact the writer doesn’t include the failures of Moses which kept him out of the promise- but rather they are showing Moses as a great servant, Yet Jesus is still superior even in His faithfulness to God-

This leads me to a question :How Does God see us? In Hebrews what we see are men who had flaws but because of the work of Christ they are mentioned.

When God looks at us He sees the righteousness of Jesus

Hebrews Chapter 11 is filled with people who has so major false:

Noah- God drunk and naked

Abraham- Tried to convince pharoah that his wife was his sister

Isaac- Did the same exact thing as his father

Jacob- lied

Moses- murdered an Egyptian and disobeyed God

The People of Israel- complained and doubted God

Rahab- was a prostitute

This chapter shows the power of faith in the work of God- You might not be perfect but the Blood of Jesus has cleansed you from “all unrighteousness”.

This is how God now see you and me- Redeemed by the blood of Christ

Hebrews 10:10 ESV

And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Moses was a servant < Jesus is the Son:

Moses was called by God to redeem the people from slavery- Jesus “the apostle”. This is an interested term use and it means one sent on a mission.

Christ didn’t come to existence through the same means as Moses, nor was His calling into ministry the same.

Moses had to meet God before He was sent to deliver the people from a man. Jesus was with God and was God, before He came to this world to redeem it not from a person, But from the Power of Sin and Death!

Moses spoke after hearing from God- Jesus was the Word of God in the flesh- God’s word are His actions. Moses spoke for God, Jesus spoke as God

Moses was part of the House< Jesus in the builder of the House

Moses is one of the stones that was used to build this house of God- Jesus is the builder of the House.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is Founder- the cornerstone on which everyone is being build together and He is the builder- The blood of Christ is what binds us all together.

Moses testified of What was coming < Jesus is the fulfillment

Moses led the people to the promise land- yet their sin kept one generation out, and eventually led to all the people being taken captive-

Jesus leads us to very presence of God, and because He was obedient unto death He has removed sin. When we get to the true promise land, sin will be no more and therefore we can never be removed from it.

There will be a time when there will be no more sin, not even the desire to sin.

The MacArthur Bible Handbook Historical and Theological Themes

During the OT times, Israel’s sin had continually interrupted God’s fellowship with His chosen and covenant people, Israel. Therefore, He graciously established a system of sacrifices that symbolized the inner repentance of sinners and His divine forgiveness. However, the need for sacrifices never ended because the people and priests continued to sin. The need of all mankind was for a perfect priest and a perfect sacrifice that would once and for all actually remove sin. God’s provision for that perfect priest and sacrifice in Christ is the central message of Hebrews.

Even Moses could not redeem the people from sin- Only Jesus can lead us from the slavery of Sin which leads to death, into God’s rest.

Moses lead to the promise land < Jesus Leads us to God’s rest

Hebrews 3:12–4:11 ESV

Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’ ” although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this passage he said, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.

Moses was faithful as a servant yet the people never got to enter true rest because of their unbelief and sin

Jesus is greater because He brings a rest for God’s people where there is no more sin nor the temptation to sin.

The very thing that keeps us from God’s rest is removed forever

Psalm 103:12 ESV

as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

As we walk in faith through this world we have a promise of a prize- God’s rest.

Ending: God’s Word reveals how we are living.

Hebrews 4:12–13 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

We don’t have to guess on how to live, and we don’t have